Thermal Signature Characteristics of Vehicle/Terrain Interaction Disturbances: Implications for Battlefield Vehicle Classification

Abstract

Thermal emissivity spectra (8-14 microm) of track impressions/background were determined in conjunction with operation of six military vehicle types, T-72 and M1 Tanks, an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a 5-ton truck, a D7 tractor, and a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), over diverse soil surfaces to determine if vehicle type could be related to track thermal signatures. Results suggest soil compaction and fragmentation/pulverization are primary parameters affecting track signatures and that soil and vehicle/terrain-contact type determine which parameter dominates. Steel-tracked vehicles exert relatively low ground-contact pressure but tend to fragment/pulverize soil more so than do rubber-tired vehicles, which tend mainly to compact. In quartz-rich, lean clay soil tracked vehicles produced impressions with spectral contrast of the quartz reststrahlen features decreased from that of the background. At the same time, 5-ton truck tracks exhibited increased contrast on the same surface, suggesting that steel tracks fragmented soil while rubber tires mainly produced compaction. The structure of materials such as sand and moist clay-rich river sediment makes them less subject to further fragmentation/pulverization; thus, compaction was the main factor affecting signatures in these media, and both tracked and wheeled vehicles created impressions with increased spectral contrast on these surfaces. These results suggest that remotely sensed thermal signatures could differentiate tracked and wheeled vehicles on terrain in many areas of the world of strategic interest. Significant applications include distinguishing visually/spectrally identical lightweight decoys from actual threat vehicles.

High‐resolution satellite imagery for detection of tracks and vegetation damage caused by all‐terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Northern Norway

“…if it would be important to detect all tracks with the risk of erroneously detecting something else like ridge edges or creeks, then the threshold value in the ‘edge detection’ procedures must be lowered. Eastes et al (2004) tested other sensors and wavelengths in order to detect tracks from military vehicles. Their results suggest that remotely sensed thermal signatures could differentiate tracked and wheeled vehicles on terrain in many areas of the world of strategic interest.…”

“…It is regarded that vegetation types like fens (mires), exposed ridges, damp heaths, mountain meadows and vegetation types rich in lichens are especially vulnerable to terrain vehicles. Also forest vegetation types on deep, peaty subsoil have low resistance to damage (Renman, 1989; Kevan et al , 1995; Eastes et al , 2004). When evaluating the vulnerability to different vegetation formations, three main considerations are to be taken into account; extent of damage, resistance and ability to recover.…”

“…Experiences from other projects dealing with the detection of objects have shown that image resolution is the key factor for portraying objects at the smallest scale or detection of damage in the terrain (Ridley et al , 1997; Teterukovskiy, 2003; Eastes et al , 2004; Allard et al , 2004; Lechner et al , 2009). Accordingly, the high‐resolution satellites as Ikonos‐2 and Quickbird which can provide data with a spatial resolution up to 1 m and 0.6 m, respectively, are well suited for this purpose.…”

“…Although the problems ATVs are causing the environment are increasing; however, few studies (Eastes et al , 2004, Forbes et al 2009) have been carried out using satellite remote sensing techniques in order to detect and map such damage. The objectives of the following study were to assess the feasibility of using satellite imagery with high‐spatial resolution to detect tracks from different ATVs and armoured vehicles and establish efficient methods to carry out a large‐scale detection and mapping of all tracks and damaged areas within the study area.…”

Assessing the impacts of military vehicle traffic on natural areas. Introduction to the special issue and review of the relevant military vehicle impact literature

“…A number of studies have emphasized the effect of vehicle designs or static vehicle properties on site impacts [85,[89][90][91][92]. The fifth paper in this special issue, Jones et al [93], evaluates the extent of terrain degradation associated with common military vehicle design classes using vehicle mobility performance models and soil rutting as a measure of vehicle impact.…”