AISA Eagle 1K Hyperspectral Camera System

Helicopter Applicators Incorporated (HAI) recently acquired an AISA Eagle 1K hyperspectral sensor system, adding to its latest technological advancements. With the use of software specifically catered to the design of the AISA Eagle 1K, HAI offers a full product delivery.

The AISA Eagle 1K, coupled with a miniature integrated GPS/INS tacktical system, is housed in a custom-designed gyro-stabilized ball and mounted to a MD500 helicopter. Data acquisition is accomplished with a HAI custom built mini ATX computer system. Using a helicopter as a flying platform allows for low, slow flights resulting in sub-meter resolution. HAI provides the option of using a fixed-wing aircraft for higher altitude flights. All flight parameters are outlined using Ag-Nav software.

HAI combines the qualities of ENVI, GAIA, GBC-Transform and HyDaPS^TM (The Hyperspectral Data Processing System) software for data processing and analysis. ENVI is a well-known hyperspectral image analysis software. GAIA is used to geo reference imagery. GBC-Transform is the analysis software developed by RMS, LLC.  HyDaPS calibrates reflectance, applies atmospheric and radiance correction using incorporated algorithms. With these full-software capabilities, HAI is able to reduce time, energy and error in data processing and analysis techniques.

In preliminary flights of hemlock stands, many capabilities of hyperspectral imagery have become apparent. The AISA Eagle 1K is able to distinguish amongst species of trees and identify levels of vegetative stress. Each species of vegetation has a distinctive spectral signature, similar to that of a fingerprint, making each tree unique and identifiable by that spectral signature. As a species becomes stressed, the amount of absorption/reflectance changes, this provides visible changes in the spectral signature making identification of vegetative stress possible.

With delineation of species and vegetative stress identification, the AISA Eagle 1K can prove invaluable for detecting invasive plants and discovering diseased species.

Helicopter Applicators, Inc. 1670 York Rd  Gettysburg, PA 17325