4. The Multisensor concept of an airborne remote sensing system -
configuration and design
The TOMAS-concept consists on sensor moduls in the visible and infrared wavelength bands for digital
data acquisition (fig. 5):
-The high resolution panchromatic CCD-camera (PANC),
-imagina spectrometers in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) bands respective in the short wave in
frared (SWIR) band dependent on the thematical tasks of the mission and
-a scanner in the thermal infrared (TIR).
The pixel size of the PANC- images should be 5times smaller then that of the VNIR, SWIR or TIR moduls
(fig. 4).
For obtaining additional information about the scene of mapping it is possible to involve an approach
sensor (VS) and meteorological sensor (MS).
The system will be completed with a navigation unit for measuring and recording course, height, speed,
roll, pitch, yaw, time, and temperature (FD) as well as electronics for data handling, processing and con-
troll (VE, PS). It should be possible to have quick-look visualisation of the data at the monitor (M) and
to record them at high density digital recorder (SM).
The modular concept renders possible to change sensor modules of different geometric or spectral re
solution respective to add other sensor units. But the main goal of the concept is the possibility to select
and collect data of different sensors by thematical aspects. The conception consists of basic knowled
ge and algorithms for designation of physical parameters of surface objects, which described above and
of the possibility to control/the data selection and collection in order to this algorithms using an opera
tor terminal (OT).
Criterions of the geometrical and spectral characteristics of objects of remote sensing are given in figure
3. Complex and synchronous acquisition of digital data in different wavelength bands and the nearly
congruence of the images permit the programmable controll of thematical selection of the spectral bands,
the computation of correlation functions, the identification of mixed pixels using structure functions in
the analysis of the PANC data set and so on. In order to the analysis of conditions of agricultural plants
for example, in this way it is possible to select from the rich data set of the imaging spectrometer 3 - 4
channels of the VNIR module (0.55, 0.65, 0.8, /1.05/ micrometers), 2 channels of the SWIR (1.6 and 2.2
micrometers) and additional the thermal infrared band.
The limitations of information systems were until recently still determined by computer capacities, their
performance, and their process. At an even increasing rate of developement it becomes clear that the
true limitations are not in the area fo data storage, data processing, and data output but in the digital
acquisition of the required data.../6/. In this sense the presented concept may be of interest.
