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.