Optical Remote Sensing

Hyperspectral remote sensing, also known as imaging spectroscopy, is based on the analysis and evaluation of reflected (also emitted) radiation detected by a sufficient high number of spectrally narrow, contiguous bands.

The detailed spectral characterization of atmospheric and surface absorption features provided by imaging spectrometers enables to use robust inversion algorithms for the retrieval of bio-, geochemical and geophysical information over the resp. imaged area. Moreover, the continuous spectral coverage provided by imaging spectrometers offers the possibility to design multi-purpose Earth observation missions, as the same system can be used for different thematic applications.