A Simulation Model for Detection and Tracking Bio Aerosol Clouds using Elastic Lidar

Abstract: Discharges of warfare bio aerosol clouds are powerful weapons in war and terror situations. A discharge of a small amount of a contagious substance can obliterate large areas. The discharges can usually not be seen with bare eyes, hence some tool needs to be used to find bio aerosol cloud discharges. One way is to use a lidar for the detection of clouds. By sending out a laser pulse into the atmosphere some of the light is scattered back. By measuring the backscattered light, the aerosol structure of the atmosphere can be obtained. If a cloud is hit by the laser beam, an increase of light is observed and the cloud can be detected and tracked.In this thesis a tool for simulating the elastic backscattered light has been developed. A graphical user interface for easier handling has also been developed. For automatic detection of clouds some detection algorithms have been tested. Another graphical user interface for presentation of the simulated lidar signals has also been constructed.The simulator is working well. A lot of different parameters can be changed for the lidar system, the atmosphere and the cloud type. The model works as a helpful tool for specifications of an elastic lidar system to be developed and also as a guide for expected system performance and ways to present the results.