The primary data currently available for download consist of airborne hyperspectral imagery acquired for the Mer Bleue Arctic Surrogate Simulation Site (MBASSS) S2/L8 Data Product Validation Project in 2016. MBASSS was a collaborative effort aimed at developing a systematic approach for ongoing assessment and validation of satellite based land information products from Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel 2 satellites. The airborne systems used for this project were the CASI-1500 and SASI-644 hyperspectral instruments (ITRES Research, Calgary AB) installed on the NRC Twin Otter.

Standard level 2 processed imagery is provided for download as rasters in ENVI Standard format (see below for processing level descriptions). Imagery is available from April 20, May 11, May 24 and June 23, 2016 as a set of 12 individual flight lines per date. The imagery has been atmospherically corrected and during the geocorrection process, it has been resampled to 1 m pixel size. Currently CASI and SASI imagery are provided separately. Metadata for each flight line is provided in external ascii ENVI header files (*.hdr) and *.met files. The geocorrected imagery provided with pixel level information including pixel view zenith angle (off Nadir angle), DEM, view azimuth angle, radiance path distance, column and row numbers of pixels in non-geocorrected image file, and relative pixel offset between calculated and assigned pixel location. This information is provided in associated *.nad and *.nad.hdr files. Additional level 3 data products including hyperspectral point clouds of the individual flight lines (CASI and SASI) and fused full range CASI-SASI products will also be made available soon.

The file naming convention developed by NRC-FRL depends on the data product and contains abbreviations unique to the flight. An example of a file name is:

This flight line was acquired on May 11, 2016 (i.e. 160511), over Mer Bleue (i.e. MB). It is flight line A, attempt #1 (i.e. AA) with the CASI-1500 (i.e. CA). The imagery has 1 by 1 by 1 summation applied (i.e., 1x1x1). It is the first version of the spectroradiometric calibration (i.e. v01). The imagery is geocorrected, the lab-based spectroradiometric calibration has had an in-flight radiometric refinement applied and the imagery is atmospherically corrected (hemispherical-directional reflectance factor) (i.e. L2CG). The table below describes the components of the file names.

Following the NRC-FRL hyperspectral processing chain, the imagery has undergone a lab-based spectroradiometric correction (to at-sensor radiance, uW/cm2/sr/nm, level L1A). The CASI additionally has had an in-flight radiometric refinement applied (level L1C). Both CASI and SASI images have had an atmospheric compensation applied to generate surface reflectance (hemispherical-directional-reflectance-factor, HDRF) (levels L2C (CASI) and L2A (SASI)). The standard products available for download have further been geocorrected resulting in the designation of L2CG (CASI) and L2AG (SASI). Other levels of processing (e.g., L1AG, L1CG) may be available through a special request. The additional data products are designated as level 3 and include the hyperspectral point clouds (L3HPC) and full range fused CASI-SASI imagery (L3FR). Details on their characteristics and workflow used to generate the files will be available soon.

For a detailed description of the level 1 and level 2 imagery and processing see:

Soffer R.J., Ifimov G., Arroyo-Mora J.P., Kalacska M. 2019. Validation of Airborne Hyperspectral Imagery from Laboratory Panel Characterization to Image Quality Assessment: Implications for an Arctic Peatland Surrogate Simulation Site. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 45:3-4, 476-508.

Please cite the level 2 standard data as:

Soffer, R., Arroyo-Mora, J. P., Kalacska, M., Ifimov, G., Leblanc, G. 2022, Mer Bleue QA4EO Airborne Hyperspectral Imagery, https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/RMGOIW, Borealis, V1

The links below provide access to interactive web maps for each time period to explore the hyperspectral imagery. To download the imagery, fill in the data request form. Other datasets such as LiDAR, field spectroscopy of Mer Bleue vegetation classes (acquired during MBASSS) and other ancillary data will continue to be made available on an ongoing basis. Exploratory Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) LiDAR and Structure from Motion Photogrammetry products for download or interactive viewing are linked below.

The online interactive models below are hosted through Sketchfab or Potree. For the best viewing experience, a computer with an external mouse is recommended but tablets and smartphones with a modern processor and reliable internet connection will also work.

We are in the process of converting all 3D models to the .ply virtual reality (VR) headset compliant format - check back soon as we update the interactive models below. The VR label indicates the ones that have already been converted. The models hosted on Sketchfab can be viewed in VR on smartphones via the web link using a Google Cardboard compliant viewer. If using the Sktechfab iOS or Android application on a smartphone directly, the models can also be displayed in Augmented Reality (AR). See Kalacska et al. 2021 for a discussion of the two approaches.

Models that have have been converted to .ply can be viewed and interacted with using an Oculus Quest 2 (or similar) VR headset. Click on the button below for instructions on how to view the models with an Oculus Quest 2. Steps are similar for other headsets such as the HTC Vive.