CHAPTER 1
Hyperspectral Sensors and Applications
Richard Lucas, Aled Rowlands, Olaf Niemann, Ray Merton
1.1
Introduction
Since the beginning of remote sensing observation, scientists have created
a "toolbox" with which to observe the varying dimensions of the Earth's dynamic surface. Hyperspectral imaging represents one of the later additions
to this toolbox, emerging from the fields of aerial photography, ground spectroscopy and multi-spectral imaging. This new tool provides capacity to characterise and quantify, in considerable detail, the Earth's diverse environments.
This chapter has two goals. The first is to chronicle the development of
hyperspectral remote sensing. In doing so, an overview of the past, present and
future ground, airborne and spaceborne sensors and their unique attributes
which render them most suited for specific applications is presented. The
second is to provide an overview of the applications where hyperspectral
remote sensing has, to date, made the greatest impact. Key areas considered
include the atmosphere, snow and ice, marine and freshwater environments,
vegetation, soils, geology, environmental hazards (e. g., fire) and anthropogenic
activity (e.g., land degradation).
1.2
Multi-spectral Scanning Systems (MSS)
Since the mid 1950s, a diverse range of airborne and spaceborne sensors have
recorded the reflectance of the Earth's surface in the spectral wavelength region
extending from ~ 400 to ~ 2500 nanometres (nm). Early sensors collected data
initially onto black and white and subsequently colour infrared film although
later, filters and multi-camera systems were developed for creating four "color"
image combinations (blue, green, red and near infrared (NIR». With the
advent and advancement of more readily available computer technology and
the declassification of sensing technology developed for military use, a number
of civilian airborne (Table 1.1) and, later, spaceborne sensors were developed
and deployed. These initial digital sensors acquired data in broad, widelyspaced spectral ranges which were referred to commonly as bands or channels.
Such multi-spectral scanning systems (MSS) have been, and continue to be,
the backbone of the optical data acquisition systems.
P. K. Varshney et al., Advanced Image Processing Techniques for Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004
Hyperspectral Sensors and Applications
Richard Lucas, Aled Rowlands, Olaf Niemann, Ray Merton
1.1
Introduction
Since the beginning of remote sensing observation, scientists have created
a "toolbox" with which to observe the varying dimensions of the Earth's dynamic surface. Hyperspectral imaging represents one of the later additions
to this toolbox, emerging from the fields of aerial photography, ground spectroscopy and multi-spectral imaging. This new tool provides capacity to characterise and quantify, in considerable detail, the Earth's diverse environments.
This chapter has two goals. The first is to chronicle the development of
hyperspectral remote sensing. In doing so, an overview of the past, present and
future ground, airborne and spaceborne sensors and their unique attributes
which render them most suited for specific applications is presented. The
second is to provide an overview of the applications where hyperspectral
remote sensing has, to date, made the greatest impact. Key areas considered
include the atmosphere, snow and ice, marine and freshwater environments,
vegetation, soils, geology, environmental hazards (e. g., fire) and anthropogenic
activity (e.g., land degradation).
1.2
Multi-spectral Scanning Systems (MSS)
Since the mid 1950s, a diverse range of airborne and spaceborne sensors have
recorded the reflectance of the Earth's surface in the spectral wavelength region
extending from ~ 400 to ~ 2500 nanometres (nm). Early sensors collected data
initially onto black and white and subsequently colour infrared film although
later, filters and multi-camera systems were developed for creating four "color"
image combinations (blue, green, red and near infrared (NIR». With the
advent and advancement of more readily available computer technology and
the declassification of sensing technology developed for military use, a number
of civilian airborne (Table 1.1) and, later, spaceborne sensors were developed
and deployed. These initial digital sensors acquired data in broad, widelyspaced spectral ranges which were referred to commonly as bands or channels.
Such multi-spectral scanning systems (MSS) have been, and continue to be,
the backbone of the optical data acquisition systems.
P. K. Varshney et al., Advanced Image Processing Techniques for Remotely Sensed Hyperspectral Data
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004