In the world of Military Intelligence there are many methods
of intelligence collection that span well beyond typical Electro Optic Infrared
(EO/IR) imagery and real time HD video. The use of hyperspectral imagery has
long been a great source of information that could either stand alone or even
augment other forms of imagery. Hyperspectral imagery allows people to see
beyond the surface of what they are looking at by examining the specific portion
of the electromagnetic spectrum that an examined material is reflecting (Richter,
n.d). This data, when compared to databases, can tell the observer exactly what
material they are looking at, how much moisture is in soil, and even what types
of minerals are present in top soil. From a defense perspective this can help
determine the difference between true vegetation and camouflage or even if some
kind of metal device has been planted in the ground. From a civil perspective
this imagery can help farmers determine crop viability and soil conditions in
support of precision agriculture.
The military currently utilizes satellites, manned aircraft
and some large UASs controlled at the national level to gather most of their hyperspectral
imagery (Military & Aerospace Electronics, 2013). This means if a particular unit wants
recently collected hyperspectral imagery of an area it will need to send
requests up the chain and hope that the request can be processed in a timely
mater. The lag between request and collection often causes users to end up with
outdated products or no products at all.
As hyperspectral sensors become cheaper, smaller, and more accessible
they are starting to make their way into the hands of the public. One great
example of putting the power of hyperspectral sensors into the hands of the
public is in the form of the Precision Hawk. The Precision Hawk is a small UAS
that is hand launched and flown completely autonomously around a preassigned
area. Upon landing the system uploads to a standard laptop and processes the
data almost immediately. This UAS is well inside the price range of a small scale
farmer and provides high definition hyperspectral imagery to a user for a very
small cost and with little training or skill (Precision Hawk In., 2016).
Resources
Military & Aerospace Electronics. (2013, January 1).
Hyperspectral imaging sensors come into their own for aerospace and defense
applications. Retrieved August 11, 2016, from http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/print/volume-24/issue-1/product-intelligence/hyperspectral-imaging-sensors-come-into-their-own-for-aerospace-.html
Precision Hawk Inc. (2016). EMPOWERING THE COMMERCIAL DRONE
INDUSTRY. Retrieved August 11, 2016, from http://www.precisionhawk.com/
Richter, R. (n.d.). Hyperspectral Sensors for Military
Applications. Retrieved August 11, 2016, from http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA469649
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ReplyDeleteI recall an assignment a few terms ago where we were required to identify an unmanned aerial system (UAS) and a way to apply it for agricultural purposes. The constraints of the assignment limited the budget and complexity of the UAS. Most recommendations were small aircraft in the Group 1 category. I remember selecting a hyperspectral imaging system for many of the same reasons you mention. At the time I did not realize the capabilities of this system. I found it fascinating that hyperspectral imaging could determine which areas of a field were afflicted with disease, were being overwatered, and pesticide effectiveness (Headwall, 2015a). When it comes to the size of a commercial farm, that’s a significant amount of revenue represented what’s growing on those fields. Headwall is even focusing some of their efforts specifically on hyperspectral imagery integration with UAS (Headwall, 2015b).
ReplyDeleteOne of the challenges was trying to select the most capable sensor while keeping it compact and light for a small UAS. I originally selected an aircraft with a payload capacity too small for the camera I selected. I had accidentally read metric instead of English units. When has that ever caused problems, right (Grossman, 2010)?
I did not realize that hyperspectral imaging would have a military application. I had read about developments in camouflage technology that was capable of spoofing infrared sensors (BAE’s Adaptive Camouflage, 2011). I did not stop to think that hyperspectral imagery might provide a counter. This is a significant capability and quite a game changer. With advancements in technology making these imaging systems smaller and lighter, they can be easily proliferated.
References:
BAE’s Adaptive Camouflage [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlLqdFsMnCE
Grossman, L. (2010, November 10). Metric Math Mistake Muffed Mars Meteorology Mission. Wired. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-report/
Headwall. (2015a). Precision Agriculture [Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.headwallphotonics.com/applications/remote-sensing/precision-agriculture
Headwall. (2015b). UAV Integration {Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.headwallphotonics.com/uav-integration
Great topic, I also referenced the use of Hyperspectral imaging by the predator drone in Afghanistan called the Aces Hy. The ability to detect hidden dangers outside the visible light spectrum through Hyperspectral imaging is a critical advantage. Over time spectral libraries have been assembled based on laboratory and field data used primarily by government and military until recently. Most sensors now incorporate the spectral library data into software designed for the sensor, which has allowed an increase in civil applications of hyperspectral imaging. The data has been generated from test sites that represent various terrains and climate zones that are representative of actual conditions during sensor use. Post processing is still usually required since the spectral data is collected by various instruments under different conditions of illumination.
ReplyDeleteRecent research leading to the development of the HyperCam by the University of Washington and Microsoft Research has shown promising results. The HyperCam is a consumer grade low cost Multispectral Imaging Camera. The research done with the HyperCam has shown the capability of bio-metric recognition. Testing included 25 different users hands that were photographed and the HyperCam was able to distinguish the differences between all hands with 99 percent accuracy. The research shows potential for other biometric recognition features in the future.
References
Campbell, J. B., & Wynne, R. H. (2011). Introduction to remote sensing, fifth edition (5th;5; ed.). US: Guilford Publications Inc. M.U.A.
Photonics. (2015). Camera Offers Multispectral Imaging for Consumers. Retrieved from http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=57840