Facilities:  The Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) Research Unit is equipped with nine pentium IV PCs with Windows 2000/XP and 21" Viewsonic or Dell flat screen high-resolution monitors. Minimum machine speed is currently 3 Ghz with a minimum of 120 Gb of storage space on each. The workstations have a mixture of floppy drives, zip drives, CD-R/Ws, and DVD-Rs.  All machines are linked to the University of Idaho network backbone and Internet II. Software includes a full suite of image processing and GIS packages including Arc Info, ENVI/IDL, ACORN, Erdas Imagine, Erdas Orthobase, Arcview  with all modules, Solar Analyst/Topoview, Splus, Hemiview, MS Office 2000/XP, MS Frontpage, Visual Studio, and C++ compilers. Three file servers provide approximately 2 terabytes of file storage space to accommodate research with large regional datasets and time-series of imagery and value-added products. The newest server includes a DVD reader/writer for data backup.  The lab has a high-speed internal network which allows for quick data transfer between the servers and workstations.  The Unit also can serve data for external users using an internal web server or the INSIDE Idaho web site.

A Tektronix phaser 560 is used for high-quality color output and an HP Laser Jet for rapid or large volume B&W printer output. A full suite of other output options exist with the RS/GIS teaching laboratory down the hall. The Research Unit owns a Nikon Coolpix 950 high resolution digital camera with fisheye lens and self-leveling mount accessories for acquisition of hemispherical canopy photos for analysis of canopy characteristics using the Hemiview software. Research Unit GPS and locationing equipment include two Trimble Pro XRS receivers with real-time differential beacon reception and two Impulse laser rangefinders for use in conjunction with the GPS receivers to accomplish real-time offsets in forested and difficult terrain. Another 8 GeoExplorer GPS receivers are also available for use.

In 2003 the research lab purchased an aerial-based hyperspectral and multispectral sensor system.  The center is currently devleoping systems and methodology for the applications of these systems to natural resources management.  The hyperspectral/multispectral sensor head consist of a hyperspectral imager (HSI) and a multispectral imager (MSI). The HSI is based on a grating imaging spectrometer design using a 2/3” CCD camera that has a 16 mm focal length lens. The sensor splits the visible and infrared light spectrum into 240 bands with a spectral resolution better than 2.5 nm within the 445-900 nm range. It has a 10-bit per band radiometric resolution, and a swath width of 752 pixels. The MSI consists of four-mega-pixel CCD cameras with interchangeable filters that are capable of acquiring data in four bands at user-selected wavelengths. The MSI features a 1280 x 1030 CCD array of progressively scanned images formatted with 8-bit quantization.  Four 10 nm bandwidth interference filters with center pass wavelengths of 450, 550, 650, and 800 nm are mounted on the 16 mm focal length lenses. 

The research unit has recently purchased two field spectroradiometers.  This includes a full range (350 - 2500 nm) ASD FR and a portabale VIS-NIR GER-1500 (350 - 1050 nm) spectroradiometer.  The GER 1500 has been modiified with a trigger switch to allow remote measurements (e.g. above canopy or fire).  The ASD came equipped with a plant probe to allow accurate leaf measurements. The Unit also has access to a GER 2600 spectroradiometer (400 - 2500 nm) for measurement of radiance and reflectance. The Unit also contains a full suite of stereoscopes, zoom transfer scopes and airphoto interpretation equipment. The teleconferencing equipment available in the Research Unit, allows for teleconferences with multiple entities.  The Unit facilities are managed in coordination with the RS/GIS teaching laboratory which also includes a broad array of equipment available for teaching and research. The RS/GIS Research Unit includes office space for six researchers providing integrated workspace for research and graduate study.

Contact details:     
Remote Sensing & GIS Research Unit               
Phone: 208-885-4946
College of Natural Resources, Rm. 21 
Email: paulg@uidaho.edu
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1133