COMPUTERIZED VISIBILITY CALCULATIONS MAXIMUM SIGHTING RANGE PROGRAM.
Abstract
The report describes the development of computer programs for the performance of visibility calculations. The computer programs use input data as to the directional reflectance properties of both object and background to determine the inherent contrast of the object for a particular path of sight. Atmospheric contrast transmittance for the path of sight is calculated from input atmospheric data in the form of path luminance and beam transmittance. The inherent contrast is then multiplied by the contrast transmittance to find the apparent contrast. These calculations are repeated for selected distances from the object to determine that range at which the apparent contrast of the object matches the contrast threshold for the human visual system for the angular subtense of the object as viewed at that distance, and for the adaptation level specified. The vision data used in the calculation is the Tiffany data and represents best visual performance, in that the stimulus duration was long, the observers knew where the object was located, and the observers were allowed to fixate in any manner of their choosing. Therefore, ranges calculated from this vision data are called maximum sighting ranges. The computer program described in this report calculates maximum sighting ranges for 57 paths of sight defining hemispherical volume within which the object can be detected.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0655470
Entities
People
- Ivan Harry Barkdoll Iii
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography