LUCIE: a Laser Underwater Camera Image Enhancer

Author

Forand, J.L. ; Fournier, G.R. ; Bonnier, D. ; Pace, P.

Author_Institution

Defence Res. Establ. Valcartier, Courcelette, Que., Canada

fYear

1993

fDate

18-21 Oct 1993

Abstract

Calculation of the scattering and absorption coefficients obtained from the analysis of data taken in the waters off the coasts of Canada by NEARSCAT (a full spectrum narrow forward angle transmissometer-nephelometer) persuaded the authors that a laser assisted underwater camera system could provide better quality images over that of a conventional-system. Accordingly, the authors have designed and built a Laser Underwater Camera Image Enhancer (LUCIE). The system has been tested in a water tank facility and has been mounted on the HYSUB 5000, a remotely operated vehicle, for sea trials at a mean depth of 35 m in Patricia Bay near Victoria. In these waters the system has a range of 3 to 5 times that of a conventional camera with floodlights

Keywords

cameras; image processing; laser beam applications; oceanographic equipment; Canadian coastal waters; HYSUB 5000; LUCIE; Laser Underwater Camera Image Enhancer; NEARSCAT; Patricia Bay; Victoria; absorption coefficients; full spectrum narrow forward angle transmissometer-nephelometer; remotely operated vehicle; scattering coefficients; sea trials; water tank facility; Absorption; Cameras; Laser beams; Optical design; Optical imaging; Optical pulses; Optical scattering; Optical surface waves; Remotely operated vehicles; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS '93. Engineering in Harmony with Ocean. Proceedings

Conference_Location

Victoria, BC

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1385-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.1993.326183

Filename

326183