New application areas of hyperspectral imaging

Technology developing of hyperspectral imaging increases rapidly and new application areas arises. This literature survey aims to map these areas focusing on imaging of chemical and biological matrices with applications mainly in the fields of defense and security. FOI is today developing hyperspectral technologies in diverse areas and Swedish Armed Forces (FM) is using hyperspectral systems. One question to ask is if these techniques and systems can be utilized in new applications related to area of BC, e.g. can technology aimed to reveal camouflage be helpful to reveal dangerous substances? Information has been collected via searching in different databases, and from meetings and workshops with participants from FOI and FM. Hyperspectral images contain both spectral and spatial information, which often is very useful in rapid analyses of complex samples and scenes. To study only a single datapoint or few of such samples could be very misleading while an imaging over larger area give rise to a more complete information. An advantage of hyperspectral imaging is that it works in a non-destructive manner and it does not need physical contact with the object. Furthermore, many of the methods are capturing images rapidly. Hyperspectral imaging can be used in different wavelength areas, and initially only short wave and near infra-red (SWIR, NIR) light were considered but the study was broadened to include wavelengths in UV and visible range and longer ones in IR (MW, LW). Literature searching was mainly performed in SciFinder with keywords as hyperspectral, detection, CWA, bacteria, forensics, anomaly and pattern recognition. Specifically SPIE-symposium (Baltimore) 2016 was reviewed with respect to CBRNE and hyperspectral imaging. Besides, activities related to spectroscopic analyses and hyperspectral imaging at FOI have been considered, including essential methods of data analyses. This study is focusing on studies from the last years, and to sum up in general terms it is evident how the number of works and applications of hyperspectral imaging combined with different spectroscopic techniques significantly have increased over the last years, especially those which are linked to NIR/SWIR-domain. Furthermore, it is concluded that FOI possesses high ability and competence with respect to developing both hardware and software in this research area. Finally, some future aspects are proposed: 1) Study BC contaminations on various surfaces and in different matrices (cooperate with new SWIR consortium), 2) Study ageing of (protective) material, 3) Modify existing LWIR technology at FOI aimed for stand-off detection of CWA, 4) Examine which platforms and techniques that are of relevance today in FM organization with potential, after modification, to be used in other purpose as well (e.g. CWA-detection), 5) Forensic field analyses; e.g. scan over larger areas to reveal hot spots for sampling or further analysis, ageing of fingerprints or blood traces, etc., 6) Environmental analysis, e.g. reveal contaminations on surfaces and chemicals (as oil) on water.