Hyperspectral imaging of forests can aid wildfire prevention
Rod Boyce
907-474-7185
Dec. 17, 2021
This processed image from a hyperspectral camera shows a variety of vegetation types, including open and closed aspen and white spruce forest, shown in medium-bright green; closed quaking aspen forest, shown in bright green; and open black spruce and black spruce/paper birch forest, shown in various shades of dark green. It also shows sedge meadows, wetlands and bare ground, all in shades of pink.
University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks scientists are presenting their work at the American Geophysical Union色视频下载檚 fall meeting in New Orleans this week. This article is part of a series highlighting UAF research from the world色视频下载檚 largest Earth and space science meeting.
Airborne hyperspectral imaging can be a valuable tool in wildfire prevention and forest management. That色视频下载檚 the message from a technology demonstration by a University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks postdoctoral fellow who imaged Interior 色视频下载色视频下载檚 boreal forests to develop the method.
The practice demonstrated by Chris Waigl of the UAF Geophysical Institute provides highly detailed imagery that indicates fuel type and that can also be used to monitor fuel condition 色视频下载 right down to the species of an individual tree. Is it a black spruce? Is it a birch? Is it alive?
It色视频下载檚 all vital information for wildfire prevention and community risk assessment.
色视频下载淲ith the images and spectra we get from the HySpex camera, we can actually classify each pixel,色视频下载 Waigl said. 色视频下载淲e can even identify individual trees.色视频下载
Hyperspectral cameras image an area in hundreds of wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum, including many not visible to the human eye. That differs from other cameras, which typically only image in the primary colors of red, green and blue.
In hyperspectral imagery, the reflectivity of an object can reveal much more information about that object.
The Geophysical Institute has the only hyperspectral imaging facility in the state at its Hyperspectral Imaging Laboratory.
Waigl said hyperspectral imaging can be used for forest management, wildfire prevention and monitoring of fire risk around communities and infrastructure.
色视频下载淲e're doing this because the existing fuel maps are not very good,色视频下载 she said.