Evaluation methods of signature effectiveness - a first evaluation of camouflage assessments by CAMAELEON compared to human observers

Signature control and a good understanding of the performance of signature control measures is a very important topic for the Norwegian Armed Forces. In order to achieve this we need methods for test and evaluation of signature measures such as camouflage patterns. In this report we present the first results from a camouflage study in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum obtained with a simulation tool. The simulation tool that has been used, CAMAELEON, is commercially available and was developed in Germany over a period of several years. CAMAELEON mimics the human visual system by modelling the eye’s probability of detecting a camouflaged target in natural backgrounds. There are important advantages using a simulation tool compared to other methods for evaluating camouflage. CAMAELEON, in particular, is a very flexible method to quickly achieve quantitative results for many camouflage patterns and their performance in a large number of backgrounds. However, simulation tools usually also have limitations. It is important to understand these limitations and under which conditions they appear. This is an essential requirement if we want to draw the right conclusions for a camouflage evaluation or for recommendations based on simulation results. In this report, based on our first results, we discuss what kind of studies we believe will lead us to a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of CAMAELEON. This will give us a good foundation to decide in which occasions an extended use of this simulation tool will give adequate results in the future.