Using a Laser Underwater Camera Image Enhancer for Mine Warfare Applications: What is Gained?

Abstract : We present preliminary results from recent test of the LUCIE 2 (Laser Underwater Camera Image Enhancer) conducted in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. LUCIE 2 is a near compact laser range gated camera (25 cm in diameter, 70 cm in length, and neutrally buoyant in water) originally designed to decrease search and recovery operations under eye sage restrictions. The second generation LUCIE makes it a potential tool for MIW operations when divers are in the water identifying bottom objects. Coincident in-situ optical properties of absorption and scattering were taken to help resolve the environmental information contained in the LUCIE image. We present preliminary analysis on the performance of the system and a comparison with diver and camera identification.