New Airborne Thermal-Infrared Hyperspectral Imager System: Initial Validation

Compared with hyperspectral remote sensing in visible-light, near infrared and short-wave infrared spectra, hyperspectral remote sensing in the thermal infrared spectrum has unique advantages, especially in the fields of mineral identification and pollution gas. At present, infrared hyperspectral imagers are rare and mainly airborne. In this article, the basic principle and design features of a newly developed airborne thermal-infrared hyperspectral imaging system (ATHIS) are detailed, and separate validation experiments of laboratory and aerial remote sensing experiments are carried out. Measurements and comparative analysis of infrared emissivity spectra of the typical minerals were performed in the laboratory. In the summer of 2019, the instrument carried out flight tests in Hengdian Town, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province, China. The results show that ATHIS can also accurately acquire the target emissivity spectrum. In the future, the instrument will also be used to carry out key technology verification and data-processing application research of space infrared hyperspectral imagers plan.