Hyperspectral SWIR & eSWIR Remote Sensing
Transforming the remote sensing industry from a pixel-based industry into a product-based industry. SWIR provides rich data for precisely identifying and characterizing man-made and natural materials.
Hyperspectral imaging on airborne platforms
With the democratization of satellite technology, hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) platforms have developed from the initial ground-based and airborne platforms into spaceborne platforms, which greatly promotes the civil application of HRS imagery in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and environmental monitoring.
SWIR reflectance spectroscopy
HRS acquires spatial and spectral information simultaneously from a distance, with the aim of providing the radiance and detailed spectrum for each pixel in an image. This allows for the construction of reflectance spectra that closely resemble those measured on laboratory instruments. Compared with visible and near-infrared, the shortwave infrared (SWIR) band benefits from fewer scattering effects, which enables it to provide better quality images under harsh atmospheric conditions. Hence, when used in the SWIR, HRS becomes a fruitful tool with plenty of potential applications.
Environmental monitoring
Mounting a NIR-SWIR HRS on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or satellite, it becomes possible to monitor crop stress or plants’ health by measuring their NDVI index or greenness since the water in their leaves reflects NIR wavelengths back into the sky. The moisture content of soil and vegetation can also easily be quantified and various rocks and soil compositions determined.
Security applications
Additionally, NIR-SWIR HRS can detect small liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leaks efficiently and economically under various environmental conditions and industrial contexts. The selectivity brought by high-resolution SWIR HRS allows identifying the chemical nature of the gases, thus reducing the frequency of false alarms.
Aerial imagery provides foundational context and visualization of ground conditions, empowering organizations to make critical, time-sensitive decisions.