Target acquisition modeling based on human visual system performance

J. Mathieu Valeton; Aart van Meeteren

doi:10.1117/12.45752

1 July 1991 Target acquisition modeling based on human visual system performance

J. Mathieu Valeton, Aart van Meeteren

Proceedings Volume 1486, Characterization, Propagation, and Simulation of Sources and Backgrounds; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45752
Event: Orlando '91, 1991, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Target acquisition performance of human observers is quantified in experiments with real target imagery. It is possible to describe the results with two basic laws of human visual perception. It is shown that recognition of military targets is equivalent to the detection of a circular disc of a certain size and contrast. The size of this disc is characteristic of the difficulty of the observation task. Once the critical disc parameters for a given task are known, the target recognition distance or probability can be calculated. This approach has been termed the 'equivalent disc approach' and has resulted in a target acquisition model for the visible spectrum called PHIND (Photons In Noise Detectability). It will be shown that this approach can in principle be extended to the thermal infrared spectrum. The 'disc detection' concept incorporates the effects of resolution, low contrast, low luminance, and noise.

Citation Download Citation

J. Mathieu Valeton and Aart van Meeteren "Target acquisition modeling based on human visual system performance", Proc. SPIE 1486, Characterization, Propagation, and Simulation of Sources and Backgrounds, (1 July 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.45752

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