In support of low flying air vehicle missions, the Navy seeks improved capabilities to detect automatically, geo-locate, and determine the height above ground of vertical obstructions over operational areas. Of importance is the ability to assess the horizontal and vertical accuracy of detection results and detect obstructions above specified heights. The solution must be able to process and fuse various inputs, including multi-source imagery and elevation data. Accordingly, we propose to research and develop an innovative system to perform these functions, tentatively named: "VertiVision"; and particular emphasis is on support to the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Program. Of prime importance are: 1) A mathematically rigorous capability that can detect vertical obstructions, with emphasis on manmade objects such as buildings, towers, and similar features. 2) A capability to ingest and fuse multiple data sources, to include commercial, national, and tactical and leverage sensor model parameters to ensure maximum modeling precision; 3) A capability to accurately determine the height(s) of obstruction(s) as per mission requirements; and 4) A method for geo-locating the obstructions and making such output compatible with Navy mission planning objectives. Commercial and defense marketplaces are demanding solutions of this type, which suggests an eventual marketable solution should do well. Benefit A number of opportunities for this solution exist in the marketplace. The most promising involves providing software tools to satellite systems vendors and their value-added resellers and product generation partners for sale and resale. These companies are motivated to help develop more markets and demand for their core imagery products. DoD, civil and science agencies, and aviation agencies worldwide are potential customers of bulk sales of the suite. During both Phase I and Phase II, research into all logical marketplaces will be performed to finalize anticipated revenue levels and per unit pricing. We believe at this point that the market value for the solution will be in the $4,100-$7,400 range, with embedded versions resold by partners for roughly 20-35% off the standalone pricing. Keywords softcopy photogrammetry, PTAN, Validation, change detection, geolocation, Automatic Terrain Extraction, Image fusion, site modeling, Vertical Obstruction Detection
