Modular Visible Signature Improvements

Computer signature simulation in the visible band faces several unique challenges: availability of Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) data, accurate modeling of BRDF in software, and modeling of reflected earth albedo illumination, which has high spatial and temporal variation. Stellar Science and Surface Optics Corporation (SOC) have teamed to provide a hardware and software solution to these challenges. SOC will develop a new visible band BRDF measurement device that can produce data over half the hemisphere of outgoing directions in a single measurement, streamlining a manual process that previously took hours. Stellar Science will develop a modular signature software framework that incorporates all common BRDF models and can be easily extended, along with a tunable statistical earth albedo model based on satellite imagery. Approved for Public Release 15-MDA-8169 (20 March 15)