Emergency and Disaster Mapping

An airborne hyperspectral sensor offers a number of advantages for emergency mapping. Having a large number of bands over a wide wavelength interval allows optimal image acquisition and flexible image processing.

The HyMap sensor has been used to map active wildfire fronts and burned areas (as shown on the left side panel). Imagery is processed in the aircraft and transmitted to the emergency agency via satellite link within two minutes of acquisition.

In the case of flood mapping (right panel), the availability of SWIR bands aids in discrimination of standing water and moist soils.

The HyMap sensor has been also used to detect and map oil & chemical spills, mine site contamination and coastal assessment after severe storms.