Short-range remote detection of liquid surface contamination by active imaging Fourier transform spectrometry

An imaging Fourier transform spectrometer developed at TUHH was used for short-range remote detection and identification of liquids on surfaces. The method is based on the measurement of infrared radiation emitted and reflected by the surface and the liquid. A radiative transfer model that takes both the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of the materials into account has been developed. The model is applied for the detection and identification of potentially hazardous liquids. Measurements of various liquids on diverse surfaces were performed. The measured spectra depend on the optical properties of the background surface. However, using the radiative transfer model, automatic remote detection and identification of the liquids is possible. The agreement between measured spectra and spectra calculated using the radiative transfer model is excellent.