Measurement and modeling of infrared imaging systems at conditions of reduced visibility (fog) for traffic applications

Kurt R. Beier; Ruediger Boehl; Jochen Fries; Winfried Hahn; Dieter Hausamann; Volker Tank; G. Wagner; Hubert Weisser

doi:10.1117/12.177911

15 June 1994 Measurement and modeling of infrared imaging systems at conditions of reduced visibility (fog) for traffic applications

Kurt R. Beier, Ruediger Boehl, Jochen Fries, Winfried Hahn, Dieter Hausamann, Volker Tank, G. Wagner, Hubert Weisser

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2223, Characterization and Propagation of Sources and Backgrounds; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177911
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1994, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

This paper addresses the feasibility and operational application of different infrared (IR) imaging systems in road traffic to improve security of individual motor vehicles at conditions of low visibility, especially in fog. Extensive field measurements were carried out at different weather conditions, mainly fog and haze, utilizing three IR imaging sensors in different spectral bands in the near and thermal infrared. Additionally, a CCD camera in the visible band was used for comparison purposes. Measurements were performed on public roads and a test road which was equipped with heated and unheated radiation reference sources and thermal beacons. Furthermore, the atmospheric spectral transmission and relevant meteorological and aerosol parameters were measured. A mathematical model, SIMIS (simulation model for IR scenes), was developed and applied to generate and analyze thermal images of the test road. The spectral dependencies and radiation properties of fog and haze were modelled with LOWTRAN 7. Apparent radiances, temperatures, and contrasts of the references sources were simulated as a function of distance. The contrast transmission and effective IR visibility was derived and compared to the measured IR-imaging sensor data. From the analysis an assessment of the performance of IR-imaging sensors at fog conditions has been deduced.

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Kurt R. Beier, Ruediger Boehl, Jochen Fries, Winfried Hahn, Dieter Hausamann, Volker Tank, G. Wagner, and Hubert Weisser "Measurement and modeling of infrared imaging systems at conditions of reduced visibility (fog) for traffic applications", Proc. SPIE 2223, Characterization and Propagation of Sources and Backgrounds, (15 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177911

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