hyperspectral

Hyperspectral sensors offer a number of advantages thanks to their ability to identify and quantify molecular absorption. Hyperspectral imaging is widely used in applications including food and agriculture, mineralogy, surveillance, astronomy, chemical imaging and many more. This white paper provides a glimpse of some new developments within hyperspectral imaging technology, highlighting what is a rapidly changing imaging landscape.

Long wave infrared (LWIR) spectroscopy is of great interest to spectral geologists. This is because minerals such as quartz, k-feldspar, pyroxene, hornblende, anorthite, calcite, and dolomite are only identifiable in the LWIR range, not in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range. However, Raman spectroscopy is complementary to LWIR spectroscopy, providing fingerprint spectra of these minerals and an alternative identification method. But Raman spectroscopy also provides several additional benefits on the instrument side.

An ultraviolet (UV) hyperspectral camera was used to capture spectroscopic images, showing UV reflectance signatures that are not detectible with human vision. Many animals and insects have visual receptors sensitive to UV light, and flowers’ reflectance signatures help them attract pollinators, as well as helping birds and insects find food. This points to the usefulness of UV imaging spectroscopy as a potential research tool in such fields as botanical science, entomology, and ornithology. 

In this white paper, Pro-Lite’s Dr Nick Barnett provides an update on the current and emerging technologies employed in commercially available multispectral and hyperspectral imagers. Spectral imaging is starting to become a mainstream imaging technology and is playing an increasing role in important topical issues of the day including recycling plastics, precision farming, food analysis and environmental monitoring.