ARS | Publication request: VISNIRMIR DIGITAL VIDEO IMAGING SYSTEM

Submitted to: Workshop Color Aerial Photography & Videography in Plant Science Proceeding
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 16, 2003
Publication Date: December 1, 2004
Citation: Fletcher, R.S., Everitt, J.H., Escobar, D.E., Yang, C. 2004. VISNIRMIR digital video imaging system. Proceedings of 19th Biennial Workshop on Color Photography and Videography in Resource Assessment, Bethesda, Maryland. 2004 CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary: Airborne videographic, digital video, and true digital imaging systems have become popular remote sensing tools for evaluating natural resources because of the near-real time availability of the imagery, high spatial resolution of these systems, and immediate compatibility of the image data with computer systems. Agricultural Research Service Scientists at Weslaco have assembled a digital video imaging system that is sensitive to visible, red-edge, near-infrared, and mid-infrared light. The system consists of five visible to near-infrared light sensitive cameras, one near-infrared to mid-infrared light sensitive camera, a monitor, a computer with a multi-channel digitizing board, a keyboard, a power distributor, an amplifier, and a mouse. Evaluation of imagery acquired by this system indicates that it can be used as a tool to assess natural resources.

Technical Abstract: This paper describes the Visible/Near-infrared/Mid-infrared (VISNIRMIR) digital video imaging system and demonstrates its potential for natural resource assessment. The VISNIRMIR system acquires analog video that is converted into digital format. It has five visible to near-infrared (400-1100 nm) light sensitive cameras equipped with 1.69 cm charged coupled device sensors, one near-infrared to mid-infrared (900-1700 nm) light sensitive camera containing a 2.54 cm indium gallium arsenide sensor, a monitor, a computer with a multi-channel digitizing board, a keyboard, a power distributor, an amplifier, and a mouse. The cameras are equipped with an interference filter, allowing the system to acquire imagery in distinct portions of the optical spectrum. This system obtains blue (447-455 nm), yellow-green (555-565 nm), orange-red (625-635 nm), deep dark red (714-726 nm), near-infrared (814-826 nm), and mid-infrared (1631-1676 nm) imagery. These images can be used individually and/or in combination with each other for assessing natural resources.