Accurate Scene Generation of Target Characteristics Incorporating Dynamic Atmospheric Conditions using GAIA and OCEANUS

The Ballistic Missile Defense System"s ability to detect and track enemy missiles against space, ocean, or terrain backgrounds, including any intervening clouds as well as atmospheric turbulence, requires prior knowledge of the environmental radiance conditions to support the development of optimal airborne sensors and detection approaches. To support sensor development there is a need for an accurate infrared scene generation capability that fully incorporates the impact of the background on the target signature. CPI has demonstrated a state-of-the-art capability for simulating UV/VIS/IR imagery for terrains and clouds with its Global-scene Architecture for Integrated atmosphere, terrain, and cloud Analysis (GAIA) model, as well as for oceans with the Ocean Universal Scene Model (OCEANUS). For this project, CPI proposes to enhance GAIA and OCEANUS to incorporate cloud motion, star backgrounds, far-field atmospheric turbulence, and accelerate scene generation using a graphics processing unit (GPU). The feasibility of modeling these atmospheric effects will be demonstrated using real-world airborne and satellite mission scenarios, and validated against satellite imagery. This will include error/uncertainty estimates using well-defined statistical measures. GAIA and OCEANUS will implement an architecture that can be efficiently and consistently interfaced with existing computer modeling environments, such as the FLITES or SSGM codes.