National imagery interpretability rating scales (NIIRS): overview and methodology

John M. Irvine

doi:10.1117/12.279081

21 November 1997 National imagery interpretability rating scales (NIIRS): overview and methodology

John M. Irvine

Proceedings Volume 3128, Airborne Reconnaissance XXI; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.279081
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

For over 20 years, the National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS) has served as a standard to quantify the interpretability or usefulness of imagery. The need for a NIIRS arose from the inability of simple physical image quality measures, such as resolution, to adequately predict image interpretability. The NIIRS defines the levels of image interpretability by the types of tasks an analyst can perform with imagery of a given rating level. The NIIRS provides a simple, yet powerful, tool for assessing and communicating image quality and sensor system requirements. While the scale itself is simple, the process of developing the scale is both complex and resource intensive. Rigorous methods are needed to: develop appropriate image interpretation tasks, relate these tasks to the various levels of image quality, and validate that the scale is usable in practice and has the desirable properties of a rating scale. This paper presents three different NIIRS corresponding to three types of imagery. Visible, IR, and Radar. The paper also discusses the methodology used to develop and validate these rating scales.

Citation Download Citation

John M. Irvine "National imagery interpretability rating scales (NIIRS): overview and methodology", Proc. SPIE 3128, Airborne Reconnaissance XXI, (21 November 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.279081

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available