Dr. H. Peter White

Hyperspectral Remote Sensing in Action

• Imaging spectroscopy, or hyperspectral imaging, is one of the most advanced optical Earth observation technologies. It has applications supporting better natural resource management (geology and mineral resources, forestry, agriculture, and water) and in environmental monitoring (mine site remediation).

Calibration and Validation of Hyperspectral Imagery

• An important aspect to advancing hyperspectral applications development is to provide detailed ancillary support for data quality assurance and characterization. User confidence and assimilation of information extraction technologies using hyperspectral remote sensing depends on providing standards and protocols for the acquisition of supporting field data, and in defining quality assurance reporting of the derived information.

The Imaging Spectrometer Data Analysis System (ISDAS)

• At the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, we have developed one of the first systems to process imaging spectrometry data (hyperspectral data). ISDAS was created to fill the void left by existing image analysis systems, that were designed for broadband optical channels, which only roughly represent colour characteristics of ground materials. This research tool places Canada as a world leader in this field, and many of it’s innovations have already been adopted by Canadian industry.

Site Remediation Monitoring

• Sites contaminated with radioactive waste, mine tailings, or other material can have severe impacts on both ecosystem integrity and human health. Environmental monitoring as part of remediation management benefits with imaging spectrometer data (hyperspectral imagery) for characterising environmentally contaminated sites and providing supporting techniques to monitor their remediation. Examples of such sites include mine tailing sites and related waste disposal sites, and the remediation and rehabilitation of these sites.