Tool for computer-assisted geo-spatial registration and truthing of images of differing dimensionality and resolution

The Air Force Research Lab, Advanced Guidance Division, AFRL/MNG located at Eglin AFB has expanded the capabilities of its Modular Algorithm Concept Evaluation Tool (MACET) for autonomous target acquisition (ATA) analysis to include an imagery truth editor for simultaneously displaying and working with multiple images of differing dimensionality and resolution. To support multi-sensor truthing, the MACET Truth Editor performs computer-assisted geo-spatial registration between multiple two-dimensional (2-D) images, or between 2-D images and three-dimensional (3-D) images. The input images of overlapping scenes may be obtained from various sensor types (visible, passive infrared, laser radar (ladar), etc.) and taken at different sensor locations and orientations. Registration of 3-D to 2-D and 2-D to 2-D imagery pixels is made to a reference 3-D coordinate system using "hints" provided by an analyst. Hints may include some combinations of the following to reach an approximate solution to the registration problem: marking of common points in each image, marking of horizon lines in 2-D images, entry of imagery sensor characteristics (FOV, FPA layout, etc.), and entry of relative sensor location and orientation. The MACET Truth Editor has a consistent user interface that allows registration hints to be entered and truthing operations to be performed graphically.