The CAO instrumentation is designed to fly in a wide variety of fixed-wing aircraft found around the world.
The CAO Alpha and Beta systems and 3-D mapping output.
Schematic cross-sectional view of the new CAO AToMS sensor.
CAO Systems
The CAO is the first fully integrated 3-D laser scanner and imaging spectrometer system designed for ecological research. The CAO can fly in two distinct modes, depending upon science questions. The CAO-Alpha system can map at a spatial resolution of 0.1-1.5 meters. The CAO-Beta system is intended to fly larger regions with a more complete spectral sampling at 3-4 meters spatial resolution.
Alpha
This CAO configuration consists of an integrated imaging spectrometer (hyperspectral sensor) and a small-footprint scanning-waveform light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system. The imaging spectrometer is a visible-NIR pushbroom imager utilizing the Offner spectrometer design. The spectrometer has a swath of 1500 pixels, and can be programmed in-flight to acquire imagery in up to 288 channels of 1.8-nm bandwidth (FWHM) covering the 380 to 1060 nm wavelength range. The spectrometer is co-mounted on a stabilized plate with the scanning LiDAR operating at up to 100 kilohertz with full waveform digitization. The LiDAR simultaneously collects discrete-return and waveforms on a common data system. In addition, there is a 39 megapixel visible and color-infrared medium format digital camera that is fully integrated into the Alpha system. In combination, these instruments provide detailed, high spatial resolution 3-D information on the structure, biochemistry, and physiology of vegetation and ecosystems as well as the terrain underlying the vegetation.
Beta
When spectroscopic data beyond 1060 nm are required, the CAO LiDAR can be integrated with the full-range JPL Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS). This mode provides spectral information in the 380-2510 nm wavelength region, along with high-resolution LiDAR data. Our unique data "bundling" algorithms provide a way to automatically co-locate the CAO LiDAR and AVIRIS imagery to extremely tight tolerances. The CAO Beta system is also the research testbed for the upcoming AToMS airborne system.
AToMS (under development)
Carnegie's newest system called AToMS (Airborne Taxonomic Mapping System) will launch in Spring 2011. AToMS will go far beyond the engineering and science capabilities developed with the CAO Alpha and Beta systems. AToMS integrates a new High Fidelity Imaging Spectrometer (HiFIS) measuring the 380-2500 nm wavelength range in 5 nm slices with a high pulse-rate, full waveform LiDAR. This new system will focus effort on airborne canopy chemistry and biodiversity studies in tropical regions. The scientific foundation for this new airborne taxonomic mapping system can be found at Carnegie Spectranomics. AToMS is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.