Christian Vallières

A novel multipixel imaging differential standoff chemical detection sensor

ABB Bomem is expanding its line of infrared remote sensing products with the addition of a new multipixel imaging spectroradiometer. This hyperspectral instrument is based on the proven MR spectroradiometers. The instrument is modular and support several configurations. One of its configurations is optimised for differential acquisition in the VLWIR (cut-off near 14 μm) to support research related to the stand-off detection and quantification of chemicals. In that configuration, the instrument is equipped with a dualinput telescope to perform optical background subtraction. The resulting signal is the differential between the spectral radiance entering each input port.

A new imaging FTIR spectroradiometer

ABB Bomem is expanding its line of infrared remote sensing products with the addition of a new imaging spectroradiometer. That hyperspectral instrument is based on the proven MR FTIR spectroradiometers. This field instrument, called the MR-i, is a fast imaging Fourier Transform spectroradiometer. It generates spectral data cubes in the MWIR and LWIR. It is designed to be sufficiently fast to acquire the spectral signatures of rapid events. The design is modular. The two output ports of the instrument can be populated with different combinations of detectors (imaging or not). For instance to measure over a broad spectral range, one output port can be equipped with a LWIR camera while the other port is equipped with a MWIR camera. No dichroics are used to split the bands, hence enhancing the sensitivity. Both ports can be equipped with cameras serving the same spectral range but set at different sensitivity levels in order to increase the measurement dynamic range and avoid saturation of bright parts of the scene while simultaneously obtaining good measurement of the faintest parts of the scene. Various telescope options are available for the input port. This is a presentation of the current state of the development.

A broadband field portable reflectometer to characterize soils and chemical samples

The developments of optical methods to characterize soils and various surface contaminants require complete and reliable databases of spectral signatures of various objects, including chemical and representative background surfaces. Ideally, the databases should be acquired in the field to properly consider the chemical mixing and heterogeneity of the surfaces. Spectral characterization instruments are common in the visible and the shortwave infrared but there are few solutions in the midwave and thermal infrared regions. ABB recently developed a broad band reflectometer based on a small FTIR spectrometer. It is capable of measuring diffuse spectral reflectance from various surfaces in the infrared from 0.7 to 13.5 microns. This sensor has been developed to be operated in the field by one person. It is lightweight (about 12 kg); it is battery powered and ruggedized for operation in harsh environments. Its operation does not require sophisticated training; it has been designed to be operated by a non-specialist. The sensor can be used to generate spectral libraries or to perform material identification if a spectral library already exists. Examples of measurements in the field will be presented.

MRi dual-band MWIR imaging FTS

MR-i is an imaging version of the ABB Bomem MR Fourier-Transform spectroradiometer. This field instrument generates spectral datacubes in the MWIR and LWIR. It is designed to be sufficiently fast to acquire the spectral signatures of rapid events. The design is modular. The two output ports of the instrument can be populated with different combinations of detectors (imaging or not). For instance to measure over a broad spectral range, one output port can be equipped with a LWIR camera while the other port is equipped with a MWIR camera. No dichroics are used to split the bands, hence enhancing the sensitivity. Both ports can be equipped with cameras serving the same spectral range but set at different sensitivity levels in order to increase the measurement dynamic range and avoid saturation of bright parts of the scene while simultaneously obtaining good measurement of the faintest parts of the scene. Various telescope options are available for the input port. Overview of the instrument capabilities will be presented. Test results and results from field trials for a configuration with two MWIR cameras will be presented. That specific system is dedicated to the characterization of airborne targets. The two MWIR cameras are used to expand the dynamic range of the instrument and simultaneously measure the spectral signature of the cold background and of the warmest elements of the scene (flares, jet engines exhausts, etc.).

Standoff chemical D and Id with extended LWIR hyperspectral imaging spectroradiometer

Standoff detection and identification (D and Id) of unknown volatile chemicals such as chemical pollutants and consequences of industrial incidents has been increasingly desired for first responders and for environmental monitoring. On site gas detection sensors are commercially available and several of them can even detect more than one chemical species, however only few of them have the capabilities of detecting a wide variety of gases at long and safe distances. The ABB Hyperspectral Imaging Spectroradiometer (MR-i), configured for gas detection detects and identifies a wide variety of chemical species including toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and surrogates several kilometers away from the sensor. This configuration is called iCATSI for improved Compact Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer. iCATSI is a standoff passive system. The modularity of the MR-i platform allows optimization of the detection configuration with a 256 x 256 Focal Plane Array imager or a line scanning imager both covering the long wave IR atmospheric window up to 14 μm. The uniqueness of its extended LWIR cut off enables to detect more chemicals as well as provide higher probability of detection than usual LWIR sensors.

Modular hyperspectral imager enables multiple research applications

The MR-i spectroradiometer can support a wide range of applications from its architecture suited to multiple configurations. Its modular 4-port FTIR spectroradiometer architecture allows the simultaneous use of two different detector modules, direct or differential input(s) and multiple telescopes. In a given configuration, MR-i can combine a MWIR focal plane array and a LWIR focal plane array to provide an extended spectral range from the two imaging sensors. The two detector array modules are imaging the same scene allowing synchronized pixel-to-pixel spectral range combination. In another configuration, MR-i can combine two identical focal plane arrays with different attenuation factors and two interleaved integration times per detector array. This configuration generates four sets of hyperspectral data cubes with different dynamic ranges that can be combined to produce a single hyperspectral cube with unmatched dynamic range. This configuration is particularly well suited for high-speed, high-dynamic range characterization of targets such as aircrafts, flares, and explosions. In a third configuration, named iCATSI, the spectroradiometer is used in differential input configuration to provide efficient optical background subtraction. The iCATSI configuration features an MCT detectors array with spectral cutoff near 14 µm. This extended spectral range and high sensitivity allows the detection and identification of a wide range of chemicals.

Real time standoff gas detection and environmental monitoring with LWIR hyperspectral imager

MR-i is a dual band Hyperspectral Imaging Spectro-radiometer. This field instrument generates spectral datacubes in the MWIR and LWIR. MR-i is modular and can be configured in different ways. One of its configurations is optimized for the standoff measurements of gases in differential mode. In this mode, the instrument is equipped with a dual-input telescope to perform optical background subtraction. The resulting signal is the differential between the spectral radiance entering each input port. With that method, the signal from the background is automatically removed from the signal of the target of interest. The spectral range of this configuration extends in the VLWIR (cut-off near 14 μm) to take full advantage of the LW atmospheric window.

MR-i: high-speed dual-cameras hyperspectral imaging FTS

From scientific research to deployable operational solutions, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroradiometry is widely used for the development and enhancement of military and research applications. These techniques include targets IR signature characterization, development of advanced camouflage techniques, aircraft engines plumes monitoring, meteorological sounding and atmospheric composition analysis such as detection and identification of chemical threats. Imaging FT-IR spectrometers have the capability of generating 3D images composed of multiple spectra associated with every pixel of the mapped scene. That data allow for accurate spatial characterization of targets signature by resolving spatially the spectral characteristics of the observed scenes. MR-i is the most recent addition to the MR product line series and generates spectral data cubes in the MWIR and LWIR. The instrument is designed to acquire the spectral signature of various scenes with high temporal, spatial and spectral resolution. The four port architecture of the interferometer brings modularity and upgradeability since the two output ports of the instrument can be populated with different combinations of detectors (imaging or not). For instance to measure over a broad spectral range from 1.3 to 13 μm, one output port can be equipped with a LWIR camera while the other port is equipped with a MWIR camera. Both ports can be equipped with cameras serving the same spectral range but set at different sensitivity levels in order to increase the measurement dynamic range and avoid saturation of bright parts of the scene while simultaneously obtaining good measurement of the faintest parts of the scene. Various telescope options are available for the input port. Overview of the instrument capabilities will be presented as well as test results and results from field trials for a configuration with two MWIR cameras. That specific system is dedicated to the characterization of airborne targets. The expanded dynamic range allowed by the two MWIR cameras enables to simultaneously measure the spectral signature of the cold background and of the warmest elements of the scene (flares, jet engines exhausts, etc.).

Overview of the iCATSI multi-pixels standoff chemical detection sensor and the MR-i imaging spectroradiometer

ABB Bomem is expanding its line of infrared remote sensing products with the addition of a new imaging spectroradiometer. The instrument is modular and support several configurations. One of its configurations is a multipixels sensor optimised for differential acquisition in the VLWIR to support research related to chemical detection. In that configuration, the instrument is equipped with a dual-input telescope to perform optical background subtraction. The resulting signal is the differential between the spectral radiance entering each input port. The other configuration is a general purpose imaging spectroradiometer designed to acquire the spectral signature of rapid events and fast targets in infrared. Overview of the design and results from tests and first field trials will be presented.

A new fast infrared imaging spectroradiometer

ABB Bomem is expanding its line of infrared remote sensing products with the addition of a new imaging spectroradiometer. This hyperspectral instrument is based on the proven MR FTIR spectroradiometers. This field instrument, called the MR-i, is an imaging Fourier Transform spectroradiometer. It generates spectral data cubes in the MWIR and LWIR. It is designed to be sufficiently fast to acquire the spectral signatures of rapid events. The design is modular. The two output ports of the instrument can be populated with different combinations of detectors (imaging or not). For instance to measure over a broad spectral range, one output port can be equipped with a LWIR camera while the other port is equipped with a MWIR camera. No dichroics are used to split the bands, hence enhancing the sensitivity. Both ports can be equipped with cameras serving the same spectral range but set at different sensitivity levels in order to increase the measurement dynamic range and avoid saturation of bright parts of the scene while simultaneously obtaining good measurement of the faintest parts of the scene. Various telescope options are available for the input port. This is a presentation of the current state of the development.