Nightime Underwater Visibility
Abstract
This work will use radiative transfer numerical models to evaluate the potential of human divers or video cameras for in-water detection of underwater objects. Classical visibility theory will be modified by replacing the spectral response of the human eye with the spectral response of a particular video camera. A one-dimensional (depth dependent) ocean geometry will be employed. Object detectability depends on having both sufficient light for image acquisition and on having sufficient contrast between the object and its background. The detectability of simulated objects will be modeled as functions of the sky conditions, the water absorbing and scattering properties, the observer and object depth, the object reflectance properties, and the viewing direction. This work is designed to provide theoretical guidance for separately proposed field work to validate the performance of a particular camera system. That field work will be performed at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 08, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012326
Entities
People
- Curtis Mobley
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Sequoia Scientific (United States)
- United States Navy