TY - JOUR A1 - Heideklang, René A1 - Shokouhi, P. T1 - Decision-level fusion of spatially scattered multi-modal data for nondestructive inspection of surface defects JF - Sensors N2 - This article focuses on the fusion of flaw indications from multi-sensor nondestructive materials testing. Because each testing method makes use of a different physical principle, a multi-method approach has the potential of effectively differentiating actual defect indications from the many false alarms, thus enhancing detection reliability. In this study, we propose a new technique for aggregating scattered two- or three-dimensional sensory data. Using a density-based approach, the proposed method explicitly addresses localization uncertainties such as registration errors. This feature marks one of the major of advantages of this approach over pixel-based image fusion techniques. We provide guidelines on how to set all the key parameters and demonstrate the technique's robustness. Finally, we apply our fusion approach to experimental data and demonstrate its capability to locate small defects by substantially reducing false alarms under conditions where no single-sensor method is adequate. KW - Multi-sensor data fusion KW - Density estimation KW - Scattered data KW - Defect detection KW - Nondestructive testing KW - Registration errors PY - 2016 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-352977 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/s16010105 SN - 1424-8220 VL - 16 SP - Article Number: 105 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, Switzerland AN - OPUS4-35297 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -