Hyperspectral Scene Simulation in the Ultraviolet Through Longwave Infrared

Efficient design of remote sensors, including both the optics and data processing algorithms, depends critically on the availability of well characterized data spanning the operational space of interest. It is not practical to span this space with fielddata alone and requires extensive use of scene simulations to leverage limited field collects into the wide range of anticipated measurement conditions. Spectral Sciences, Inc. proposes to develop a hyperspectral (HSI) scene simulator covering theultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) through thermal infrared (TIR) spectral region (~0.4-14 ¿m) which applies to airborne and spaceborne sensors and nadir and off-nadir viewing. The overall Phase I objective is to develop and demonstrate a UV/VIS-TIR HSIsimulation methodology capable of generating statistically (i.e., spectral and spatial) realistic scenes based on GIS (Global Information System) scene descriptors (e.g., surface elevation and material type). Phase I will feature new methods forextraction of material spectral and spatial statistics from HSI data, and the use of these statistically defined materials to construct simulated scenes. Phase II will feature full implementation of the new capabilities developed in Phase I as well asextensive validation and analysis against a wide variety of HSI sensors and data sets. The commercial product will be an ultraviolet through longwave infrared scene simulation software package for use by hyperspectral imaging researchers for algorithmdevelopment and validation as well as by sensor designers for the multitude of hyperspectral and multi-spectral satellite and airborne sensors under development by DOD, NASA, and commercial companies. The simulation software will support a diverse rangeof military and commercial applications such as target detection and identification, precision agriculture, mineral exploration, forest and land management, ocean resource mapping, and surface pollution detection.