Rehearsing ExoMars Geological Assessment of Image Data using Representative Samples and 3D Vision Techniques

PanCam on ExoMars is the primary geological context imaging system. It consists of a stereo pair of wide angle cameras (WAC) with 34° square field-of-view and 12 different wavelength filters, and an RGB narrow-angle High Resolution Camera (HRC). The foreseen layout of the PanCam instrument in terms of filter wavelength distribution, its ability to provide 3D data products, and the designed operational sequences are currently being verified and refined. This paper reports on a geology blind test which was performed applying a geometrically analogous PanCam setup on nine geological samples expressing a variety of generic attributes (i.e. texture, structure, colour, morphology, scale etc). The mission-analogue process of viewing the samples in low resolution by the WAC, decision by an expert geologist on HRC acquisition, and finally the geologist’s ability to decide on interest scores for such samples has been rehearsed in the context of a medium sized event. We report on valuable experience from such a blind test and conclude on the direct benefits for the optimisation of the ExoMars Mission.