Analyzing point target detection algorithms

We present a method to evaluate point target detection algorithms. For any particular algorithm, a datacube without a target is evaluated with each pixel being assigned a score; the highest scores belong to those points which are potential false alarms. We then systematically implant a selected target signature into every pixel in the image and evaluate the resulting scores; the lowest scores are those pixels in which the target may be missed. ROC curve analysis can then be made. In this paper, we evaluate a new algorithm which we have developed; we use the evaluation of this algorithm as a paradigm for the efficacy of our algorithm evaluation tool.