The Laboratory for Imaging Algorithms and Systems, or 'LIAS' is a group in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science whose primary focus is the research and implementation of data processing algorithms as well as the systems which encompass those algorithms.
Our group is composed of a few faculty and staff members, as well as quite a few students doing related research.
WASP's mission is the detection and monitoring of wildfires from an aircraft at an altitude of up to 12,000 feet. WASP is currently flown from a Piper Aztec aircraft. WASP is adaptable for other Infrared or visible remote sensing applications as well. It consists of three infrared cameras and one visible camera, and can georeference and generate data products and then send them down to the ground station while the aircraft is still flying over the target area.
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WASP Lite is a low-cost, small-sized re-interpretation of the above WASP project. WASP Lite consists of six monochrome cameras, as well as one longwave IR camera, all in a small 5" square package. Various filters are attached to the cameras for different sensing applications. WASP Lite is currently flown in a Cessna 172 aircraft.
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We have also developed low-cost systems which collect data from various sensort types to be aggragated and analyzed later.
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We work closely with the CIS DIRS group on MISI. We help deploy, calibrate, and maintain this system.
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We are jointly developing an optimized direct georeferencing camera system targeted for flying on UAVs with GeoSpatial Systems through a NYSTAR grant.
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We created the Data Cycle System (DCS) to control and maintain the retrieval, and processing of data for the SOFIA observatory.
The DCS is a software system that encompasses the entire lifecycle of an observation for the SOFIA observatory. It starts with the design of an observation, where we provide a desktop application for the researcher to define the parameters of their research. From there, the software maintains the control parameters in flight for the telescope. It also encompasses the "pipeline procesisng" of the raw data products to produce the science data that the researcher requires. It allows for the researcher to apply new algorithms as well, after the initial processing has concluded.
SOFIA consists of a 2.7m telescope in the back of a 747-SP aircraft. It is made to do infrared astronomical observations above most of the water vapor in the atmosphere, at 40,000 feet.
> > > Our old SOFIA DCS website
> > > USRA SOFIA Data Cycle System Website
From 1998-2000, we handled all of the processing for the Spirex-Abu Infrared telescope, stationed at the Center for Astronomical Research in Antarctica (CARA). Some of the data from it is online and can be reached from the link below.
This project introduced us to the problems involved with data processing and maintenance systems. We used our experience with this project as a basis for the work we did later with the Data Cycle System for SOFIA and ultimately for WASP's Airborne Data Processor system.
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One of our primary objectives is supporting students and their research projects. Much of our exploratory research into new directions is accomplished by various student efforts... whether it be for a summer project, or a graduate thesis.
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