Mine detection using a polarimetric IR sensor

Operation of current hand-held magnetic sensors for mine detection is a labor intensive process which involves a great deal of time and operator skill to detect near-surface and buried mines. The mine detection problem is made worse when plastic mines are sought, which are not easily detected by the magnetic sensors. The utilization of a polarimetric IR camera allows the detection of man-made objects, such as mines, by detecting the regularly polarized man-made objects which contrast with background clutter. This paper describes the system and shows results of tests in controlled mine-detection experiments