Field Spectroscopy and Radiometry

Dear Colleagues,

Field spectroscopy has emerged in tandem with space agencies' progress in developing more bands and higher spectral resolutions across the passive remote-sensing domains. Field spectroscopy was first used to understand the interaction of objects with solar electromagnetic radiation, and then to design the best spectral channels for remote sensing the Earth from space. Later, this technology was adopted by other disciplines, which opened new frontiers in the environmental monitoring field, and enabled rapid measurements of targets on the ground. Applications involve precision agriculture, geological prospecting, and monitoring of soil and water contamination. The need for field spectroscopy by many users encouraged electro-optic companies to design and manufacture portable spectrometers for easy operation, resulting in a significant increase in the number and activities of these devices. Today, it would be hard to find any remote-sensing group without one or more portable spectrometers at hand, with other, non-remote-sensing communities also possessing these means. Thus field spectroscopy is no longer simply an accessory tool for remote-sensing activities but rather, stands as an important tool for many applications in all spheres (i.e., the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, pedosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere). The field spectrometer can be a point or imaging spectrometer covering solar (VIS–NIR–SWIR) or earth (MWIR–LWIR) radiation. In general, field spectroscopy is aimed at understanding the interaction of the targets in question with electromagnetic radiation under better conditions than those available when operating air and orbit sensors. Uses of field spectroscopy include the calibration and validation of remote-sensing sensors and their products, the development of semi- and fully quantitative models for terrestrial applications, the study of interactions between higher spectral resolution radiation and solids, liquids, and gases, and the development of as yet undiscovered applications. The aim of this Special Issue is to cover research dedicated exclusively to field spectroscopy (point or imaging) across the 400–14,000 nm spectral region and to promote further work in this direction. Sensor calibration, spectral modeling, the development of quantitative models for outdoor applications, and of standards and protocols for field measurements, are just a few examples. Relevant fields will include environmental monitoring, civil engineering assessments, precision-agriculture applications, the monitoring of soil and water contamination, the detection of atmospheric pollution and forest management, among others.

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Prof. Dr. Eyal Ben-Dor
Guest Editor

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