A Novel Algorithm for Leaf Incidence Angle Effect Correction of Hyperspectral LiDAR

As a novel remote sensor, hyperspectral LiDAR is faced with the incidence angle effect, which restricts its quantitative applications. However, the current radiometric correction algorithms have some limitations, concentrating on: 1) the mathematically polynomial fitting; 2) adjacent wavelength ratio such as ratio vegetation index; and 3) perfect Lambertian assumption and using the Lambert cosine law to correct the effect. In this study, a practical and proper correction algorithm is proposed to overcome these limitations. First, to better characterize the complex reflection characteristics of the object surface, a combination of the Lambert law and Beckmann law is applied to represent the object surface. Then, it considers the impact of both wavelength and incidence angle on describing the surface roughness factor and diffuse fraction. Finally, a modified and physically based radiometric correction algorithm is generated. It provides the detailed correction equations for intensity and reflectance data recorded by hyperspectral LiDAR. To obtain its parameters and verify its reliability, leaves (ten samples per species, 30 in total) were stochastically collected from three broadleaf trees to experiment. The results showed that the algorithm achieved good performances by comparing the intensity and reflectance changes before and after removing the leaf incidence angle effect. Since it is physically based, the algorithm could promisingly be a fundamental solution to eliminate the incidence angle effect for hyperspectral LiDAR.