IR measurements and image processing for enhanced-vision systems in civil aviation

A series of IR measurements with a FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) system during landing approaches to various airports have been performed. A real time image processing procedure to detect and identify the runway and eventual obstacles is discussed and demonstrated. It is based on IR image segmentation and information derived from synthetic vision data. Thhe extracted information from IR images will be combined with the appropriate information from a MMW (millimeter wave) radar sensor in the subsequent fusion processor. This fused information aims to increase the pilot's situation awareness.