The potential impact of hyperspectral imagery on amphibious warfare planning
By:  Keith W. Maly
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 130
Description: Military image analysts primarily use panchromatic and radar images to aid situational awareness in preparing a mission plan. Although analysts rely on these two formats, there are situations where these two sensors are unable to detect potential threats, i.e., buried mines. The Department of Defense has proposed using a hyperspectral sensor to detect threats that otherwise may not be detected by existing sensors. In order to determine the utility of hyperspectral imagery for mission planning, a task analysis was conducted at two Joint Intelligence Centers to measure image analysts' preferences to infrared, radar, panchromatic, and hyperspectral imagery during an amphibious planning process. The results showed that the image analysts were most confident using panchromatic imagery for the majority of the planning tasks; however, the analysts exhibited uncertainty for other tasks, such as detecting buried mines. Further analysis showed that image analysts could reduce their uncertainty in detecting buried mines and producing bathymetric maps by using hyperspectral imagery. Although hyperspectral imagery reduced uncertainty during mission planning, operators report that this imagery is confusing. To integrate hyperspectral imagery in mission planning, image analysts must be trained to interpret a hyperspectral scene and understand how to exploit its spectral characteristics.
Notes: "December 1999".

Thesis advisor(s): William K. Krebs, Richard C. Olsen.

Thesis (M.S. in Systems Technology (Scientific and Technical Intelligence)) Naval Postgraduate School, December 1999.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-128).

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Navy (USN) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 6/26/00