AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Investigating Visibility Loss Caused by Fog within an Environmentally Controlled Chamber
ANDRES SANCHEZ, Gabriel Birch, Crystal Glen, Matthew Tezak, Steven Storch, Gabriel Lucero, Sandia National Laboratories
Abstract Number: 567 Working Group: Aerosols, Clouds, and Climate
Abstract In order to better understand the effects of visibility loss caused by fog, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has developed an environmentally controlled fog chamber to characterize and qualify test equipment, such as thermal imagers, visible cameras, and Class 3B/4 laser systems at a variety of wavelengths. The chamber provides a unique, controlled environment in which naturally occurring fog is mimicked for the purposes of establishing a quantitative assessment of the visibility degradation experienced by sensing systems. Because natural occurring fog is difficult to measure, due to inconsistency in density, visibility, and formation, SNL is currently investigating ways to measure particle size and concentration while testing a variety of visible and IR cameras to determine propagation loss. Currently, Located in a tunnel system, the chamber has relatively stable environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, and airflow, making it ideal for laboratory testing. The goal of this research is to improve upon current techniques and instrumentation to overcome visibility loss by providing a realistic, yet controllable environment that could be later implemented into automotive or aircraft industries, for example.