Fundamentals of airborne video remote sensing

Abstract In response to the increasing interest in use of video equipment for remote sensing applications, this paper is intended as a tutorial to acquaint the prospective user with the basics of video technology. Video offers a number of unique attributes to the remote sensing user, especially the immediate availability of imagery. It has disadvantages as well, particularly its low spatial resolution. These attributes make video extremely useful in certain applications, and inappropriate for others. A variety of options exist for each of the components of an aerial video system. This paper describes these options and defines the terminology commonly used in the field. In addition to using conventional broadcast industry hardware, three types of multispectral video cameras have been specifically designed for remote sensing research and applications. These three designs are described and compared, giving advantages and disadvantages of each. Beyond describing the hardware, the airborne operation of video equipment is diseussed, including mounting configurations and image motion factors.