The field collection of reflectance spectra of intact materials (often referred to as ground truth data collection) is essential for interpreting unknown materials in multi-spectral and hyperspectral remote sensing data, and validating sensor performance. Since sample removal for lab study often destroys the sample’s surface properties, and because lab study is impractical for many large natural surfaces, researchers need a reliable field device capable of providing laboratory-quality, field measurements with illumination and viewing geometry equivalent to a satellite or aircraft sensor.
Such devices can also provide data for radiometric and atmospheric correction of satellite images. This requires field reflectance measurements of large test panels or large, uniform surfaces such as dry lake beds. As with ground surfaces, it is essential that researchers measure these targets with illumination and viewing geometry equivalent to that of the imaging sensor of interest.
ASD FieldSpec® spectroradiometers generate high-quality field spectra at the required illumination and viewing geometry for accurate correlation to satellite and aircraft sensor data. Available in multiple configurations, FieldSpec® spectroradiometers are compatible with popular image analysis software packages such as ENVI, ER Mapper, ERDAS Imagine, and MultiSpec, allowing you to create detailed spectral libraries tailored to your application. Bringing a level of device portability that only ASD can provide, the FieldSpec® also helps you work in some of the most remote regions of the planet.
Examples of researchers using ASD instrumentation for ground truth data collection can be found in the links below.
A Light Aircraft Radiometric Package for MODLAND Quick Airborne Looks (MQUALS
Radiometer Pool - Goniometer Pool - Calibration
Crude Findings — remote sensing and GPS aid hyperspectral detection efforts
ES 771 Lecture, James S. Aber — Ground Observations
Wyoming Assessment Project and Remote Sensing of Leafy Spurge
Post-Launch Validation of Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) Data and Algorithms