<title>Surface landmine and trip-wire detection using calibrated polarization measurements in the LWIR and SWIR</title>

Abstract

Polarization measurements in the IR region are useful for the detection of man-made objects in natural environment. Surface laid landmines are examples of man-made objects that are difficult to detect, especially when a certain time have elapsed. As time goes by, both IR signature and degree of polarization are reduced, due to the dust coverage and the grass that has grown around the mines. Polarization measurements are useful when detecting Trip Wires. This article reports the results of IR polarization measurements compared to the measurements without a polarizing element. To simulate the dust and grasses that can cover the mines, a series of controlled covers are constructed. Measurements on this series are performed, and the results are shown in a diagram of relative Degree of Linear Polarization, (DoLP) as a function of coverage. The same is done for the case without a polarizer but here the relative radiance is shown. By comparing the two diagrams a measure is achieved of how effective the polarization measurements are with respect to the case without a polarizer. A simple parameter model of the coverage has been made and has been compared with the measurements. Measurements indicate that detection of trip wire is improved when using polarization measurements.