Top 10 Questions about Airborne Hyperspectral imaging using UAVs
As the adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in remote sensing grows, hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a primary tool for high-resolution surveying and mapping. This whitepaper serves as a technical primer for professionals transitioning from traditional multispectral imaging to more sophisticated imaging spectroscopy.
The following ten questions represent the most critical considerations for project managers, geologists, and environmental scientists when planning aerial surveys.
01. What is the purpose of airborne hyperspectral imaging?
The first question to answer is why use hyperspectral and why fly it with a drone. Answers to this question will help in the selection of components.
02. How does it differ from multispectral airborne imaging?
Why go to the extent of using a more complex and higher performance hyperspectral imaging approach as opposed to using multispectral sensors.
03. Is geolocation necessary? What are the options?
Do you need to map your data on the ground and if so why and how?
04. What should I know about UAV sensor mountings?
Are all UAVs equal in the way they fly and does this as well as environmental conditions influence your selection of mounts?
05. What are the most difficult things to consider when planning a hyperspectral UAV survey project?
Of the many variables and moving parts in imaging with hyperspectral imagers, overlaid with the complexity in flying a sensor on a drone what are your primary considerations?
06. What are the weather requirements for hyperspectral imaging?
Can you fly an hyperspectral imager in all conditions or are there constraints?
07. How does the direction of the sun affect airborne hyperspectral collection?
What is the sun direction, what direction should you fly and how does that influence data quality?
08. What parameters should be defined when doing flight planning for hyperspectral aerial survey?
When planning a survey where do you start and what needs to be considered?
09. What kind of calibration does an airborne hyperspectral sensor need?
Imaging with an hyperspectral imager remotely at a distance is very different from imaging in the laboratory. Are the calibrations and corrections needed in one more so than the other?
10. What kind of UAV can be used for hyperspectral survey?
Hyperspectral imagers and UAVs come in many different shapes and sizes, how do you match one to the other.