<title>Target detection threshold in noisy color imagery</title>

Abstract

Current target acquisition models are for monochrome imagery systems (single detector). The increasing interest in multispectral infrared systems and color daylight imagers highlights the need for models that describe the target acquisition process for color systems (2 or more detectors).This study investigates the detection of simple color targets in a noisy color background. Color targets are varied separately either in hue or saturation. Noise is created with a mixture ofrandom hue and saturation combinations. Our preliminary result showed a simple two-color (yellow-blue) representation did not improve the standard black-and-white Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference sensitivity. Subsequent psychophysical experiments reveal that human hue and saturation discriminations interact (the Abney effect) and need to be separated in color target detection modeling. Research is continuing to better define the mathematical relationship between the target acquisition parameters (e.g., temperature difference or intensity contrast) and the color space of hue and saturation.

Improved Color Mapping Methods for Multiband Nighttime Image Fusion

“…Moreover, observers can selectively attend task-relevant color targets and to ignore non-targets with a task-irrelevant color [18][19][20]. Hence, simply mapping multiple spectral bands into a three-dimensional (false) color space may already serve to increase the dynamic range of a sensor system [21]. Thus, it may provide immediate benefits such as improved detection probability, reduced false alarm rates, reduced search times, and increased capability to detect camouflaged targets and to discriminate targets from decoys [22,23].…”

Cognitive Image Fusion and Assessment

“…Also, observers are able to selectively attend to task-relevant color targets and to ignore non-targets with a taskwww.intechopen.com irrelevant color (Ansorge et al, 2005;Folk & Remington, 1998;Green & Anderson, 1956). As a result, simply producing a fused image by mapping multiple spectral bands into a three dimensional color space already generates an immediate benefit, and provides a method to increase the dynamic range of a sensor system (Driggers et al, 2001). However, the color mapping should be chosen with care and should be adapted to the task at hand.…”

Test method for multiband imaging sensors

“…In color space, one can measure the minimum difference in luminance, hue or saturation (or a combination), required for a human observer to detect a test pattern from its background (see for example Watson 23 or Driggers et al 24 ). This minimum amount or threshold is sometimes called JND: Just Noticeable Difference.…”