LED-based field radiometer for sensor web in-situ measurements

We have developed a multi-band ground viewing radiometer based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to create a self-calibrating sensing system for land-based measurements. The system is intended for in-situ data collection needed for vicarious calibration, using the reflectance-based method, for earth observing satellites. An autonomous prototype radiometer, which is part of a sensor web of 5 radiometers which could be geographically distributed over hundreds of meters, has been realized. Temporally continuous in-situ measurement of the land reflectance in 4 spectral bands, from 350 nm to 900 nm, are acquired. The system has the ability to regularly re-calibrate autonomously and in the field, communicating results to a remote home base.