Multi-Band Spectrum Camera (MBSC) for Automatic Fixed-Point Reflectance Image Collection in a Crop Field

Abstract

Here we describe the configuration and operation of a field-use digital imaging system (multi-band spectrum camera, MBSC) that captures images in two spectral bands in the visible and near infrared wavelength ranges, and automatically converts and stores data as reflectance factor (RF) images. The instrument consists of a weatherproof camera unit, a skylight sensor and a PC and hard disc for a control unit. The camera unit has two industrial use digital camera boards attached with interference band-pass filters and objective lenses. The skylight sensor has light detectors equipped with band-pass filters identical to those used in the camera unit. The system is designed to collect images in each band and convert data into RF using the skylight intensity at prescheduled times. The MBSC has potential to automatically monitor agronomic variables in fields up to several hundred square meters.