FUSION OF NDT DATA

Scientific measurement based on a single sensor or probe can provide o nly limited information about the environment in which it operates. Th e synergistic use of measurement data from a probe array composed of m ultiple sensors will significantly increase the analytical power of a scientific instrument. At present, NDT and inspection surveys represen t a disparate collection of data from different sensors applied on an individual basis. Data fusion will combine the signals from a range of NDT sensors to provide a more complete picture and accurate assessmen t of structural integrity than is currently available. Because analysi s of NDT signals is sometimes ambiguous for an untrained operator, thi s can lead to misinterpretation. The development of a data fusion syst em which will reduce potential error by displaying a real 3-D image of a defect, instead of an analog signal only, is very attractive. The v ery nature of data fusion method, which relies on the superposition of the results of different inspection techniques, adds confidence to th e results of an inspection and the graphical native of the man-machine interface reduces skill needed to interpret the results.