Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
10:20
Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses
Published on: August 9, 2019
An open-source spectral measurement platform for plant reflectance and material identification
M Mejia-Herrera1, J S Botero-Valencia1, J F Vargas-Bonilla2
1Grupo de Sistemas de Control y Robótica (GSCR), Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Medellín, Colombia.
Hardwarex
|May 25, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a low-cost, open-source spectral sensing platform for plant analysis and material identification. The customizable device offers accurate reflectance measurements, making spectral sensing more accessible for research and education.
Area of Science:
- Spectroscopy
- Plant Science
- Material Science
Background:
- Spectral sensing is vital for agriculture, environmental monitoring, and material characterization.
- Commercial spectrometers are often costly and lack modularity, hindering widespread use in education and field research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an affordable, open-source spectral measurement platform for reflectance analysis.
- To provide a customizable and modular solution for plant leaf and material characterization.
Main Methods:
- Integrated a miniature spectrometer (Hamamatsu C12880MA) with dual illumination (LED and incandescent bulb) covering 340-850 nm.
- Utilized a microcontroller (Teensy 3.2) with a Python interface for control, calibration, and data acquisition.
- Employed 3D printing and PVC for a modular, reproducible enclosure design.
Main Results:
- Achieved accurate wavelength alignment with laser sources (407 nm, 663 nm).
- Demonstrated strong agreement with a commercial spectrometer (MSE ≈ 10%).
- Validated spectral consistency across the 340-850 nm range using a ColorChecker Classic.
Conclusions:
- The developed open-source platform provides a low-cost, accurate alternative to commercial spectrometers.
- The system is suitable for plant reflectance analysis and material identification in research and educational contexts.
- The modular design enhances flexibility and reproducibility for diverse spectral sensing applications.
Related Concept Videos
02:16Light Acquisition
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
01:16Spectrophotometry: Introduction
Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
01:13Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to study the composition of materials. It is widely employed in chemistry, materials science, forensic science, and other fields where sample characterization is required. ATR has several advantages over traditional transmission IR spectroscopy, including the requirement of little to no sample preparation and the ability to analyze a wide range of samples.
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
01:29UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules
UV–Visible absorption spectra of conjugated dienes arise from the lowest energy π → π* transitions. The light-absorbing part of the molecule is called the chromophore, and the substituents directly attached to the chromophore are called auxochromes. A strong correlation exists between the absorption maxima, λmax, and the structure of a conjugated π system. The Woodward–Fieser rules predict the value of λmax for a given structure by adding the contributions...
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the atmosphere, the...
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.