Design challenges and considerations for image fusion in multi-spectral optical systems

Data from multiple spectral wavebands can significantly increase the information available to the observer. Of particular utility is combination of images into a single multi-spectral image. When such images are combined properly, the resulting image can be an extremely powerful tool, sometimes offering more information than the imagery from either waveband individually. Substantial care must be taken in the combination of these images, however, since mis-registration of the two images can cause significant confusion and image degradation when combined into a single image. Mis-registration from sources such as relative lateral or rotational shift, differences in image size, and differences in distortion can cause significant degradation in the combined image. Special care must be taken in both the optical and mechanical design to minimize these effects and to maximize the utility of multi-spectral image fusion.