Discussions with intelligence analysts indicated there were issues with dynamic range of remote sensor imagery to assess the best details. Further, hyperspectral image analyses require better image data undistorted by the atmospheric propagation due to unknown levels of ozone, carbon dioxide, humidity, aerosols, etc.. These airborne constituents can selectively absorb or scatter various wavelengths of spectral content through the column of space between the objects under view and the sensor collecting the image. To determine an atmospheric transmittance transfer function, we have developed the concept of an operational calibration panel that is composed of calibrated reflectors and emitters with a local witness sensor to validate short range calibrated radiance. The panel is placed in the area of collection and the calibrated emissions are collected at the same time as those by the remote sensor. In this manner, ground truth for pixels in an image can be utilized to determine the atmospheric transfer function and this information can be applied to improve intelligence collected from imagery over a larger area of collection.
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