Spectral-Feature-Based Analysis of Reflectance and Emission Spectral Libraries and Imaging Spectrometer Data

Abstract

This research demonstrates the application of spectral-feature-based analysis to identifying and mapping Earth-surface materials using spectral libraries and imaging spectrometer data. Feature extraction utilizing a continuum-removal and local minimum detection approach was tested for analysis of both reflectance and emissivity spectral libraries by extracting and characterizing spectral features of rocks, soils, minerals, and man-made materials. Library-derived information was then used to illustrate both reflectance- and emissivity-feature-based spectral mapping using imaging spectrometer data (AVIRIS and SEBASS). An additional spectral library of emission spectra from selected nocturnal lighting types was used to develop a database of key spectral features that allowed mapping and characterization of night lights from ProSpecTIR-VS imaging spectrometer data. Results from these case histories demonstrate that the spectralfeature- based approach can be used with either reflectance or emission spectra and applied to a wide variety of imaging spectrometer data types for extraction of key surface composition information.