Field Guide to Hyperspectral/Multispectral Image Processing

Hyper/multispectral imagery in optical remote sensing is an extension of color RGB pictures. The utilized wavelength range is beyond the visible, up to the reflective shortwave infrared. Hyperspectral imaging offers higher spectral resolution, leading to many wavebands. The spectral profiles recorded reveal reflected solar radiation from Earth-surface materials when the sensor is mounted on an airborne or spaceborne platform. An inverse process using machine-learning approaches is conducted for target detection, material identification, and associated environmental applications, which is the main purpose of remote sensing.

This Field Guide covers three areas: the fundamentals of remote sensing imaging for image understanding; image processing for correction and quality improvement; and image analysis for information extraction at subpixel, pixel, superpixel, and image levels, including feature mining and reduction. Basic concepts and fundamental understanding are emphasized to prepare the reader for exploring advanced methods.