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Small maritime targets, e.g., periscope tubes, jet skies, swimmers and small boats, are potential threats for naval ships under many conditions, but are difficult to detect with current radar systems due to their limited radar cross section and the presence of sea clutter. On the other hand, applications of lidar systems have shown that the reflections from small targets are significantly stronger than reflections from the sea surface. As a result, dedicated lidar systems are potential tools for the detection of small maritime targets. A geometric approach is used to compare the diffuse reflection properties of cylinders and spheres with flat surfaces, which is used to estimate the maximum detectable range of such objects for a given lidar system. Experimental results using lasers operating at 1.06 µm and 1.57 µm confirm this theory and are discussed. Small buoys near Scheveningen harbor could be detected under adverse weather over more than 9 km. Extrapolation of these results indicates that small targets can be detected out to ranges of approximately 20 km.

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The EDA project "Detection in Urban scenario using Combined Airborne imaging Sensors" (DUCAS) is in progress. The aim of the project is to investigate the potential benefit of combined high spatial and spectral resolution airborne imagery for several defense applications in the urban area. The project is taking advantage of the combined resources from 7 contributing nations within the EDA framework. An extensive field trial has been carried out in the city of Zeebrugge at the Belgian coast in June 2011. The Belgian armed forces contributed with platforms, weapons, personnel (soldiers) and logistics for the trial. Ground truth measurements with respect to geometrical characteristics, optical material properties and weather conditions were obtained in addition to hyperspectral, multispectral and high resolution spatial imagery.High spectral/spatial resolution sensor data are used for detection, classification, identification and tracking.

Seven countries within the European Defence Agency (EDA) framework are joining effort in a four year project (2009- 2013) on Detection in Urban scenario using Combined Airborne imaging Sensors (DUCAS). Data has been collected in a joint field trial including instrumentation for 3D mapping, hyperspectral and high resolution imagery together with in situ instrumentation for target, background and atmospheric characterization. Extensive analysis with respect to detection and classification has been performed. Progress in performance has been shown using combinations of hyperspectral and high spatial resolution sensors. © 2013 SPIE