Hyperspectral Remote Sensing

Hyperspectral remote sensing (HRS) and imaging spectroscopy (IS) are the same technologies that provide detailed spectral information for individual pixels of an image. While HRS refers mostly to remote sensing (from a distance), the emerging IS technology covers wide spatial–spectral domains, frommicroscopic to macroscopic HRS/IS. IS is an innovative development of the charge-coupled device (CCD), which was invented in 1969 by the two 2009 Nobel prize in Physics winners Willard Boyle and George Smith. In 1972, Goetz applied the CCD technology for spectral applications, and after developing the first field portable spectrometer, a combined spatial and spectral capability was designed and successfully operated from orbit (LANDSAT program). HRS/IS is a technology that provides spatial and spectral information simultaneously. It enables the identification of targets and other phenomena as the spectral information is presented on a spatial rather than point (pixel) basis. HRS/IS are tools with many applications, such as geology, ecology, geomorphology, limnology, pedology, atmospheric science, and forensic science. As such HRS/IS technology is applied by decision makers, farmers, environmental watchers in both the private and government sectors, city planners, stock holders, and others. The use of HRS/IS sensors is still relatively costly and requires professional manpower to operate the instrument and process the data. Today, in addition to the growing number of scientific papers and conferences focusing on this technology, the HRS/IS discipline is very active: commercial sensors are being built, orbital sensors are in advanced planning stages, national and international funds are being directed toward using this technology, and interest from the private sector increases. The aim of this chapter is to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of this promising technology from historical to operational perspectives.