PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 20a

Description

Statement of the problem or situation that is being addressed in your proposal. Compact, broad band, high speed hyperspectral imagers are needed for dynamic vegetation trait determination from unmanned aerial vehicle platforms. Dynamic trait determination will replace incomplete plant functional type classification limited by fixed parameterization with the result of more accurate prediction of carbon fluxes by Earth system models. General statement of how this problem is being addressed. A novel, compact, robust, broadband hyperspectral imager tailored for airborne vegetation trait mapping will be modeled, developed, and tested. Spectral analysis algorithms will be developed to convert the measured hyperspectral cubes into trait maps. What is to be done in Phase I? Under the Phase I a system model will be generated, and a breadboard system will be designed, built, and tested. The spectral analysis algorithm will be developed and used to demonstrate vegetation trait mapping using the breadboard system. The Phase I will also produce requirements and a conceptual design for a prototype instrument to be fully developed under a Phase II effort. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits. UAV-based vegetation trait mapping is the primary application for the proposed system. Tangential applications include airborne mineral exploration and crop monitoring. This technology also has application to airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and remote material detection, including chemical and biological warfare agents and explosives. This technology may also be used for process monitoring. Benefits include the compact size, ruggedness, broad spectral coverage, and automated vegetation trait mapping capability. Key Words. Hyperspectral imager, digital micromirror device, shortwave infrared, near infrared, vegetation trait mapping, plant functional type. Summary for Members of Congress. Compact, airworthy hyperspectral imagers are sought for dynamic vegetation trait mapping in support of more accurate Earth system models. A vegetation trait mapping solution based on a novel, compact, rugged, hyperspectral imager is proposed to meet this need.