Modelling of the optical signature of oil slicks at sea for the analysis of multi- and hyperspectral VNIR-SWIR images.

This work focuses on the contribution of modelling for the interpretation of multi- or hyperspectral optical images for the detection, characterisation and quantification of oil spills. Many parameters contribute to the spectral signature of an oil layer on the sea surface: the optical properties of the water column and of the oil, the film thickness, the surface roughness, the atmospheric radiance reaching the surface (direct and diffuse components), the geometry of observation and illumination. The number of these contributors and their combinations make the analysis of the spectral variability of oil signatures at the sea surface complex.

Comparison of MTF measurements using edge method: towards reference data set.

A sensor's spatial resolution has traditionally been a difficult concept to define, but all would agree that it is inextricably linked to the Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) and Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) of an imaging sensor system. As a measure of the geospatial quality of imagery, the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of the system is often used along with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, their calculation is not fully standardized.

Hyperspectral and Radar Airborne Imagery over Controlled Release of Oil at Sea.

Remote sensing techniques are commonly used by Oil and Gas companies to monitor hydrocarbon on the ocean surface. The interest lies not only in exploration but also in the monitoring of the maritime environment. Occurrence of natural seeps on the sea surface is a key indicator of the presence of mature source rock in the subsurface.

Edge method for on-orbit defocus assessment.

In the earth observation domain, two classes of sensors may be distinguished: a class for which sensor performances are driven by radiometric accuracy of the images and a class for which sensor performances are driven by spatial resolution. In this latter case, as spatial resolution depends on the triplet constituted by the Ground Sampling Distance (GSD), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), refocusing, acting as an MTF improvement, is very important. Refocusing is not difficult by itself as far as the on-board mechanism is reliable.

Improvement of the edge method for on-orbit MTF measurement.

The edge method is a widely used way to assess the on-orbit Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). Since good quality is required for the edge, the higher the spatial resolution, the better the results are. In this case, an artificial target can be built and used to ensure a good edge quality.