Overview of Hyperspectral Imaging Technology

Nov 23, 2021

Category: Hyperspectral Blog

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Spectral imaging is a rapidly growing inspection method for industries benefiting from machine vision solutions. It provides valuable information by identifying materials based on their chemical properties, not available with other camera technologies. Objects with similar looks but different chemical compositions can be reliably identified and sorted with a hyperspectral camera. This makes spectral imaging the most powerful inspection method in many applications with high commercial value.

Hyperspectral imaging expands traditional optical spectroscopy from instruments measuring a single spot at a time to a rapid analysis of non-homogeneous samples and targets. Single-camera operating in a specific wavelength range can be used for various applications like in food research to measure fat, moisture, or protein distribution, or in geology to map the distribution of different minerals on a geological site. The same camera can also be applied in various environments: in laboratories, field, industrial pilot lines, and airborne. With the newest mobile, handheld cameras, the researcher can easily take it to the samples without the need to bring the samples to a lab system.

Hyperspectral imaging is used increasingly in many research areas, such as life sciences, vegetation research, precision agriculture, forensics, food and feed analysis, mineral exploration, and for developing new recycling research methods. In each application area, a spectral camera is used to identify, measure, and map the biological, chemical, and physical properties of the objects.