Underwater Hyperspectral Imaging for seafloor and benthic habitat mapping

In this work, we present preliminary results of the first application in the Mediterranean Sea of a hyperspectral camera, a device commonly used for satellite or airborne remote sensing, adapted for the underwater environment. The spectral analysis was carried out on hyperspectral images acquired in two different environmental settings in the southern Adriatic Sea. This new technology shows high potentialities of application for benthic habitat mapping and monitoring.