Predictive Model for Imaging Underwater Objects through the Air-Sea Interface Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Topic No.: N122-141 Topic Title: Predictive Model for Imaging Underwater Objects through the Air-Sea Interface Proposal No.: N122-141-0782 Firm: Arete Associates P.O. Box 2607 Winnetka, California 91396-2607 Contact: Bradley Walls Phone: (520) 770-8629 Web Site: www.arete.com Abstract: The science of Mine Countermeasures (MCM) is a challenging and multidimensional problem that involves the detection and classification of sea mines both underwater and at the surface. In recent years, MCM has undergone dramatic advances in detector technology, computational power, and algorithmic maturity giving the potential for a "never-before-seen" capability to detect and classify sea mines. Essential to the continuing success for application of EO systems to the MCM problem is the ability to model targets in the marine environment to gain a better the understanding of target phenomenology. This will pave the way to better EO sensor designs and more robust detection and classification algorithms. Making high fidelity models and realistic simulations possible is the fundamental theory derived from numerous investigations into the details of radiative transfer within the ocean environment. Jerlov (1979), Gordo (1988), and Mobley (1993). However, McLean and Freeman (1996) extended these simple models to include wave effects of the ocean surface. Leveraging this research and well validated propagation models, Aret� Associates will develop a robust, high-fidelity electro-optical radiative transfer model to predict the time-varying visibility of submerged objects. Benefits: Using high-fidelity electro-optical radiative transfer model to predict the time-varying visibility of submerged objects Aret� will create an image simulator for the ocean optics and mine countermeasures communities. Return