Atmospheric Codes (MODTRAN, FASCODE, and HITRAN) for Sensor Development and Evaluation

Level: Introductory Length: 7 hours Format: In-Person Lecture Intended Audience: This course is for engineers and scientist involved in sensor design, sensor evaluation, and remote sensing for solving problems ranging from target detection and identification through global warming. Description: Passive and active sensors are developed for target acquisition and spectroscopic analysis ranging from the ultraviolet through the microwave region. Accurate atmospheric absorption and emission (path radiance) values are essential for sensor development. This data is obtained using MODTRAN, often used in conjunction with NVThermIP, and other sensor software. HITRAN and FASCODE are used for laser applications. Emphasis will be placed on solving real world problems. Four typical scenarios will be presented: ground-to-ground, ground-to-air, air-to- air and ground-to-space scenarios. The importance of transmission and radiance for each scenario will be discussed. The students are encouraged to bring their specific scenarios to the course to be setup and run. A computer will be available and we will run these scenarios and discuss the results. The attendees will be able to take home model input files to be used at their facilities. We will discuss their cases along with the expected transmission and atmospheric radiance values. Learning Outcomes: This course will enable you to: - present an overview and explain the "theory" of the models: emphasis on MODTRAN - apply the models to atmospheric transmission/radiance, smart weapons for defense applications, EO sensors development/evaluations, ground and satellite image correction, hyperspectral imaging, laser spectroscopy laser communications and LIDAR/LADAR systems. - evaluate a "basic" problem: You are on the ground looking up to an aircraft. Your partner is on the aircraft looking down at the ground. Do you and your partner measure the same atmospheric transmission? Do you and your partner measure the same radiance? Why? - identify MODTRAN assumptions, capabilities and limitations - define basic model inputs – i.e. "MODTRAN for Dummies" - utilize advanced model inputs such as radiosonde data, Lambertian surfaces, BRDF etc. - solve and run your own specific scenarios - compare other models and databases: FASCODE, EOSAEL, HITRAN, NVThermIP etc. Instructor(s): John W. Schroeder is the chief scientist of the Ontar Corporation. He has been involved with the development and use of atmospheric and sensor computer models and atmospheric databases for over 40 years. He has numerous publication in scientific journals and conference presentations in related areas. Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2016 Course Held: 20 April 2016