Method for applying daytime colors to nighttime imagery in realtime

We present a fast and efficient method to derive and apply natural colors to nighttime imagery from multiband sensors. The color mapping is derived from the combination of a multiband image and a corresponding natural color reference image. The mapping optimizes the match between the multiband image and the reference image, and yields a nightvision image with colors similar to that of the daytime image. The mapping procedure is simple and fast. Once it has been derived the color mapping can be deployed in realtime. Different color schemes can be used tailored to the environment and the application. The expectation is that by displaying nighttime imagery in natural colors human observers will be able to interpret the imagery better and faster, thereby improving situational awareness and reducing reaction times.