Evaluation of system options for LOROP: alternative sensor technologies

Authors:

  • Ove Gustafsson
  • David Bergström
  • Markus Henriksson

Publish date: 2016-12-12

Report number: FOI-R--4375--SE

Pages: 27

Written in: Swedish

Keywords:

  • LOROP
  • aerial reconnaissance
  • electro-optical
  • multispectral imaging
  • hyperspectral imaging
  • polarimetric imaging
  • lidar
  • gated viewing

Abstract

An evaluative study of different electro-optical sensor technologies for long-range aerial reconnaissance with oblique viewing angle to the ground, called LOROP (Long Range Oblique Photography) is here presented. In the report, a brief description of sensor technologies such as passive broadband imaging, multi- and hyperspectral imaging, polarimetric imaging as well as active 2D and 3D imaging technologies is provided. These technologies have been evaluated on the basis of capabilities and requirements of a LOROP system, such as range, contrast, spatial resolution, coverage, night vision, all weather performance, robustness, etc. A simple and subjective weighted summation of the need satisfactions provided by the different technologies show that passive multispectral imaging would best meet the requirements, followed by passive broadband imaging in VNIR and MWIR. The analysis is however not complete, since more capabilities may have to be included. A ranking of the capabilities by relevance for various tactical and operative reconnaissance missions and scenarios is also needed. The analysis here presented could form the basis for such a more complete evaluation study.