Effects of image compression on sensor performance
Abstract
As the number of fielded sensors increases, together with increasing sensor format size, and more spectral bands, the amount of sensor information available is rapidly multiplying. Additionally, sensors are increasingly being implemented in sensor networks with wired or wireless exchange of information. To handle the increasing load of data, often with limited network bandwidth resources, both still and moving imagery can be highly compressed, resulting in a 50 to 100 fold (or more) decrease in required network bandwidth. However, such high levels of compression are not error-free, and the resulting images contain artifacts that may adversely affect the ability of observers to detect or identify targets of interest. This paper attempts to quantify the effect of image compression in its impact on observer tasks such as target identification. We will address multiple typically-used compression algorithms, at varying degrees of high compression, in a series of controlled perception experiments to isolate the effects and quantify the impact on observer tasking. Recommendations will be made on how to incorporate performance degradation caused by image compression with other sensor design factors in designing a remote sensor with compressed imagery.
Publication Title
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Recommended Citation
O'Shea, P., & Jacobs, E. (2006). Effects of image compression on sensor performance. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering https://doi.org/10.1117/12.666620
