The Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is a quantitative function based on frequency resolution that characterizes
imaging system performance. In this study, a new MTF methodology is investigated for application to Radiography by
Selective Detection (RSD), an enhanced single-side x-ray Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) technique which detects
selected scatter components. The RSD imaging modality is a unique type of real-time radiography that uses a set of fin
and sleeve collimators to preferentially select different components of the x-ray backscattered field. Radiography by
selective detection has performed successfully in different non-destructive evaluation (NDE) applications. A customized
RSD imaging system was built at the University of Florida for inspection of the space shuttle external tank spray-on
foam insulation (SOFI). The x-ray backscatter RSD imaging system has been successfully used for crack and corrosion
detection in a variety of materials. The conventional transmission x-ray image quality characterization tools do not apply
for RSD because of the different physical process involved. Thus, the main objective of this project is to provide an
adapted tool for dynamic evaluation of RSD system image quality. For this purpose, an analytical model of the RSD
imaging system response is developed and supported. Two approaches are taken for the MTF calculations: one using the
Fourier Transform of a line spread function and the other one using a sine function pattern. Calibration and test targets
are then designed according to this proposed model. A customized Matlab code using image contrast and digital curve
recognition is developed to support the experimental data and provide the Modulation Transfer Functions for RSD.
A new Compton x-ray backscatter imaging technique, backscatter radiography by selective detection (RSD), has been used for inspection of the spray-on-foam-insulation (SOFI) on the space shuttle external tank. RSD employs detection of selected backscatter field components, by using specially designed detectors with movable detector collimators, to achieve high image contrast. The optimization study utilized test panels with simulated and natural defects in the spray-on foam insulation. Some of the test panels include structural features, stiffener-stringers and connection flanges, which were bolted to an aluminum base plate representative of the external tank. The SOFI was then layed down over the base plate and structural components with thicknesses varying from a few tens of mm up to a few hundred mm. The simulated defects range in cross-sectional size from 6 × 6 mm to 50 × 50 mm. Natural defects including roll-over voids and knit-line delaminations have a wide range of sizes, geometries, and orientations with a minimum critical cross-sectional size of 6 mm. Imaging registration is currently obtained at 0.05 seconds per 2 mm pixel, or about 19 minutes per 0.093 m2(1 ft2). The current system is being evaluated to enhance the detection of natural defects of a minimal critical size. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations with MCNP5 are being used to determine the history and corresponding spectrum of the detected photons that are responsible for improving defect image contrast. The simulation results are used in combination with experimental data to select optimal detector configurations. Detector configurations are sensitive not only to the type of defect being detected, but also the defect's depth in SOFI, distance from aluminum substrate, and defect orientation. Additional parameters including detector type, detection mode, and x-ray illumination beam size were also evaluated. Both NaI and plastic (BC404) scintillation detectors in pulse and integral mode were used to determine their effect on image quality and defect detection sensitivity. The x-ray illumination beam geometry (round versus square) and beam spot size were varied to determine resolution and the effect on defect contrast. The current system using pulse mode NaI detectors, and a 2 mm round x-ray illumination beam can detect the presence of the smallest critical size defects at a scan rate of 0.05 seconds per 2 mm pixel.
A new Compton x-ray backscatter imaging technique called lateral migration radiography (LMR) has been successfully applied to the detection of voids and delaminations in the foam thermal insulation used on the shuttle external tank. LMR employs detection of selected scatter field velocity components, by using specially designed detectors and detector collimators, to achieve high image contrast.
LMR is based on image contrast generated by migration of probe x-ray radiation in directions transverse to the illumination radiation beam. Because LMR is sensitive to electron density variations in these directions, thin, but large density variations, such as cracks and delaminations, generate signal-to-background ratios sufficient to produce images of features which are not even detectable in the usually interrogated thin dimension. The examined foam thermal insulation test panels consist of aluminum plates onto which the sprayed-on foam insulation (SOFI) is applied. Some of the test panels include structural features bolted to the base plate. The SOFI was layed down over the base plate and structure with a thickness varying from a few tens of mm up to a few hundred mm. The test panels included voids and simulated delaminations in the SOFI ranging in cross-sectional size from 6 x 6 mm to 50 x 50 mm. High quality images were acquired using pixels of 2 to 3 mm and irradiation times as low as 0.05 s per pixel.
An X-ray mine imaging system (XMIS) that uses a new form of backscatter x-ray radiography developed at the University of Florida was successfully field-tested at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia in October, 2001. The XMIS obtained high quality images of both anti-tank and anti-personnel mines on several of the Fort A.P. Hill test lanes. For high resolution imaging at a power level of 750 watts, total time for scanning and for processed image acquisition was about 60 s for a 0.5 x 0.5 m area. The very good imaging results obtained from the initial field tests with the XMIS demonstrate the excellent capabilities of this system as a confirmation sensor for land mine detection. Critical to the success of the XMIS is the use of both collimated and uncollimated detectors. This yields system capabilities and performance that cannot be matched by using only uncollimated detectors with coded apertures and spatial filters to deconvolve system response. The initial field tests showed that some fairly simple modifications could significantly improve the performance of the XMIS. With the modifications, high resolution scanning of a 0.5 x 0.5 m area can be done in 20 to 30 seconds at a power level of around 300 watts.
A new Compton X-ray backscatter imaging (CBI) technique called lateral migration radiography (LMR) is applied to detecting a class of sub-surface defects in materials and structures of industrial importance. Examples are delamination in layered composite structures, defects in deposited coatings on metal surfaces such as in aircraft jet engine components and geometrical structural/composition changes (e.g. due to corrosion)on the inside of shell-like components with only outside surface area access. LMR scans on aircraft samples showed intensity decreases of up to 25% in corroded areas relative to intensities in clean areas. Especially significant were scans of samples that were performed with the clean or uncorroded side facing up. The corrosion on the opposite side of these 2 mm thick samples, where there was contact between the frame member and the aircraft skin, was clearly visible. Scans of other samples showed that LMR is capable of detecting small flaws on the inside of shell-like components with only outside surface area access. Cracks around a fastener hole that were ~ 15 mm in length and no more than 0.25 mm in width were seen through the aircraft skin. Scans of an aluminum honeycomb structure demonstrated that LMR is also capable of picking up internal defects that include crushed core and debonding zones.
An X-ray mine imaging system (XMIS) that uses a new form of backscatter x-ray radiography developed at the University of Florida was successfully field-tested at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia in October, 2001. The XMIS obtained high quality images of both AP and AT mines on several of the Fort A.P. Hill test lanes. For high resolution imaging at a power level of 750 watts, total time for scanning and for processed image acquisition was about 60 s for a 0.5 x 0.5 m area.
The very good imaging results obtained from the initial field tests at Fort Hill with the XMIS demonstrate the excellent capabilities of this system as a confirmation sensor for land mine detection. These initial field tests showed that some fairly simple modifications could significantly improve the performance of the XMIS. The total cost of components for an XMIS field demonstration system that includes these modifications is about $60 K and includes about $24 K for the x-ray generator and about $16 K for the specially-made detector assemblies. Further field-testing of the XMIS needs to be performed, but this should be done following implementation of the indicated modifications. With the modifications, high resolution scanning of a 0.5 m x 0.5 m area can be done in 20 to 30 seconds at a power level of 300 watts to 400 watts.
A new Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) technique, described as lateral migration radiography (LMR), has been developed and applied successfully to two difficult diagnostic problems: Detection of buried, plastic landmines, and detection of material flaws which lie close to, and parallel to, a surface, the method is based on image contrast generated by alteration of photon lateral migration relative to the illuminating beam direction. It is extraordinarily sensitive to density and/or atomic number variation along the photon lateral-direction travel paths. In LMR, relevant information-carrying photon detection efficiencies are two to three orders-of-magnitude greater than other CBI techniques such that the electric energy requirement for x-ray generation is only about one joule per acquired image pixel. The resulting small product of pixel illumination dwell time and x-ray generator electric power implies that current, easily accessible technology can be used to fabricate LMR systems with practical usage protocols. Three have been designed and built at the University of Florida: A laboratory device for perfecting buried landmine acquisition; a mobile system for field-demonstrating landmine detection; and, a laboratory system for detection of material defects in small structural parts. The LMR images, acquired in a laboratory landmine detection setting, are so definitive that identification of the mine-type, as well as presence, can be often accomplished. Results of a field test are near-perfect, both in determining buried landmine presence and in lack of false positive response. Images acquired in material flaw detection indicate ability to detect lateral cracks or delaminations with thickness less than 100 microns, as well as corrosion on surfaces between layers of structural sheets. These applications provide evidence of the viability of a new, one-sided x-ray radiography technique which images hidden structures of objects which have here-to-fore been difficult, or impossible, to detect with practical image aquisition times.
Lateral migration radiography (LMR), a new form of Compton backscatter x-ray imaging, is applied to the detection and identification of buried land mines. A mobile LMR land mine detection system was developed and field tested. Weight for this initial system was about 175 kg; weight for a prototype should be about 100 kg. X-ray generator power level was 750 watts; the power level requirement for a prototype should be about 300 watts. An innovative rotating collimator for the x-ray source beam was developed to provide rapid side-to-side scanning of the beam without having to move the x-ray generator in this direction. Acquisition of images of a 40 cm by 40 cm area takes from 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the desired resolution. The imaging capabilities of LMR make it well suited for use as a land mine detection confirmation sensor. This system was employed on the vehicular test lanes at Fort A.P. Hill in October, 2001. High quality images were obtained for a variety of buried land mines. The system was also used to scan 30 locations on one of the test lanes where GPR consistently yielded false alarms. In only two cases did the LMR image sets yield a signature that could be considered to possibly indicate a mine.
X-ray lateral migration radiography generate images of land mines and other objects buried with less than 10 cm of overlaying soil. An x-ray pencil beam illuminates the object area pixel-by-pixel, and a detector array of two collimated and two collimated, large area, scintillators respectively register once-scattered and multiple-scattered photons from mines, other buried objects, and the soil background. Two surface-feature-dominant uncollimated detector images and two subsurface-feature-dominant collimated detector images are typically generated. In the collimated detector images, a shifting of the images from the object center is proportional to the depth-of-burial of the detected object. Real mine test have been conducted and the images show the included air volume as a prominent feature. The combination of the geometrically regular air volumes and mine case present unique features which distinguish mine from nonmine objects. In fact, identification of some land mine types can be achieved from the acquired images. A field-test version of the system, to be used as a landmine object confirmation/identification detector is under construction. The completed generator/collimator x-ray source has been employed to produce the system-design raster direction of the incident photon beam, while 1D movement of the object is temporarily employed to simulate the orthogonal image axis. Easily recognized acquired images of the test object clearly indicate that the desired pixel dwell time of 0.01 sec has been achieved. This image acquisition speed translates into approximate values of 1.8 sec for a 20 by 20 cm interrogated area, consistent with scanning an antipersonnel mine, and 16 sec for a 60 by 60 cm area, consistent with an antitank mine.
A commercially available simulated land mine and several custom-made plastic simulants were examined at the University of Florida for their suitability in Lateral Migration Radiography (LMR) land mine detection. In 1997 x- ray LMR was used in the detection measurements of 12 actual antitank and antipersonnel miens. The resulting images indicated that not only were differences in composition between the explosive/casing and soil important, but that internal air volumes greatly increased not only the detectability, but also the discernability of actual mines. This paper explores the use of simulant mines that have internal features, including voids, in lieu of solid simulant miens for use in LMR measurements in the laboratory. Typical commercially available simulated mines have been developed for other detection methods such as those based on E and M technologies. A comparison of LMR images from these simulants and the LMR images of real mines demonstrated that commercially available simulant mines would fail when used with the LMR x-ray detection method. In contrast, simulated mines that we have fabricated with a plastic that has approximately the same electron density of TNT yield LMR images that are consistent with LMR images of actual mines.
A series of buried land mine detection measurements were performed at the University of Florida using x-ray lateral migration radiography with 12 difference types of actual antitank and antipersonnel mines. The resulting images posses extraordinarily definitive detail. The signatures are so unique that not only can positive mine detection be accomplished with this technique, but also mine identification. The mine's exterior shape combined with the interior air volumes yield easily recognized image signatures. The emphasis of this paper is on mine-type discrimination from image data. The reported results indicate that the lateral migration radiography technique provides a land mine detection method with the potential of near-zero false positive alarm probability. A practical systems, which is under current design and fabrication, is described and allows for one square meter interrogation in 35 seconds, antitank and antipersonnel mine imaging and recognition in respectively 12.6 and 1.4 seconds. This approximately 75-kilogram system can be attached to a small two-wheel carrier and requires only 140 watts of electric power.
Numerous active landmines buried around the world have prompted work on various technologies for locating these mines. One promising technique directs a beam of x-rays into the ground, and detects the fraction scattered back. An image of the detected photons reveals the subsurface content. In this experiment, the effect of photon cross-talk between adjacent x-ray beam/photon detector systems was investigated. If feasible, multiple beam/detector systems would allow a single landmine detection system to survey the ground much faster. The results of the examination of the segmented detector system showed that this system is quite capable of producing very recognizable images of surface buried landmines, in spite of significant limitations imposed by the required setup of this particular experiment. Therefore, the segmented detector system is an option that should be strongly investigated in the development of a landmine detector system if there is a critical emphasis on speed.
Lateral migration radiography (LMR) employs scattered photons to get detailed images of covered objects. Images of real mines buried in soil using LMR have shown dramatic differences compared to images generated using simulated mines. The major characteristic that allows for the discernibility of land mines to the degree of actual type identification is the presence of voids (air volumes) required for the operation of the fuse assembly or for blast direction control. Air volumes greatly modify the detected field of both once and multiple- scattered photons. The LMR system consists of two uncollimated detectors positioned to detect once-scattered photons and two collimated detectors designed to detect primarily multiple- scattered photons. Air volumes modify both exit paths and the position of first-scatter events; they also modify the migration paths of multiple-scattered photons, thus producing different images in the two detector types. The burial mode (below surface or laid on the surface) of the land mine can also be discerned by LMR due to a shadowing effect seen for surfaced-laid land mines. The presence of even a minute amount of metal in the land mine also aids in discerning the mine, because metal produces a signal decrease in both types of detectors. Monte Carlo calculations have been performed with the MCNP code to obtain an understanding of the details of the photon lateral migration process. Images generated from these Monte Carlo calculations are in agreement with the experimental measurements. The real mine images confirm that LMR is capable not only of mine detection, but also of mine identification.
Lateral migration radiography (LMR), a form of Compton backscatter radiography, is applied to the detection and identification of landmines. The LMR system consists of two inner uncollimated detectors positioned to optimally detect first scattered photons and two outer collimated detectors designed to detect primarily photons that have had two or more scatterings. The difference between the collimated and uncollimated detector response to both the landmines themselves and the different types of landmine image masking phenomena, form the basis of the image enhancement and landmine identification procedures. Surface feature information is the primary component of the uncollimated detector response. The collimated detector signal contains information about the surface features as well as the buried objects. The principles of the detection system have been shown in previous work and now the focus has shifted to the preparation for field tests and the associated problems. One of the expected events that the detector system will encounter is the variation of detector height with respect to the ground. This is caused by irregularities in the surface as will as oscillations of the detection vehicle. The collimated detectors and the uncollimated detector react differently to height variations. When the detector height increases the uncollimated detector response will be reduced due to the decrease in solid angle. Although the collimated detector will also be affected by the change in solid angle the dominate reaction is the loss of collimation causing the collimated detectors signal to increase. When the detector height decreases the opposite responses are observed. By using the information from both detector systems, the effects of the detector height variation can be removed.
The measurement and removal of noise from images created using lateral migration backscatter radiography (LMBR) a form of Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) is applied to the detection and identification of landmines. The photons that interact with the landmine produce the signal component of interest. The signal is corrupted by both quantum and structured noise. The structured noise is due to photon interaction with non-mine material. Due to the strong response of all detectors to soil surface features and other buried objects, image enhancement methods are essential for landmine identification. A four detector system is used to generate the LMBR/CB images. The inner two detectors are uncollimated and positioned to optimally detect first scattered photons. The outer detectors are collimated to detect photons that have had two or more scatterings. The difference between the collimated and uncollimated detector responses to the different types of landmine image masking phenomena, form the basis of the image enhancement and landmine identification procedures. The surface feature information is obtained by the uncollimated detectors. The collimated detector signal contains information about the surface features as well as the buried objects. Using images from these two sets of detectors the surface objects can be analyzed for possible landmines and then removed. The buried objects can then be resolved. The measurements and image enhancements demonstrate that it is possible to detect 12' plastic landmines at a buried of 3' under simulated battlefield conditions.
The Compton Backscatter Imaging (CBI) technique has been applied successfully to detect buried plastic anti-tank landmines. The images acquired by a CBI system are often cluttered by surface features. Additionally, some buried objects give the same response as the plastic landmines. The landmine detection can be successful only when the detection system is capable of distinguishing between surface features and the mine-like objects. This can be accomplished by designing detectors that differentiate between the surface features and the buried objects. An understanding of the physical phenomena underlining the CB image formation helps us to design these detectors. To study the physics of the Compton backscattering, the photon transport in a CBI system is simulated using Monte-Carlo calculations with the generalized particle transport program MCNP. The photon tracks are graphically displayed using a visualization program SABRINA. On the basis of the results from these Monte-Carlo analyses, a four-detector system has been designed. This detector design utilizes the unique nature of various collision components of the scattered photons to generate separate images of buried objects and surface features. The success of this detector design is demonstrated through a series of analytically generated images. The results of the experimental measurements that validate these analytical predictions are brought out in a separate paper to be presented in this conference.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Collimation, Land mines, Mining, Detection and tracking algorithms, Image sensors, Data acquisition, Imaging systems, Backscatter, Control systems
Earlier landmine imaging systems used two collimated detectors to image objects. These systems had difficulty in distinguishing between surface features and buried features. Using a combination of collimated and uncollimated detectors in a Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) system, allows the identification of surface and buried features. Images created from the collimated detectors contain information about the surface and the buried features, while the uncollimated detectors respond (approximately 80%) to features on the surface. The analysis of surface features are performed first, then these features can be removed and the buried features can be identified. Separation of the surface and buried features permits the use of a globbing algorithm to define regions of interest that can then be quantified [area, Y dimension, X dimension, and center location (xo, yo)]. Mine composition analysis is also possible because of the properties of the four detector system. Distinguishing between a pothole and a mine, that was previously very difficult, can now be easily accomplished.
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