Combined analysis of images of scenes in the thermal and visible regions, using physical models

A method is proposed for the combined analysis of the images of scenes in t he IR and visible regions. The method is based on representing the results of combined processing of thermal and visible images in the form of maps of estimates of correlation and linear regression coefficients and the use of analytical relationships of the connection of the indicated correlation ch aracteristics with the physical parameters of the scene. These results are illustrated by the example of the processing of thermal and visible images obtained by an airborne two-channel scanner. (C) 1998 The Optical Society o f America. [S1070-9762(98)01812-0].