Performance of target distinctness metrics evaluated against colour and monochromatic photosimulation results

Vivienne C. Wheaton; Joanne B. Culpepper

doi:10.1117/12.2194229

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21 October 2015 Performance of target distinctness metrics evaluated against colour and monochromatic photosimulation results

Vivienne C. Wheaton, Joanne B. Culpepper

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Proceedings Volume 9653, Target and Background Signatures; 96530U (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2194229
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2015, Toulouse, France

Abstract

The TNO Human Factors Search 2 dataset is a valuable resource for studies in target detection, providing researchers with observational data against which image-based target distinctness metrics and detection models can be tested. The observational data provided with the Search 2 dataset was created by human observers searching colour images projected from a slide projector. Many target distinctness metrics studies are however carried out not on colour images but on images that have been processed into greyscale by various means. This is usually done for ease of analysis and meaningful interpretation. Utility of a metric is usually assessed by analysing the correlation between metric results and recorded observational results. However, the question remains of how well the results from the contrast metrics analysed from monochromatic images could be expected to compare to the observational results from colour images. We present results of a photosimulation experiment conducted using a monochromatic representation of the Search 2 dataset and an analysis of several target distinctness metrics. The monochromatic images presented to observers were created by processing the Search 2 images into L*, a* and b* colour space representations, and presenting the L* (lightness) image. The results of this experiment are compared with the original Search 2 results, showing strong correlation (0.83) between the monochrome and colour experiments in terms of correct target detection, and in terms of search time. Target distinctness metrics from analysis of these images are compared to the results of the photosimulation experiments, and the original Search 2 results.

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Vivienne C. Wheaton and Joanne B. Culpepper "Performance of target distinctness metrics evaluated against colour and monochromatic photosimulation results", Proc. SPIE 9653, Target and Background Signatures, 96530U (21 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2194229

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