Species discrimination using emissive thermal infrared imaging spectroscopy

A plant species discrimination experiment was carried out using emissive thermal infrared imaging spectroscopy. This was a first application of the Telops HyperCam-LW for vegetation analysis. The Telops HyperCam-LW is a Fourier-transform imaging spectrometer designed for airborne, field and laboratory application. Compared to laboratory spectrometers, this spectrometer allows fast measurements at high spectral resolution in the 8-12 μm spectral range. This paper shows that this spectrometer - in a field measurement setup - is capable of capturing high quality spectral information, comparable to laboratory instruments. We used this spectrometer to capture leaf spectra, generally considered as spectrally flat surfaces. Using the Telops HyperCam-LW, it was possible to capture the subtle signatures and perform species discrimination analysis with very good results. Further, the potential of a hyperspectral airborne or spaceborne study focusing on vegetation analysis is discussed.