Abstract: A sensor assembly for imaging passive infrared (IR) scenes and active laser radar (LADAR) scenes and for generating multi-dimension image data sets, and a method for same. A two-dimensional semiconductor imager sensitive to both passive IR radiation and active LADAR radiation when used in conjunction with subsequent signal processing creates a two-dimension passive image data set and a three-dimension active image data set with common x and y coordinates. The passive image data set is collected substantially proximate in time with the active image data set. The two image data sets are combined to form a multi-dimension image data set with the surface of three-dimensional objects indicating heat emission. The sensor assembly applies to burst illumination LADARs operating at a variety of wavelengths and passive IR detection in the middle wavelength IR (MWIR) or long wavelength IR (LWIR).