Littoral Zone Characterization Using Merged Multi-Spectral Visible Electro Optic (EO) and Infrared (IR) Imagery

Command of the littoral environment is advantageous for the warfighter. Remote characterization of the littoral region is an asset to mission planners. Characterization includes providing bathymetry, currents, and probability of deployed mines or obstacles deterring beach landings of US Navy personnel or amphibious vehicles. Measurements of properties of the surf zone are difficult due to the variations in the environment, the difficulty of deploying systems, and the accuracy to which the systems can measure. Advanced Coherent Technologies (ACT) has shown that remotely collected multispectral imagery of the surf zone shows promise in developing a quantitative description of the surf zone. The ACT EYE5 sensor has been used to collect surf zone imagery from an airborne platform and has been configured to deploy on Tier II and smaller unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The objective of this project is to extend the utility of small turreted electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors into very shallow water (VSW) and surf zone (SZ) missions. This will be accomplished by tailoring the ACT EYE5 system for surf zone reconnaissance through modification of the camera systems in the turret and the real-time algorithms producing the data products needed for timely decision-making by those operating in the surf zone environment.