N092-094 TITLE: Material Classification for Physics-Based Sensor Simulation Using Stereo-Pair Imagery

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Space Platforms, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-274; Presidential Helicopter

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop improved techniques for material classification that exploit the next generation of commercial satellites capable of collecting stereo pair imagery in a single pass. This is a breakthrough technology that carries with it a potential for creating superior large-area databases to support sensor simulation for aviation training.

DESCRIPTION: Physics-based sensor simulation is essential for the war-fighter, providing key phenomenological signatures, cues and effects that vary with the terrain and overlying object materials. Different terrain and object materials give rise to different spectral signatures driven by the surface spectral BRDF (Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function), thermo-physical, and electromagnetic properties. Creating accurate high-resolution material-classified terrain databases to support sensor system training is difficult and labor-intensive. Effective methods for material classification utilizing this new satellite imagery should enable realistic sensor training against geo-specific operational environments to be provided to the warfighter.

The recent availability of satellite high fidelity stereo-pair imagery opens new possibilities to derive more accurate and realistic terrain surface materialization maps and associated models required when creating high fidelity sensor images for pilot training simulators. This breakthrough technology is capable of providing ground images with .41 meter panchromatic resolution and 1.65 meter resolution in color. Commonly, materialization today is done using Landsat imagery because of the extra wavelength bands collected but the resolution can be problematic (15 m panchromatic/ 30 m color). Also, correlation issues arise when some sensor simulations are based on Landsat data while visual imagery and other sensors are based on other higher resolution source imagery. These hindrances to effective sensor simulations could be solved if all sensors and visible imagery could be simulated from the same source high resolution data such as may be possible with the new stereo high resolution imagery. However, current algorithms do not accommodate any stereo attributes (such as surface roughness), so new materialization algorithms capable of using the high resolution stereo data would be needed.

Innovative software tools are sought that can take advantage of new high fidelity and high resolution satellite color stereoscopic imagery in order to identify terrain surface materials thereby allowing both sensor and visible imagery to be created from identical sources. Successful development should provide a necessary advance in material classification for creating geospecific databases of high fidelity sensor images for pilot training simulators. Geospecific materialization of terrain would enable both visible and sensor simulations which are both required for pilot training on today's aircraft.

PHASE I: Design and demonstrate a proof-of-concept approach for deriving material classification from stereo-pair imagery for real-time sensor simulation.

PHASE II: Develop full-prototype capability for improved terrain material classification derived from satellite stereo imagery which supports the creation of geospecific environment for real time training simulation including sensors. Demonstrate the prototype including compatiblity with associated database development tools and real time training simulation.

PHASE III: Finalize and produce the software as a standalone application, fully capable sensor simulation that can be installed at training sites and/or integrate into the associated database generation suite of tools required to create the terrain database. Transition the new technology into existing training simulation systems.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial potential for this technology includes Law Enforcement, and Land Management.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=600287697

2. http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/assets/docs/technical-papers/2006/LutesJames2006_PhotogrammetricpProcessingOfCARTOSAT-1.pdf

KEYWORDS: Software; Simulation; Virtual; Training; Materialization; Geospecific

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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