title: Psychophysical assessments of image-sensor fused imagery.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine the perceptual advantages of multiband sensor-fused (achromatic and chromatic) imagery over conventional single-band nighttime (image-intensified and infrared) imagery for a wide range of visual tasks, including detection, orientation, and scene recognition. Participants were 151 active-duty military observers whose reaction time and accuracy scores were recorded during a visual search task. Data indicate that sensor fusion did not improve performance relative to that obtained with single-band imagery on a target detection task but did facilitate object recognition, judgments of spatial orientation, and scene recognition. Observers' recognition and orientation judgments were improved by the emergent information within the image-fused imagery (i.e., combining dominant information from two or more sensors into a single displayed image). Actual or potential applications of this research include the deployment of image-sensor fused systems for automobile, aviation, and maritime displays to increase operators' visual processing during low-light conditions.
authors.affiliation: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA. william.krebs@faa.gov
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sinai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003626:Data Display; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D011601:Psychophysics; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014796:Visual Perception