Field-Based Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy
The potential value of field-based FTIR spectroscopy to a wide range of environmental applications has been demonstrated by a number of academic studies over recent years.
Field-based FTIR spectroscopy has been shown to have the capability of providing information on the composition of rock, sediment, soil, vegetation and the atmosphere that standard optical reflectance spectroscopy cannot, and has the potential to significantly advance the application of remote sensing to geology and geomorphology.
FTIR techniques can:
•resolve igneous rock types, clastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks, sediment grain size and composition; and
•identify soil composition and contamination and vegetation composition.
Open- and closed-path FTIR techniques have been used to resolve the atmosphere and gaseous emissions for a number of environment-related projects including volcanology, air quality monitoring and contaminated land monitoring.
Although the potential applications of field-based FTIR spectroscopy are many and varied, the utilisation of the technique by earth observation specialists across all sectors of the earth observation community has been constrained by a number of factors:
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the availability of field-based portable FTIR instruments has been very limited;
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the field FTIR equipment is currently very cumbersome, delicate and difficult to use in the field; and
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the methodology for processing and analysing field FTIR data is complicated.
The continuing technological development of portable FTIRs, and more recently hand-held FTIRs is significant. The much lighter, cheaper, simpler and more robust FTIRs now being produced will make this powerful analytical technique much more accessible to environmental scientists in all sectors of the earth observation community. A comprehensive investigation of the capability of portable and handheld FTIRs will also be invaluable in informing the discussion on the specification of future airborne- and satellite-based FTIRs.
Proposed Activities
To illustrate the capability of field-based FTIR techniques for environmental monitoring and management and the demonstrate the functionality of the new generation of portable and hand-held FTIR instruments a number of presentations, seminars and workshops will be given at a range of conferences and workshops for earth observation scientists from across the earth observation community. Presentations on a range of applications of field FTIR techniques will be given by researchers from the UK and abroad at conferences relating to earth observation.
Commercial vendors of field FTIR instruments will be invited to attend the sessions and provide hands-on experience of using the equipment to attendees. Other companies that have an interest in the development of field FTIR technology or in the exploitation of field FTIR techniques will be invited to contribute to or participate in one or all of the planned seminar and workshop events. In addition, a presentation will be given to environmental engineers and managers to engage interest from non-earth observation specialists from both the academic and regulatory environmental management sector.
Meetings with the interested parties will take place during 2011 and 2012. These meetings are anticipated to provide a range of additional information on the near- and medium-term applicability of field FTIR techniques in the earth observation community. The meetings include:
• attending the NERC Remote Sensing ESP KTN meeting in London, 6th April 2011;
• presenting a paper on Spectral Emissivity/FTIR at the Hyperspectral Imaging Conference, Glasgow, 16 - 18th May 2011;
• organising/chairing a session on Spectral Emissivity/FTIR at the 2011 GRSG conference, Frascati, Italy, December 2011.
For more information, contact the Theme Leader, Dr. Graham Ferrier
Senior Lecturer in Department of Geography, University of Hull
Telephone: +44 (0)1482 466060
Fax: +44 (0)1482 466340
Email:
G.Ferrier@hull.ac.uk
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Research Interests
I am involved in a wide range of projects related to the development of novel observation and modelling techniques applied to the natural environment. I have developed a number of distinctive research themes supported by an extensive network of national and international collaborators and supported by a range of national and international funding. My current research themes and active projects are detailed below.
Earth Surface Processes
I have concentrated on developing an investigative framework to integrate measurement and modelling techniques of earth surface processes at a range of spatial scales and at time-scales ranging from millions of years to milliseconds. This investigative framework involves integrating a range of in situ mapping and supporting techniques (geomorphology; geochemistry; geochronology & geophysics) with remote sensing techniques (imaging spectroscopy; SAR interferometry; LiDAR & spectral emissivity) and numerical modelling techniques; (landscape dynamics and contaminant dispersion) to study the effects of climate change, tectonics and human activity on the environment. I am currently applying this integrated framework to seven projects in four distinct research sub-themes:
• Late Holocene Alluvial Fan Dynamics;
• Catchment-scale contaminated sediment transfer;
• Estuarine Hydrodynamic and Sedimentary Processes; and
• Determining engineering parameters of expansive soils combining (airborne and field-based) spectroscopy and geophysical methods.
Environmental Processes
I have been involved in a range of projects investigating the effects of anthropogenic and climate change on environmental processes. Within this research theme are a number of distinct sub-themes involving the development of a range of novel remote sensing techniques, development of hypothesis-based habitat modelling and the implementation and parameterising of a range of environmental models (estuarine, hydrogeological and mires methane emission). I am currently principal investigator on seven projects relating to 5 sub-themes addressing these processes:
• Nature and extent of marine eutrophication in east coast Scottish estuaries;
• Physics-based monitoring of coastal habitats;
• Estimation of methane emission from northern peatlands;
• Development of an integrated geophysical monitoring methodology for the detection, characterisation and risk analysis of landfill leachate; and
• Management of bear population dynamics in Slovenia using habitat suitability modelling.
Earth Observation Technologies
In association with the previous research themes I am involved in the development and evaluation of novel earth observation science techniques for the retrieval of geological, geomorphological, geophysical and environmental parameters. I am currently involved in four sub-themes:
• Geological applications of spectral emissivity mapping;
• Mapping Epithermal Gold deposits using hyperspectral remote sensing data;
• Quantifying gas emissions using ground Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy; and
• Utility of integrated ground geophysics datasets in investigating environmental, archaeological and geomorphological processes.
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