Optical system design for a hyperspectral imaging lidar using supercontinuum laser and its preliminary performance

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Remote Sensing
• Lidar Technology

Background:

• Traditional remote sensing methods often have a mismatch between elevation data from lidar and spectral data from passive instruments.
• There is a growing need for integrated surveying and mapping solutions using remote sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and develop a novel hyperspectral imaging lidar system using a supercontinuum laser.
• To address the limitations of traditional lidar by integrating elevation and hyperspectral data acquisition.
• To design, build, and test the optical receiving system for the hyperspectral lidar.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an off-axis parabolic mirror as the receiving telescope.
• Employed a transmissive grating for splitting hyperspectral light to detection channels.
• Integrated a fiber array with micro-lenses for light guidance to detectors and a reference laser for energy jitter monitoring.

Main Results:

• The spectral resolution of a single fiber was measured to be approximately 3 nm.
• Outdoor experiments at 500 m with green and yellow leaves showed consistent reflection spectra between day and evening.
• The system operated with a laser wavelength range of 460-900 nm.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical receiving system is reliable for hyperspectral lidar applications.
• The hyperspectral imaging lidar system effectively integrates elevation and spectral data.
• The system shows promise for advanced airborne surveying and mapping.