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

dvanced Coherent Technologies, LLC (ACT) proposes to leverage recent ONR projects investigating surf zone dynamics and current programs developing low cost EO/IR imaging systems to show the utility of using an airborne EO/MSI/IR sensor to characterize the near shore and surf zone environments. ACT will utilize recently collected coastal EO/MSI/IR data as well as new data collected by ACT’s new turreted MANTIS 4T sensor (EO/MSI/IR) to demonstrate this utility. The MANTIS 4T sensor is a relatively low cost system composed of zoom video, long wave infrared and 3 band (selectable) multispectral systems integrated into a five inch turret compatible with tier 2 UAV’s (STUAS). Characterization algorithms will be advanced and new algorithms will be developed. Initial consideration will focus on the ‘surf zone index’ developed initially during the ONR ROAR program. The algorithm will be extended to use fused EO/MSI/IR data rather than just MSI as originally published.