Development lightmap rendering technology to advance infrared simulation capabilities for training applications

Recent technology advances have enabled the simulation community to achieve greater realism in virtual training environments, including physics-based simulated sensor views. As new methods for sensor view generation are developed, the lack of readily available supporting data to populate these specialized techniques limits their implementation. Currently the capability is not available to efficiently generate enhanced temporal energy maps (TEM) that can supply advanced modeling methods with data to generate improved non-visual environment representations. Based on initiatives to produce synthetic visual imagery with correlated material maps, we propose to enhance the content and production of TEMs. Our research will demonstrate the feasibility of creating plausible visible imagery and material maps and utilize the TEMs to generate physically-based game-engine dynamic visible and IR lighting. We will extend the capabilities to produce realistic IR and multispectral lighting, including material interactions and reflections (visible and IR), by incorporating the multi-spectral sun-sky illumination maps developed by the University of Central Florida (UCF). Combining the artifact free material maps with the multispectral sun-sky illumination and material interaction capabilities will accurately simulate sensor data and information usable by Air Force (AF) IR simulation models for use in intelligence officer training.