A lightweight hyperspectral mapping system and photogrammetric processing chain for unmanned aerial vehicles

J.M. Suomalainen, N.S. Anders, S. Iqbal, G.J. Roerink, G.J. Franke, P.F.M. Wenting, D. Hünniger, H. Bartholomeus, R. Becker, L. Kooistra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

133 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

During the last years commercial hyperspectral imaging sensors have been miniaturized and their performance has been demonstrated on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). However currently the commercial hyperspectral systems still require minimum payload capacity of approximately 3 kg, forcing usage of rather large UAVs. In this article we present a lightweight hyperspectral mapping system (HYMSY) for rotor-based UAVs, the novel processing chain for the system, and its potential for agricultural mapping and monitoring applications. The HYMSY consists of a custom-made pushbroom spectrometer (400–950 nm, 9 nm FWHM, 25 lines/s, 328 px/line), a photogrammetric camera, and a miniature GPS-Inertial Navigation System. The weight of HYMSY in ready-to-fly configuration is only 2.0 kg and it has been constructed mostly from off-the-shelf components. The processing chain uses a photogrammetric algorithm to produce a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and provides high accuracy orientation of the system over the DSM. The pushbroom data is georectified by projecting it onto the DSM with the support of photogrammetric orientations and the GPS-INS data. Since an up-to-date DSM is produced internally, no external data are required and the processing chain is capable to georectify pushbroom data fully automatically. The system has been adopted for several experimental flights related to agricultural and habitat monitoring applications. For a typical flight, an area of 2–10 ha was mapped, producing a RGB orthomosaic at 1–5 cm resolution, a DSM at 5–10 cm resolution, and a hyperspectral datacube at 10–50 cm resolution.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11013-11030
JournalRemote Sensing
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • imagery
  • motion

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A lightweight hyperspectral mapping system and photogrammetric processing chain for unmanned aerial vehicles'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this