HyLab: Building In-State Capabilities for Imaging Spectroscopy in Alaska

Abstract:

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a research hub for high-latitude research. With increased focus on impacts of climate warming and economic opportunities in the Arctic due to the opening of the Northern Sea Routes, Alaska has received heightened attention in the last few years. Airborne imaging spectroscopy (also known as hyperspectral imaging) is a powerful tool for mineral exploration and ecological applications in remote Alaska. In the mid-80s there was an AVIRIS airborne campaign followed by a long hiatus. Summer 2014 saw a flurry of activities with airborne hyperspectral data acquisition by NASA's G-LiHT and CARVE teams, USGS spectroscopy group (with HyMap sensors) and private companies. These missions will provide valuable baseline data for research in Alaska, but may not be able to allow for multiple intra-annual or inter-annual observations. UAF's HyLab, established with a Major Research Instrumentation grant from NSF, provides this much needed local airborne hyperspectral imaging capability in the VNIR and SWIR regions using a relatively low-cost HySpex sensor. For more details check out http://hyperspectral.alaska.edu .