GEMS STUDY PROGRAM SUMMARY FINAL REPORT

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CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7
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S
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25
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December 28, 2016
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March 29, 2002
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25
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October 20, 1967
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REPORT
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Approved Fo 'F # ? c 22/06/17 : CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 Declass Review by NIMA/DOD 25X1A Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 S--I Ei vsH - M - OOW-3 ENGINEERING REPORT NO. GEMS STUDY PROGRAM SUMMARY FINAL REPORT DATE: October 20 1967 PREPARED FOR: SPO 27203 2X1 A 0 Approved For Release p-oved For. Release 2002/06/17 CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 'JSE-,tc\X-COOS ..3 Section Approved For Release 2002/Q6/17 :LLCIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 TABLE OF CONTENTS GEMS STUDY PROGRAM 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Program Objectives SUMMARY OF TASK RESULTS 2.1 Refinement of. Techniques 2.2 Alternate GEMS Technique. 2.3 System Parameters Study 2.4 Equal MagnificationGEMS Study 2.5 Psychophysical GEMS Study 2.6 GEMS Viewer Study 2.7 P,,rudo GEMS Viewer Study PROGRAM CONCLUSIONS 3.1 Technological Status 3.2? Usefulness of GEMS 3.3 Program Recommendations Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Page Approved For Release 2002/06/17 CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The GEMS Study program could not have been successfully completed without the assistance received from various customer facility personnel. The author wishes to thank all the individuals who contributed their time and efforts to the Psychophysical CEMS experiment. A special expression of gratitude is extended to who 25X1 A did a fine job of coordinating customer- 25X1A aided us in, acquiring the system parameters information and conducting the psychophysical experiment. Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 GEMS STUDS PROGRAM 1.1 INTRODUCTION The GEMS Study program has been successfully completed. The program efforts succeeded in accomplishing the major objectives. Techniques were established for generating realistic simulations of the appropriate mission material; the accuracies of the simulation processes were defined for most of the simulation technique; and the psychophysical study was effective in defi..n- ing the increment spacings for a modulation transfer function (MTF) - ground exposure GEMS matrix array and the accuracy of the subjective judgments of each parameter. Since a comprehensive final report was submitted at the completion of each program task, the program final report wil" serve to summarize. the findings of the tasks and to discuss the potential. implementation of GEMS in the evaluation of mission material. 1.2 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The GEMS Study program was concerned with seven basic tasks. The major objectives of each task are defined in the following subparagraphs: 1.2.1 Refinement of Techni_gues In refining the simulation techniques of the GEMS modified contact. printer, the primary objectives were to improve the precision with which. each of the imago quality parameters could be controlled and to determine the accuracy of the simulation processes. The simulation processes and instru- mentation were up-dated in accordance with the study findings. This task was Approved For Release 2002/06117 CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06117: CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 later modified to include the study of MTF simulation control in the Pseudo GEMS Viewer concept. 1.2.2 Alternate GEMS Technique In simulating MTF with the modified printer GEMS instrument, it was conceived that the control of this simulation parameter would be Fresnel diffraction limited at approximately 100 cycles per millimeter. In the antici- pation of future simulation requirements above this upper spatial frequency limit, an alternate means of controlling MTF was investigated. The alternate technique investigated involved the use of a modified copy camera system where the spread function of the imagery was modified by controlling the size and shape of the copy lens pupil function. 1.2.3 System Parameters Study Under the redirection of efforts phase of the program, the System Parameters study was initiated in order to obtain objective measures of such appropriate mission material parameters as MTF, ground exposure, and scene contrast; and such film-processing characteristics as the film sensito-- metric curve, film granularity, and film density neutrality. These objective measures were used in establishing the parameters of the psychophysical GEMS matrix, 1.2.4 Eqp alMagnification_GEMS Study Under the redirection of efforts phase of the program, the Equal Magnification GEMS study was established for the purpose of defining a technique that would permit realistic simulations to he generated at the same scale factor as mission material. This task evolved because ordinary negative material could not be employed in generating a GEMS master transparency with a Approved For Release 2002/06/17: CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/6,6i177-: !CIA- 2DP78BO4747A000700010025-7 faithful reproduction of. the ground exposure tonal scale. In addition, the control of the MTF simulation was influenced by the 'non-linearities in the toe and shoulder areas of the original film characteristic curve. 1.2.5 Psychophysical GEMS Study The major objr.ctive of the Psychophysical GEMS study was to determine the usefulness of GEMS in the subjective evaluation of mission material. The objective was to be accomplished by psychophysical experimen- tation. The information to be acquir(,d'from this experimentation was to a) the visual perceptible increment spacing of MTF.and exposure, b) the accuracy -of the subjects' judgments of each parameter., c) the uniqueness of each M`L1?-exposire .element in a matrix array, and d) a measure of the subject's ability to rank mission material with GEMS. 1.2.6 GEMS Viewer - llesj_gn_Concept If GEMS are to be employed in the evaluation of mission material, it is essential that a viewer be designed for handling both the GEMS and the mission material. The design features of such a viewer were established under this task. Consideration was given to such features as an automatic matrix element search mechanism, split field viewing, GEMS rotation, and vari- able magnification viewing. 1.2.7 Pseudo GEMS Viewer It was envisioned that' a GI-MS viewer could be constructed where the parameters of MTF, ground exposure, and cease con.tias would be Approved For Release 2002/06/173. CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 y '1 Approved For Release 2002/0647 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 simulated by optical and'electrical.mechanisms within a viewer. The fabri- cation of a viewer of this nature would eliminate the need of a large film matrix array. This task was directed toward demonstration of the feasibility of this concept with a breadboard experiment. Approved For Release 2002/06/17't CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 20Q2/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 SECTION II SUMMARY OF TASK RESULTS 2.1 REFINEMENT OF TECIUNIQUES The Refinement of Techniques was concerned with investigating the following simulation processes and improving the simulation instrumentation. a) M1'F simulation on the GEMS modified contact printer b) MTF simulation in the Pseudo GEMS Viewer c) Exposure simulation d) Haze simulation 2.1.1 Simulation Technique Conclusions An analytical investigation was performed to determine the effects of near-field diffraction on the control of MTF when the MTF was simulated with the GEMS modified contact: printer. The results of the inves- tigation proved that the simulation of MTF could be suitably controlled below 100 cycles per millimeter. Above 100 cycles per millimet_r the Fresnel diffrac- tion effect introduces a sizable alteration in the shape of an edge gradient. The edge shape alterations are too extensive to allow the simulation of specific transfer function shapes in the high spatial frequency regions. In the simulation of MTF with the Pseudo GEMS Viewer, non- linear film imagery must be convolved with the degrading linear spread function elements of the viewer optics. An analytical investigation was performed to rictermi_ne the error that would result in the simulation of M F when employing a negative scene as a master transparency. The investigation demonstrated that a 160 cycle per millimeter MTF simulation could be achieved with less than a 4 percent error for the-full tonal range of the imagery. Errors of less than 5 Approved For Release 2002/06/17: CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 200 06117 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 2 percent would be introduced in an 80 cycle per millimeter MTF simulation. Percentage errors of this magnitude are quite tolerable. Modification of the GEMS instrument with a well regulated light source has yielded exposure simulations within the tolerance limits of the evaluation equipment. A 0.02 density exposure shift can be simulated. An analytical and experimental investigation was initiated to determine the accuracy of the. haze simulation process. Due to the film effects, created by the double exposure process, haze simulations cannot be achieved with less than a 5 percent error by the present technique. By modifying the GEMS instrumentation. with a non-image forming, d.c., light source, both the fogging exposure and the image exposure can. be accomplished simultaneously; and the film effects would be eliminated.. Simulating haze in this fashion is identical to a real haze situation except for shadow area back-scatter. The error of the simulation process then would be reduced to the error of the evaluation equipment. It is important to note that to obtain an estimate of haze with GEMS is not dependent upon the phenomena of shadow area back-scatter. 2.1.2 Instrumentation Conclusions The GEMS instrument was modified with a film vacuum platen and a strobe flash unit.. The vacuum platen and its associate jigging pc,_-mi.t control of the master transparency-GEMS film separation-to : 0.0002 inches. At a MTF simulation level of 50 cycle:; per millimeter, the instrumentation variables for the modified contact printer can be controlled to + 2 percent of tin: desired transfer function. At 100 cycles per millimeter the error increases to sliglitly less than + 4 percent. Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 A strobe flash unit was installed to-improve exposure repeat- ability and to eliminate the film Reciprocity Law Failure problems introduced by long exposure times. With the new source, an exposure repeatability of + 0.01 density units is achievable. A + 0.01 density variability is equivalent to the error of the densitometer used in the exposure evaluation process. It is quite possible that the source has less variability than can be detected. with the evaluation equipment. An aerial image read-out device was breadboarded in order to obtain more accurate measures of sensitometric data in a copy camera reduction system. In a copy system an error is introduced in the edge-gradient analysis sensitometr.i.c data if the lens fall-off properties are not taken into account. To obtain valid sensitometric data, sensitometric step readings must be obtained in the lens image plane. The breadboard device provided sensitomet:ric data within + 0.01 density units for the low density region and within + 0.02 density .units for the high density region. 2.2 ALTERNATE GEMS TECHNIQUE The present use of a modified contact printer for the simulation of MTF provides predictable and controllable results over the spatial frequency range of 0 to 100 cycles per millimeter. It is desired to extend the MTF simulation capabilities to a higher frequency range; therefore, an analytical investigation was conducted to determine the validity of several alternate simulation approaches. The alternate procedure established to be most valid involved the use of a modified copy camera system with a variable--transmission, spread function mask employed in the pupil plane of the lens for control of the image spread Approved For Release 2002/06/17- : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 function size and shape. A breadboard unit was constructed and some experiments were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the. simulation concept. The investigation was considered to be highly successful. in view of the fact that the only limitation was in the optics and not in the theories or techniques utilized. The optics problem can be easily remedied. Despite the limitation of the optics. the task produced several highly significant results. First, the validity of the technique of MTF modulation by aperture apodization of a copy camera was conclusively demonstrated. That the technique was not demonstrated for spatial frequencies out to 200 cycles per millimeter as intended was, as stated, the fault of the optics used, not. of the technique itself. The design of better optics will allow extension of this technique without serious difficulty to frequencies of 200 cycles per millimeter and beyond. Second, the good IMF agreement obtained between the "theory" and experiment is an excellent demonstration of the repeatability and accuracy of the edge-gradient analysis technique itself; although this was supposedly not at stake here, it is a worthwhile corroboration of the method. Third, the experience gained by encountering and partially surmount- ing the breadboard difficulties is valuable for future efforts. 2. 3 SYSTEM PAI:AMETEPS STUDY The GEMS Study program is primarily concerned with the simulation of_ a particular class of aerial photography. The realism achieved in the simula- tion of this photography is dependent upon both the simulation techniques and a knowledge of the system parameters. Various talks with the customer`s people Approved For Release 2002/06/17: CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17" CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 indicated that no objective measurements existed which would describe the mission material parameters in a manner directly related to the objective Under the redirection of program efforts, a task was established for the purpose of objectively defining both the film characteristics and the system performance factors. The goal. of the study was to define the following parameters in suitable terms, for purposes of scaling and evaluating the GEMS matrices: a) film sensitometric curve b) film granularity c) film density neutrality d) system modulation transfer function" (ylTJ?) e) aerial. image contrast f) scene exposure The parameters of the study were defined in terms of objective 25X1A measures wlr ch were apropos o the evaluation of GLMS and the use of 25X1A facility photographic evaluation instrumentation. The study data cannot be. condensed to single numbers without losing significant information. For this reason; the data compiled in the text of the. task report should be consulted for specific. details. To abstract summary measures pertaining to system performance factors, it can he stated that the study indicates the average aerial i.n-mage contrast to be 0.274 rnodulati_on and the average scene exposure range to be a 0.44 density difference for the si.x scenes evaluated. Figure 1 presents a co .posite gr..aph of The measured system transfer functions. 9 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 tl i~ $ t I t 1' Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 10 20 L1 p oII II n o ^ ~ ~-~ * p+ A+o Q+o .+OQ +0 + II } Q ! 1 1 I + 1 1' E i !~[ ~ 1~ I t 1 30 40 50 60 70 SO 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180, SPATIAL FREQUENCY - CYCi MM Figur I - Scaled MTF Determination Composite Approved For Release 2002/06/17 CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 0.8r SCALED MTF DETERMINATION 2 A CORRESPONDING TO EDGE NO: 5 + (Results Obtained from the 6 0 Evaluation of Mission Material) 7 0 8 x 10 0 .3 a-o ' o A A+0 0 0.4 - Approved For Release 2002/06/17: CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 The film properties provide a knowledge of.the film response and imagery appearance. This data, as compiled, is to bo used to ensure proper simulation of processing as well as-to furnish a means of monitoring all vari- ables which affect film granularity and density neutrality. The System Parameters Study can be termed quite successful in that the data obtained served to define the operational level of a system whose performance is rated as "good".to,"best." The data made available by this study was inclusive enough to give guidance in specifying and evaluating the various system parameters as related to the production of a psychophysical GEMS 2.4 EQUAL MAGNIFICATION GEMS STUDY Earlier. GEMS efforts established the fact that the appropriate pro- gram mission material could not be simulated from an original negative that was processed to a high gamma-and/or photographed under conditions that intro- dosed either a substantial degree of atmospheric haze or a compressed scene exposure range. The Equal Magnification GEMS study-was initiated to investigate not only the properties that a transparency must possess to yield a valid simulation, but also the proper technique of performing the simulation. The study treated all phases of the simulation topic. It clearly defined the system parameters to be simulated and used these parameters as guides in developing the overall aspects of a total procedure which would yield realistic simulated photographs. The study results concluded that to properly simulate MTF,exposure, and contrast, requires both a unity gamma, positive transparency with a large, linear film density?-exposure range; and?a modified copy camera for simulating M'fr's above 100 cycles per millimeter. A positive transparency of the nature Approved For Release 2002/06/17: CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 described above is necessary in the simulation process, because the accuracies of the simulations are dependent upon the modification of imagery which is linearly related to the exposure domain. A modified copy camera is essential in order to predictably control MTF and to avoid the effects of'Fr.esnel An experimental film study established that imagery obtained with DuPont SR-102 negative reversal film would satisfy'allthe positive transparency requirements. 2.5 PSYCHOPHYSICAL GEMS STUDY A psychophysical study was conducted to determine the usefulness of GEMS as a subjective evaluation tool. The study results definitely established the fact that GEMS can be employed-to obtain 'realistic estimates of system performance. The study experiments provide.d.valuable'_i.nformation pertaining to the matrix increment spacings for MTF and ground exposure, the uniqueness of each parameter, the precision of the judgments, and the ability of interpreters to rank mission material with GEMS. 2.5.1 Parameter Scaling Findings The study results established that equal, visually discrimin- able steps of MTF and exposure aro obtained for the ranges of the parameters tested if the increments of,MTF are spaced at equal logarithmic steps and the increments of exposure shift are spaced at equal density steps. A 671 accuracy of discrimination is obtainable when the MTF steps are established at 12.5% ground resolution increment intervals and the exposure steps are established at 0.06 density shift intervals. The results imply that-on exposure shift interval of 0.06 density units is too fine tar camera system evaluation purposes since no changes Approved For Release 2002/06/17 1 cIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06117 CIA-RbP78B04747A000700010025-7 in resolution due to exposure were discernable for the entire simulated exposure range of the GEMS.. For the GEMS matrix, it is suggested that the exposure increments be established to correspond to exposure shifts.that produce 12.5% changes in limiting ground resolution. An MTF interval of 12.5% ground resolution steps is as fine an increment spacing that can be discriminated with reasonable accuracy. It is suggested that this interval be established as the increment spacing of the GEMS matrix 'array. With the use of a split field viewer for making comparisons, the accuracy of M.`F discrimination may be improved. 2.5.2 Other Studz, Findings . The experiment concerning the ranking of mission material with a GEMS matrix indicated that the subjects' judgments of the MTF and exposure levels of the mission photographs were just as rz.liable as their judgments when ranking one GEMS against another. In other words, the standard deviations of their judgments for each parameter were statistically the same in both experiments. The a, curacy of -the judgments could not: be determined since no objective measures were made of the mission photographs used for t:he study. A very important finding of the study was t1-_aL scene content seemed to have no effect on-the subjects' ability to judge MTF or exposure. This finding strongly suggests that the parameter of scene content can be con.- fined to few scenes of various type imagery. 2. 6 GEMS VIEWER STUDY A concept design study was performed to define features most desi.;-r.ible for a GEMS Viewer. The established instrument design concept will 13 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 enable rapid image quality assessment of roll film aerial photography with GEMS. The instrument was designed to provide rapid assessment capabilities by con- sideration of the following features: 1. Means for easy storage and quick retrieval of a library of known- quality images. The retrieval system will enable an operator to select a GEMS having known quality values. 2. Means for rapid screening of original negative roll film. The instrumedt will include a motorized roll film transport, designed to insure safety of roll film, and a variable intensity light table. 3. Means for viewing the roll film images and the reference images (GEMS), simultaneously. 4. Means for manipulation of the two images to permit conven:Lent positioning for optimum viewing. A dual split-fi_ci' presentation was chosen as the optimum device for viewing two photographs simultaneously. The operator will see a spl= field, each half containing an image to be compared. This viewer must not degrade the images and yet must contain a variety of adjustments to allow the' operator to magnify and crient the images to suit his individual preference. It was necessary to design an optical system specially for the GEMS Viewer in order to accomrodate the unique optical paths, maintain the resolution of the images, and provide the magnifications and :i_mage motions required to permit rapid comparison of photo graplhy. It is also important that the comparisons between the unknown images recorded on roll film and the known images recorded on GEMS be done. in rapid Approved For Release 2002/06/171a.CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06717: CIA-RDP78B04747A000700010025-7 succession, with a minimum of operator distraction. This requires a fast storage and retrieval system with a simplified' call up. A commercial address type system was chosen for this applicaation. Mounting four GEMS. per address (slide) increases the library storage capacity to 1024 GEMS. Images recorded on the roll film must be located and positioned in the field of the microscope and oriented to the GEMS images. Because this may be irreplaceable material, attention has been given to the film transport system to ensure the scffety of the film. Constant tension. is required in order to maintain focus and prevent inching. A variable speed film transport is required to minimize search and positioning time. - The instrument is to be mounted on a hard wood table with the micro- scope optical axis at a 15 degree downward. tilt. Pertinent aspects of human engineering have been carefully considered to minimize operator fatigue and maximize convenience and speed of operation.. The operation of this instrument will be simple even though it: con- tains a variety of features. Many of these features,. although important, are adju.strnents used only on. a "once per'r.ol_l" basis (or,even less frequently). In addition, some operations are combined (e.g. joy sticks to control both X. and Y mo-.; ,ments, simultaneously) . Further, all the controls have been care.-- fully located to facili.tat e manipulation at minimum operator effort. No problems are anticipated in, the operation of this equipment over long periods of time. - While this i_rstrument has been designed to permit mission diagnosis by comparison of photography and GELS, it is clear that: the instrumert.cen be easily applied to several. (Aber aspects of the overall photo- i_nter.pretati.on Approved For. Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 process. For instance, with little or no modification, the instrument can be used for training of. new personnel, for assistance in target identification,. and. for change detection. Other potential. applications may become apparent later. 2.7 PSEUDO GEMS VIEWER STUDY A Pseudo GEMS Viewer optical breadboard was constructed. The bread- board was used to test the concept of manipulating the photograph scene parame tors of HUI?, exposure, and contrast with optical and electrical mechanisms. Such a device, if it produced realistic simulations, would eliminate the need of a large matrix library of GEMS. The study showed that reasonabl2.matches could be obtained for the scenes employed, but theoretical, considerations imply that: the technique is inadequate for the simulation of the appropriate mission material without: further refinement. It was established under the Refinement of Techniques task that the physics of a hazed aerial. scene is actually the reduction of the ground imagery signal level by a superimposed, non--image forming, d.c. light: level in the exposure domain.. To achieve an accurate haze. simulation in the Pseudo GEMS Viewer with only the use of non-ima e forming light and a transparency, the density dis- tribution of the viewer traiispa, .ency must be made linaarly proportional co '_he original ground exposure distribution. In the above arrangement, a linear_ relationship between film density and ground exposure only exists for. a posii.ive transparency whose cascaded gamma is unity. Since the pseudo concept must employ a negative transparency with a ga~rma of approximately 2.2, the resulting haze simulations will not be valid. 16 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 The pseudo breadboard experiment did not identify this flaw in the concept, because positive transparencies with a cascaded gamma of unity were. employed. however, by-inspecting the degraded photograph supplied in the Pseudo GEMS experiment report', it can be seen that the low and high density images were not identically matched. This mismatch at the density extremes occurred because the toe and shoulder areas of the film characteristic curve departed from unity gamma, If gamma'2.2 negative transparencies had been. employed in the breadboard experiment, considerably more of this type of dis- similarity would have resulted. Exposure shifts also cannot be accurately simulated by the experi- mental pseudo approach, because of the negative transparency's non-linear'ities. The GEMS concept eliminates the non-linearity problem by e mploying a unity gamma, positive, master transparency in the simulation:.process. Approved For Release 2002/06/17' : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 PROGRAM CONCLUSIONS. 3.1 TECHNOLOGICAL STATUS The efforts of the GYMS Study program can be termed quite successful. All of the major objectives of the program have been achieved. Studies per- taining to the development of simulation techniques have led o the establish- ment of means for accurately controlling the production of realistic photo- graphic simulations. The problems associated with generating GEMS at the same scale factor as mission material were defined, and a procedure has been specified for elimi- nating all apparent simulation dif.ficu1:ties. The lcey factor that allows the generation of realistic simulations is the possession of .a positive master transparency whose image density distribution is-linearly proportional to the ground. exposure distribution. In the sirnilation process, such a transparency .permits the modifi- cation of image spread functions and. the introduction of ground exposure shifts and varying degrees of atmospheric haze in identically the same manner as what normally occurs in real life, except for the effect of atmospheric haze back- scatter into shadow areas. Fortunately, subjective estimates of contrast are not dependent upon the phenomena of back-scatter. The realism of the GEMS simulations was substantiated in the psycho- physical study where it was demonstrated that photo-interpreters could sub- ject.iuively estimate the image quality of mission material wilt the same degree of reliability as the ranking of one GEMS against another. The psychophysical 18 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved Fo- elease 2002/.0.6/17: CIA-RDP7.8BO4 47A 007000100 5-7 study also es abl:i.she tie matrix >ncremen spat] ngs tor ~e parame er s of MTF and exposure as well as the accu..racy of the judgments of each of these parame-? 3.2 USEFULNESS OF GEMS It is. essential to establish that the general concept'of GEMS is use- ful. The usefulness of GEMS can be determined by examining the accuracy with which the parameters can be judged. The psychophysical study results demon- strate. that a photo-interpreter can judge both a MTF increment spacing of 12.5% ground resolution steps and an exposure increment spacing of 0.06 density unit steps with a 67% confidence of proper discrimination. Their ability to dis- criminate levels of exposure is better than is necessary. Although their discrimination of MiF levels may be slightly less sensitive than desired, reasonable estimates of NTF levels are obtained. Serious consideration should be given to the point that the GEMS estimates of MIT are almost as accurate as the MTF objective determinations of mission material, because of the variable factors associated with the typical targets used in the measurement process. Under certain conditions, where the quality of imagery is varying over the format and no objective measurement targets exist in the areas of interest, the MTF estimates obtained with GEMS can be much more accurate than any infe.rrcd evaluations. Image quality varia- tions occur quite frequently duo to variable haze conditions or variable cloud coverage exposure conditions. The attributes of GEMS are another factor to be considered in deter.- minim; the usefulness of GEMS. The major attributes of GEMS are that they can supply estimates of system performance quite rapidly and that these estimates are not dependent: upon either specific type targets or complicated instrumen- 1S Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 tation that requires lengthy operator training time. It probably would require a minimum of 4'to 8 hours t:oobjectively evaluate, without an on-line computer to the instrumentation, the parameters of a single scene area that could be estimated with a GEMS matrix in a matter of a few minutes. In summary, the psychophysical study demonstrated that GEMS can provide a useful service as a rapid evaluation tool. 3.3 PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS At the last program review conference with the customer, 5X1A stated that it would objectively evaluate both the GEMS and Pseudo GEMS con- cepts; and to recommend on the basis of the technical soundness of eacl: approach, the concept that would best serve the customer in his systems' evalua- tion work. The findings of the various. study tasks definitely establish, with- out any doubt, that the GEMS concept is the most valid approach for acquiring accurate diagnostic estimates of system performance at this ti1ma, When considering the facts, the simulation technology has been developed, the psychophysical parameter. scaling has been -determined, and the appropriate. system parameters have been defined, implementing a GEMS matri., as an evaluation tool can be accomplished. in a fairly routine fashion. ii- amounts to generating the GEMS library material and fabricating a GEMS Viewer which has already been designed. It is our reconcaendation that the GEMS con- cept be implemented. Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7 Approved For Release 2002/06/17 : CIA-RDP78BO4747A000700010025-7