Hyperspectral remote sensing for light pollution monitoring

A possible application of hyperspectral remote sensing regards the assessment of optical pollution due to cities and industries. In this paper we introduce the results from a remote sensing campaign performed in September 2001 at night time. For the first time nocturnal light pollution was measured at high spatial and spectral resolution using two airborne hyperspectral sensors, namely the Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer (MIVIS) and the Visible InfraRed Scanner (VIRS-200). These imagers, generally employed for Earth remote sensing, were flown over the Tuscany coast and cities on board of a Casa 212 airplane from an altitude of 1.5-2.0 km. Together with the acquired images, we also describe the experimental activities which preceded the remote sensing campaign in order to optimise the sensor’s configuration. The obtained results put in evidence the originality of the performed measurements and they exalt the necessity to employ advanced remote sensing techniques as a spectroscopic tool for optical pollution monitoring.