The evaluation of hyperspectral imaging for the detection of person-borne threat objects over the 400 nm to 1700 nm spectral region

The detection of person-borne threat objects, such as improvised explosive devices, at a safe distance is an ongoing challenge. While much attention has been given to other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, very little is known about what potential exists to detect clothing obscured threats over the ultraviolet through the shortwave-infrared spectral region. Hyperspectral imaging may provide a greater ability to discriminate between target and non-target by using the full spectrum. This study investigates this potential by the collection and analysis of hyperspectral images of obscured proxy threat objects. The results of this study indicate a consistent ability to detect the presence of objects obscured by a single layer of cotton fabric. The study included the use of VNIR (400 nm to 1000 nm) and SWIR (1000 nm to 1700 nm), as defined here, hyperspectral imagers. Both spectral ranges provided comparable results, however, potential advantages of the SWIR spectral region are discussed.