The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has announced a $15,000 prize competition meant to produce an algorithm for automatic image colorization.
The agency said Wednesday the contest posted on challenge.gov is intended to generate an algorithm that facilitates a 10-hour autonomous implementation of color in 10-gigapixel panchromatic images.
Christy Monaco, NGA director for the office of ventures and innovation, said the agency continuously seeks new technologies to augment GEOINT delivery and processes for the identification and acquisition of the required systems.
Linn Wisner, owner of the Rapid Image Colorization challenge, said panchromatic grayscale sensors provide black and white and high-quality Earth images compared with colored pictures from technologies such as multispectral sensors.
Color will aid in the assessment of image data, Wisner added.
Submissions for the challenge will be accepted until Sept. 9 and the transfer of participants’ intellectual property or license of algorithms is not required.
