Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123576
Title: AN AIRBORNE HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES APPLICATIONS

Author
item YANG, CHENGHAI - TX AGRIC EXP STN-WESLACO
item Everitt, James
item MAO, CHENGYE - ITD/SPECTRAL VISIONS
item Davis, Michael

Submitted to: Biannual Workshop in Color Photography and Videography in Resource
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Hyperspectral imaging systems offer new opportunities for better differentiation and estimation of biophysical attributes of interest for a variety of remote sensing applications. This paper describes a hyperspectral imaging system that can capture images from 32 to 1024 narrow wavelength bands in the visible to near-infrared spectral regions. Two approaches are also presented in the paper to correct geometric distortions of hyperspectral imagery. This hyperspectral imaging system can be a useful remote sensing tool as the trend toward increased use of cost-effective airborne hyperspectral sensors continues.

Technical Abstract: This paper describes a hyperspectral imaging system for both airborne and stationary applications. The main components of the imaging system consist of a high performance digital camera, an imaging spectrograph, an optional focal plane scanner, and a PC computer equipped with a frame grabber board and camera control software. The camera has a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor with 1280(h) x 1024(v) pixels and a 12-bit A/D converter. The imaging spectrograph that serves as a hyperspectral imaging filter is installed to the camera via an adapter. The effective spectral range resulting from this configuration is from 467.2 nm to 931.7 nm. The software allows complete camera control and image acquisition. The horizontal and vertical binning capabilities of the camera make it possible to obtain images with various spatial (160 to 1280 pixels in image width) and spectral (32 to 1024 bands) resolutions. The optional focal plane scanner can be attached to the front of the spectrograph via another adapter for stationary image acquisition. Images with all possible combinations of binning factors were collected in a laboratory setting. Airborne images with 128 bands and a width of 640 pixels were also obtained from agricultural fields, rangelands and waterways. Procedures were developed to correct geometric distortions of the airborne hyperspectral imagery. Preliminary image acquisition testing trials indicate that this hyperspectral imaging system has potential for agricultural and natural resources applications.