Preliminary Field Test Results: Evaluation of Infrared Sensors For Surface Vessel Law Enforcements Operations.
Abstract
During July 1995, the USCG conducted a field evaluation of several commercially available infrared sensors for their ability to detect low profile surface vessel targets of interest to the law enforcement community. The evaluation was conducted in the target rich area of Long Island Sound between New London, CT and Gardiners Island, NY. The sensors were operated from the roof of the Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Sensors evaluated included the Agema Thermovision 1000 and FLIR Systems SAFIRE operating in the long wave IR (LWIR) and the Aerojet General Thermal Imaging System and Amber Radiance 1 operating in the medium wave IR (MWIR). Each sensor provided a narrow field of view of 2 to S degrees, thus permitting comparison of relative performance. Surface truth data were maintained through the use of a GPS tracking system. Environmental conditions were recorded both at the shore side sensor array and onboard one of the target craft. Radiometric data were recorded for all targets during data collection periods. These data were used to determine the thermal contrast available to the sensors for any target imaging scenario. Analysis of the image data confirmed that all sensors were able to classify targets into general categories at distances up to approximately three nautical miles. While the LWIR sensors were able to detect the targets consistently at distances of 6 to 8 nautical miles, the MWIR sensors outperformed those detection distances by approximately a factor of 2. The relatively high atmospheric moisture content is considered to be the primary cause of these differences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA317649
Entities
People
- J. V. Plourde
- P. Skowronek