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The Hyperspectral Imaging Laboratory (HyLab) is Alaska’s premier airborne imaging spectroscopy facility. Using advanced hyperspectral remote sensing technology, HyLab supports research and applications across Alaska and the Arctic, including critical minerals exploration, environmental monitoring, infrastructure assessment, snow and ice studies, coastal processes, and ecosystem mapping.

Hyperspectral Imaging

Hyperspectral imaging (imaging spectroscopy) is an advanced remote sensing technique that measures how materials reflect energy across hundreds of spectral bands. By combining these data, it identifies unique spectral signatures, enabling precise detection of minerals, vegetation health differences, and environmental contaminants.

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This video shows handwritten notes and animations explaining hyperspectral imaging, including spectral bands and material identification. Click to play audio version.

Featured Applications

Mineral Mapping

Hyperspectral imaging identifies and maps minerals by capturing high-resolution spectra across many narrow wavelength bands and matching diagnostic absorption features to reference libraries, even in complex geological settings.

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Aerial view of Kachemak Bay showing hyperspectral imaging over the ocean.

Ocean Colors

Hyperspectral imaging can map water turbidity as a proxy for glacial sediment influx, with higher spectral resolution enabling more accurate surface sediment detection than indices derived from multispectral data.

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Glacier and Snow/Ice Analysis

The monitoring of glaciers, seasonal snow, and sea ice enables studies of albedo variability and the effects of light-absorbing particles on snowpack evolution.

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Services

Aerial Imaging

HyLab provides aerial hyperspectral imaging services for high-resolution spectral data acquisition and advanced spectral analysis, enabling precise material identification and environmental monitoring across diverse terrestrial and aquatic environments.

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Data Processing

HyLab provides data processing services for transforming raw hyperspectral datasets into calibrated, analysis-ready products through advanced preprocessing, correction, and feature extraction workflows.

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Environmental Analysis

HyLab provides environmental analysis services using hyperspectral data to derive insights on ecosystem condition, surface composition, and environmental change through quantitative spectral interpretation.

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