Optical Detection and Classification of Military Munitions Underwater

Abstract

Many active and former United States military installations are contaminated with munitions, including underwater sites. Of particular concern are shallow sites with exposed munitions. Optical imaging techniques offer promise for detecting these munitions: the imaging process is less affected by clutter; information such as optical contrast, color, and exact geometry is preserved, providing valuable inputs for automatic target recognition; imaging resolution is high enough to assess the integrity of the munition; and optical images are natural and intuitive for users to assess. Here we discuss the development of a proof-of-concept Optical Munition Detector (OMD). The OMD uses optical imaging techniques to survey the seafloor, extracting information useful for munition detection and classification. The overall objective of this effort is to develop an Optical Munition Detector (OMD) that uses optical imaging techniques to detect and classify munitions underwater. The OMD is designed to close operational gaps with existing remedial investigation technologies. The specific objective of this limited scope project is to design, fabricate, and demonstrate a proof-of-concept OMD.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2021
Accession Number
AD1217113

Entities

People

  • Jed Wilbur
  • Jules Jaffee

Organizations

  • Creare, Inc.

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
  • Computational Science
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Geometry
  • Imaging Techniques
  • Machine Learning
  • Munitions
  • Munitions Testing
  • Optical Images
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Recognition
  • Seabed
  • Target Recognition
  • Three Dimensional
  • Unexploded Ammunition

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Medical Imaging.
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering