Resolution requirements for thermal detection of buried land mines

Abstract

The thermal properties and shape of a buried land mine can, by natural means such as diurnal cycles, result in a temperature profile on the ground surface. By exploiting the presence of this thermal signature, IR imaging has demonstrated the ability to detect buried mine-like objects. Of importance to the practical success of this technology is the ability to obtain a spatial resolution which allows discrimination of mine signatures from background clutter. This paper describes findings from a study conducted to establish the clutter statistics of natural occurring backgrounds. A novel approach is presented: the use of 2D autoregressive models to detect the unnatural variations in the background caused by buried miens. With this knowledge we have developed a process to estimate the camera resolution necessary to reliably detect and discriminate a thermal signature originating from a buried mine-like object in various terrain types.