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Innovative Measurement Techniques for Space-Based Remote Sensing/Standoff Detection

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: F19628-03-C-0078
Agency Tracking Number: F031-2316
Amount: $99,994.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2003
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
760 Las Posas Rd., Suite A-4
Camarillo, CA 93010
United States
DUNS: 103075867
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Edwin Winter
 Vice Preseident
 (805) 987-1972
 edwinter@tracam.com
Business Contact
 Donna Winter
Title: President
Phone: (805) 987-1972
Email: dmwinter@tracam.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The resolution of hyperspectral sensors is typically much less than that achieved by panchromatic and multi-spectral sensors due to fundamental noise limitations. The proposed work will demonstrate a new and innovative technique based on linear unmixing,called Color Sharpening, which combines a set of high-resolution multi-spectral images with a lower spatial resolution hyperspectral image to produce a product that has the spectral properties of the hyperspectral image at a spatial resolution approachingthat of the high resolution data. With the Color Sharpening approach, there is the potential for a new dual multi-spectral/hyperspectral data collection system for cost-effective space based spectral sensing Under Phase I, the algorithm will bedeveloped further to improve the target detection performance and improve its computer implementation. A series of analyses will compare the candidate approach to current conventional panchromatic sharpening and to unsharpened data. To accomplish this,high resolution multi-spectral data will be combined with lower hyperspectral data using high quality registration. The new approach will be assessed in terms of object-to-background contrast enhancement and/or clutter suppression, classificationaccuracy as well as for accuracy and speed. Potential methods to apply the new technology to military and commercial applications will be investigated. Hyperspectral imaging systems are assuming a greater importance for a wide variety of commercial andmilitary systems. The reason for this increased interest is the fact that a hyperspectral sensor of a given spatial resolution or pixel size will reveal information on the scene that can not be obtained by single band or multi-spectral sensors. Forcommercial geological remote sensing, the spectral properties of the surface will tell the existence of minerals of potential commercial value. For military surveillance systems, a hyperspectral system can often be used to detect and identify a militarytarget, even though the target may occupy less than a single pixel. The ability of the hyperspectral sensor to behave as a sensor with higher spatial resolution does not mean that there is not a place for high-resolution imagery. In fact, manyoperational and planned hyperspectral sensors are coupled with a high-resolution instrument. There are many applications for a technology that can optimally combine the data from these two types of sensors. An existing procedure often called ?sharpening?combines the output of the analysis of the hyperspectral data with the high-resolution image. The proposed procedure allows the combination of multi-spectral with lower hyperspectral data using a physical model to optimally combine the data .There are two military applications: target detection and scene classification. Target detection requires high spatial resolution, which is difficult to achieve from space. This approach offers a possible solution for a satellite based sensor. For thescene classification application, which is used for terrain trafficability, crop assessment, damage assessment, detection of non-isolated ?target? materials, as well as intelligence, the development of image products with the properties of both sensorswill aid the work of the Image Analyst.There are multiple potential uses for this technology in the commercial domain. Satellite hyperspectral remote sensing products are limited in spatial resolution by the constraints of a space-based optical system and the great range to the scene. TRA isalready talking to the commercial companies involved in the Hyperion and NEMO satellite systems. The processing requirement is very important here and our program plan includes determining hardware and software solutions to the processing problem.The market timing for this effort is ideal because candidate hyperspectral satellite sensors are currently being studied for classification and detection uses by the military and intelligence communities. This proposed program represents a key opportunityto develop a new technology with high likelihood potential for commercial success that also has high promise for the United States military.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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