The laser spectroscopy project utilizes a supercontinuum laser source based on microstructure nonlinear fibres allowing a generation of a supercontinuum with a broad bandwidth and a continuous spectrum, which has been impossible in standard optical fibres. This technology has recently become commercially available, and FGI has carried out a range of preliminary experiments of laser scanner intensity and hyperspectral laser measurement in order to investigate the feasibility of using supercontinuum measurement in terrestrial and airborne laser scanning. A hyperspectral laser scanner (lidar) would produce the topographic information (x,y,z) and the intensity (I) in a broad spectral range, which would substantially improve the acquired surface models and automatic classification and interpretation of data. It would also enable the combination of hyperspectral imaging and laser scanning: the hyperspectral properties of the target would be measured by active laser measurement. The laser spectroscopy project also focuses on new spectroscopic methods, e.g., for small targets, and the study of physics related to laser measurements.

More information on the research group: www.fgi.fi/envilaser