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The Defence Research and Development Canada Agency has successfully completed a Technology Demonstration Program to assess the military utility of airborne hyperspectral Imagery. This required developing a sensor, the Airborne Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AIRIS), and collecting in-flight imagery data. AIRIS was designed as a flexible instrument using a Fourier Transform spectrometer with a spectral resolution ranging from 1 to 16 cm⁻¹, wide spectral coverage (2 to 12 microns), and different optical configurations. This paper provides a description of AIRIS and discusses examples of the spectral images collected during one air-trial. Emphasis is put on images of sub-pixel targets. Processing AIRIS data is labor intensive and can only be performed during post-trial analysis. Hardware and software modifications to AIRIS will implement a real-time processing capability over the next three years. These modifications will enable the instrument to output radiometrically calibrated digital spectrograms. These spectrograms will then be processed in real-time to output target detection and identification for selected target types.

An imaging spectrometer instrument based on a prism-grating-prism (PGP) element as the dispersive component and advanced camera solutions for on-line applications are presented. The PGP element uses a volume type holographic plane transmission grating made of dichromated gelatin (DCG). Currently, spectrographs have been realized for the 400–1050 nm region but applicable spectral region of the PGP is 380–1800 nm. Spectral resolution is typically between 1.5 and 5 nm. The on-axis optical configuration and simple rugged tubular optomechanical construction of the spectrograph provides a good image quality and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. Spectrograph optics are designed to be interfaced to any standard CCD camera. Special camera structures and operating modes can be used for applications requiring on-line data interpretation and process control.

An imaging spectrometer instrument based on a prism-grating-prism (PGP) element as the dispersive component and advanced camera solutions for on-line applications are presented. The PGP element uses a volume type holographic plane transmission grating made of dichromated gelatin (DCG). Currently, spectrographs have been realized for the 400–1050 nm region but applicable spectral region of the PGP is 380–1800 nm. Spectral resolution is typically between 1.5 and 5 nm. The on-axis optical configuration and simple rugged tubular optomechanical construction of the spectrograph provides a good image quality and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. Spectrograph optics are designed to be interfaced to any standard CCD camera. Special camera structures and operating modes can be used for applications requiring on-line data interpretation and process control.

The Defence Research and Development Canada Agency has successfully completed a Technology Demonstration Program to assess the military utility of airborne hyperspectral Imagery. This required developing a sensor, the Airborne Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AIRIS), and collecting in-flight imagery data. AIRIS was designed as a flexible instrument using a Fourier Transform spectrometer with a spectral resolution ranging from 1 to 16 cm⁻¹, wide spectral coverage (2 to 12 microns), and different optical configurations. This paper provides a description of AIRIS and discusses examples of the spectral images collected during one air-trial. Emphasis is put on images of sub-pixel targets. Processing AIRIS data is labor intensive and can only be performed during post-trial analysis. Hardware and software modifications to AIRIS will implement a real-time processing capability over the next three years. These modifications will enable the instrument to output radiometrically calibrated digital spectrograms. These spectrograms will then be processed in real-time to output target detection and identification for selected target types.