Shaded Perspective Images of Terrain

Abstract

In order to perform image analysis, one must have a thorough understanding of how images are formed. This memo presents an algorithm that produces shaded perspective images of terrain as a vehicle to understanding the fundamentals of image formation. The image is constructed using standard projection equations along with an efficient hidden-surface removal technique. The image intensity is calculated using the reflectance map, a convenient way of describing the surface reflection as a function of surface gradient. Aside from its use as a tool toward understanding image analysis, the algorithm has several applications of its own, including providing video input to a flight simulator.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA055070

Entities

People

  • Thomas M. Strat

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cameras
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Equations
  • Flight Simulators
  • Geometry
  • Inverse Problems
  • Light Sources
  • Military Operations
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Reflectance
  • Simulators
  • Terrain
  • Terrain Models
  • Topography

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Computer Vision.