High-resolution imaging of a long-distance target with a single-slit streak-tube lidar

In streak tube imaging lidar (STIL), streak images are obtained using a CCD camera. However, noise in the captured streak images can greatly affect the quality of reconstructed 3D contrast and range images. The greatest challenge for streak image denoising is reducing the noise while preserving details. In this paper, we propose an adaptive Gaussian guided filter (AGGF) for noise removal and detail enhancement of streak images. The proposed algorithm is based on a guided filter (GF) and part of an adaptive bilateral filter (ABF). In the AGGF, the details are enhanced by optimizing the offset parameter. AGGF-denoised streak images are significantly sharper than those denoised by the GF. Moreover, the AGGF is a fast linear time algorithm achieved by recursively implementing a Gaussian filter kernel. Experimentally, AGGF demonstrates its capacity to preserve edges and thin structures and outperforms the existing bilateral filter and domain transform filter in terms of both visual quality and peak signal-to-noise ratio performance.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Streak image denoising and segmentation using adaptive Gaussian guided filter

Jiang

Guo

2014

“…Streak tube imaging lidar (STIL) is an active imaging system using a shot pulsed laser transmitter and a streak tube receiver to produce 3D range and intensity imagery [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Unlike most laser imaging systems, the laser light in the STIL system is spread out into a wide azimuth and narrow elevation fan beam, which is projected into the scene as a line as is shown in Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each row of the CCD image represents the slit image at a different time (or range), and each column of the CCD image can be considered as a single time-resolved channel. The 3D imagery is reconstructed from the multiple sequential pulses by sweeping the laser fan beam over the scene using a 1D elevation scanner, or through the motion of the sensor platform in a push-room style [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The STIL has attracted a great deal of interest and attention recently because it has the advantages of wide azimuth field-of-view, high range and angle resolution, and high frame rate [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Moreover, the STIL can be extended to provide a number of additional capabilities over the conventional 3D laser imaging systems by using several slits instead of the usual single slit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Signal-to-noise performance analysis of streak tube imaging lidar systems I Cascaded model

Yang¹,

Wu²,

Wang³

et al. 2012

Streak tube imaging lidar (STIL) is an active imaging system using a pulsed laser transmitter and a streak tube receiver to produce 3D range and intensity imagery. The STIL has recently attracted a great deal of interest and attention due to its advantages of wide azimuth field-of-view, high range and angle resolution, and high frame rate. This work investigates the signal-to-noise performance of STIL systems. A theoretical model for characterizing the signal-to-noise performance of the STIL system with an internal or external intensified streak tube receiver is presented, based on the linear cascaded systems theory of signal and noise propagation. The STIL system is decomposed into a series of cascaded imaging chains whose signal and noise transfer properties are described by the general (or the spatial-frequency dependent) noise factors (NFs). Expressions for the general NFs of the cascaded chains (or the main components) in the STIL system are derived. The work presented here is useful for the design and evaluation of STIL systems.

“…Streak tube imaging lidar (STIL) is an active imaging system using a pulsed laser transmitter and a streak tube (ST) receiver to produce 3D range and intensity imagery [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The STIL has attracted a great deal of interest and attention recently due to its advantages of wide azimuth field-of-view, high range and angle resolution, and high frame rate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Signal-to-noise performance analysis of streak tube imaging lidar systems II Theoretical analysis and discussion

Wang

Yang

et al. 2012

In the preceding paper (referred to here as paper I), we presented a general signal-to-noise performance analysis of a streak tube imaging lidar (STIL) system within the framework of linear cascaded systems theory. A cascaded model is proposed for characterizing the signal-to-noise performance of a STIL system with an internal or external intensified streak tube receiver. The STIL system can be decomposed into a series of cascaded imaging chains whose signal and noise transfer properties are described by the general (or the spatial-frequency dependent) noise factors (NFs). Equations for the general NFs of the cascaded chains (or the main components) in the STIL system are derived. This work investigates the signal-to-noise performance of an external intensified STIL system. The implementation of the cascaded model for predicting and evaluating the signal-to-noise performance of the external intensified STIL system is described. Some factors that limit the signal-to-noise performance of the external intensified STIL system are analyzed and discussed.