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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122715
Title: A HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS

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

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes a hyperspectral imaging system for both laboratory and airborne applications in agriculture. The main components of the imaging system consist of a high performance digital camera, an image dispersing device (spectrograph), an optional focal plane scanner, and a computer equipped with a frame grabber board and camera control software. The camera has a sensor with 1280 x 1024 pixels. The imaging spectrograph 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 imaging system can 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 various spatial and spectral resolutions were collected in a laboratory setting. Airborne images with 128 bands and a width of 640 pixels were also obtained from grain sorghum fields. A simple approach based on a reference line on the image was 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 applications. More testing trials are needed to evaluate the hyperspectral imaging system for agricultural applications.

Technical Abstract: This paper describes a hyperspectral imaging system assembled by ITD/Spectral Visions at Stennis Space Center, MS, for the USDA-ARS, Research Center at Weslaco, TX. 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 couple 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 grain sorghum fields. A simple approach based on a reference line on the image was developed to correct geometric distortions of the airborne hyperspectral imagery. Preliminary image acquisition testing trials indicate that this CCD camera-based hyperspectral imaging system has potential for agricultural applications.