Poças
et al.
, 2012). These spectrometers, typically, operate
from 400 to 2500 nm with a very narrow bandwidth of 1 to
10 nanometers. Further, there is an emerging hyperspectral
capability that has shown potential for vegetation information
in the Thermal Infrared spectrum or TIR (e.g., Thermo-Nicolet
Nexus 670 FTIR 250-25000 nm) (Hecker
et al.
, 2013; Hook
et
al.
, 2013; Slonecker
et al.
, 2013) and there are also emerging
overhead sensors, such as
spatially enhanced broadband array
spectrograph system (SEBASS)
that bring a new set of hyper-
spectral capabilities to the table.
Over the years, NASA has been extensively using the Air-
borne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), and,
more recently, AVIRIS next generation (AVIRIS NG), and the
Table 1. Characteristics of space-borne hyperspectral sensors (either in orbit or planned for launch) compared with ASD
spectroradiometer
a,b
Sensor
Spatial
(meters)
Spectral
(#)
Swath
(km
)
band range
(µm)
band
widths
(µm)
Irradiance (
W
m
-2
sr
-1
mm
-1
)
Data
Points
(# per
hectares)
Launch
(date)
1. Hyperion, EO-1 (USA)
30
220
(196
b
)
7.5
196 effective
Calibrated bands
VNIR (band 8
to 57) 427.55 to
925.85 nm; SWIR
(band 79 to 224)
932.72 to 2395.53
nm
10 nm
wide
(approx.)
for all
196
bands
See data in
Neckel and
Labs (1984).
Plot it and
obtain values for
Hyperion bands
11.1
2000-present
2. CHRIS, PROBA (ESA)
25
19
17.5 200-1050
1.25-11 same as above
16
2001-present
3. HyspIRI VSWIR (USA)
60
210
145 210 bands in 380
- 2500 nm
10 nm
wide
(approx.)
for all
210
bands
See data in
Neckel and Labs
(1984). Plot it
2.77
2020+
4. HyspIRI TIR (USA)
60
8
145
7 bands in 7500-
12000 nm and
1 band in 3000-
5000 nm (3980
nm center)
7 bands
in 7500-
12000
nm
See data in
Neckel and Labs
(1984). Plot it
2.77
2020+
5. EnMAP (Germany)
30
92
30 420-1030
5 - 10 same as above
11.1
2015+
108
950-2450
10 - 20
6. PRISMA (Italy)
30
250
30 400-2500
<10
same as above
11.1
2014+
7. ASD spectroradiometer
1134 cm
2
@ 1.2 m
Nadir
view 18
degree
Field of
view
2100
effective
1 nm
width
between
400-2500
nm
N/A 2100 effective
bands
1 nm
wide
(approx.)
in 400-
2500nm
See data in
Neckel and
Labs (1984).
Plot it and
obtain values for
Hyperion bands
88183 last 30+ years
Note:
a = information for the table from Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Vegetation book edited by Thenkabail et al., 2011.
b = Of the 242 bands, 196 are unique and calibrated. These are: (A) Band 8 (427.55 nm) to band 57 (925.85 nm) that are
acquired by visible and near-infrared (VNIR) sensor; and (B) Band 79 (932.72 nm) to band 224 (2395.53 nm) that are
acquired by short wave infrared (SWIR) sensor.
MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) instruments.
The airborne sensors can cover areas repeatedly, but are cost-
ly and not easy to routinely schedule acquisition. There are
also hyperspectral imaging (HIS) sensors with limited spec-
trum bandwidths, such as the CAP/Archer, that are providing
low-end hyperspectral data at reasonable costs. More recently,
there have been efforts to fly hyperspectral imagers onboard
UAVs, which offer a new platform to gather data in real time
repeatedly without limitation of cloud cover issues. However,
the technology is still under development with a wide array
of issues ranging from geometric registration, calibration over
large areas, limitation of large area coverage to security con-
cerns of operating UAVs.
698
August 2014
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
