title: Remote detection of buried land-mines and IEDs using LWIR polarimetric imaging.
abstract: We report results of an ongoing study designed to assess the ability for enhanced detection of recently buried land-mines and/or improvised explosive devices (IED) devices using passive long-wave infrared (LWIR) polarimetric imaging. Polarimetric results are presented for a series of field tests conducted at various locations and soil types. Well-calibrated Stokes images, S0, S1, S2, and the degree-of-linear-polarization (DoLP) are recorded for different line-of-sight (LOS) slant paths at varying distances. Results span a three-year time period in which three different LWIR polarimetric camera systems are used. All three polarimetric imaging platforms used a spinning-achromatic-retarder (SAR) design capable of achieving high polarimetric frame rates and good radiometric throughput without the loss of spatial resolution inherent in other optical designs. Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis and a standardized contrast parameter are used to compare detectability between conventional LWIR thermal and polarimetric imagery. Results suggest improved detectability, regardless of geographic location or soil type.
authors.affiliation: US Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, Maryland 20783, USA.
authors.forename: Kristan P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gurton
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felton
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D054041:Weapons
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents