Mr. Mark J. Edwards Profile

Mark J. Edwards

Program Manager at General Dynamics Canada Ltd

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Author

Publications (3)

Proceedings Article | 2 May 2008 Paper

The Advanced Linked Extended Reconnaissance & Targeting Technology Demonstration project

Mark Edwards

Proceedings Volume 6956, 695603 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.784704

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Surveillance, Image processing, Video, Video surveillance, Target detection, Detection and tracking algorithms, Cameras, Reconnaissance, Image fusion

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The Advanced Linked Extended Reconnaissance & Targeting (ALERT) Technology Demonstration (TD) project is addressing many operational needs of the future Canadian Army's Surveillance and Reconnaissance forces. Using the surveillance system of the Coyote reconnaissance vehicle as an experimental platform, the ALERT TD project aims to significantly enhance situational awareness by fusing multi-sensor and tactical data, developing automated processes, and integrating beyond line-of-sight sensing. The project is exploiting important advances made in computer processing capability, displays technology, digital communications, and sensor technology since the design of the original surveillance system. As the major research area within the project, concepts are discussed for displaying and fusing multi-sensor and tactical data within an Enhanced Operator Control Station (EOCS). The sensor data can originate from the Coyote's own visible-band and IR cameras, laser rangefinder, and ground-surveillance radar, as well as from beyond line-of-sight systems such as mini-UAVs and unattended ground sensors. Video-rate image processing has been developed to assist the operator to detect poorly visible targets. As a second major area of research, automatic target cueing capabilities have been added to the system. These include scene change detection, automatic target detection and aided target recognition algorithms processing both IR and visible-band images to draw the operator's attention to possible targets. The merits of incorporating scene change detection algorithms are also discussed. In the area of multi-sensor data fusion, up to Joint Defence Labs level 2 has been demonstrated. The human factors engineering aspects of the user interface in this complex environment are presented, drawing upon multiple user group sessions with military surveillance system operators. The paper concludes with Lessons Learned from the project. The ALERT system has been used in a number of C4ISR field trials, most recently at Exercise Empire Challenge in China Lake CA, and at Trial Quest in Norway. Those exercises provided further opportunities to investigate operator interactions. The paper concludes with recommendations for future work in operator interface design.

Proceedings Article | 30 October 2007 Paper

The advanced linked extended reconnaissance and targeting technology demonstration project

James Cruickshank, Yves de Villers, Jean Maheux, Mark Edwards, David Gains, Terry Rea, Simon Banbury, Michelle Gauthier

Proceedings Volume 6796, 67962E (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.779220

KEYWORDS: Video, Target detection, Sensors, Video surveillance, Surveillance, Detection and tracking algorithms, Cameras, Image processing, Algorithm development, Reconnaissance

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Proceedings Article | 21 September 2004 Paper

Holographic neural networks versus conventional neural networks: a comparative evaluation for the classification of landmine targets in ground-penetrating radar images

Naga Mudigonda, Ray Kacelenga, Mark Edwards

Proceedings Volume 5415, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.532532

KEYWORDS: Land mines, System on a chip, Sensors, Neural networks, Holography, General packet radio service, Image classification, Mining, Ground penetrating radar, Detection and tracking algorithms

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