Hyperspectral Sensors

Hyperspectral sensors acquire imagery in hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands, which facilitates fine discrimination between different features on the Earth’s surface. It is a complementary data source to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and conventional multi-spectral data.

For over two decades, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) scientists have contributed their expertise to improve the quality of hyperspectral data, and have developed hyperspectral data processing methods, models and tools to help render the data useful to the Government of Canada and other users. 

CCRS scientists have expertise in a range of hyperspectral applications such as mineral mapping in the north, mine remediation and vegetation stress. Scientists work in close collaboration with Canadian industry, academia, and other government departments.

Within the next decade, hyperspectral satellite sensors will routinely be providing imagery of the Earth’s surface. CCRS scientists are actively working to prepare for the effective and immediate use of data from these next-generation hyperspectral satellite missions (e.g., EnMAP, PRISMA, HISUI, EMIT, DESIS).

Examples of hyperspectral research activities at CCRS include:

• Hyperspectral modelling
  Advanced radiative transfer modelling for information extraction
  Spectral Reflectance Characteristics of Arctic Vegetation for Mapping Ecozones with Hyperspectral Imaging Systems
• Arctic Geology and Mineral Resources – using hyperspectral data to explore large areas and focus on key lithological detections to reduce exploration costs and increase development of natural resources
  Hyperspectral Data for Arctic Geology and Mineral Resources
• Mine Remediation – characterizing environmentally contaminated sites and providing techniques to monitor their remediation
  Contaminated Site Remediation Monitoring