Research Summaries

Back Explore the use of Hyperspectral Imaging for IED Detection.

Fiscal Year 2016
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Physics
Investigator(s) Hooper, Joseph P.
Sponsor Office of Naval Research (Navy)
Summary The extremely small vapor pressure and low volatility of many explosive compounds has made standoff detection of their trace gases very challenging. A far simpler approach experimentally is the use of long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal imaging to search for explosive hazards at considerable standoff. Detection of a buried explosive via infrared relies on variation of thermal characteristics between the soil above the device and that of the surrounding environment. Several previous research efforts have been conducted and are well documented in [1-10]. The common characteristic of the previous work is the requirement of a priori knowledge of some soil characteristic that lead to limited levels of success. The objective of this research is to develop improved methods for detection and identification of buried IEDs based on hyperspectral imaging. A combination of long-wave and mid-wave infrared surface temperature maps and near-infrared surface reflectometry will be used to generate hyperspectral images that allow detection/identification of buried objects with higher probability. The objective of the FY16, 17 and 18 research activities is to integrate imaging in all three infrared bands (NIR, MWIR and LWIR) and use techniques of image processing and data fusion to increase the probability of predicting and identifying the presence of buried objects in controlled soil samples. Initially, collection of systematic data will be performed on a controlled environment in order to obtain insights on the impact of IED shape, size, material, and burial depth; soil type, granularity, and moisture conditions; and time of day, season, and other weather conditions, on the probability of detection/identification. The finite element model of the experimental setups and conditions will be further improved in order to specify the IR camera resolution and sensitivity necessary for the best results.
Keywords Hydrospectral Imaging IED Passive Detection Infrared Imaging
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal