Environmental monitoring of the Venice lagoon using MIVIS data

MIVIS is one of the most promising instruments for airborne hyperspectral remote sensing. It provides 102 channels operating at high resolution in the visible, near and thermal infrared spectral ranges. This sensor is flown by the ´LARA Project´ of the CNR on a CASA 212/200 aircraft. In December 1995, a measurement campaign was performed over the Venice lagoon in order to infer the sensor performance in environmental monitoring applications. This campaign was also supported by in situ measurements. The acquired data were firstly processed to assess the image quality, the sensor reliability and performance. Possible patterns of spatially structured noise as well as the signal-to-noise ratio were assessed. Remotely sensed data are also affected by atmospheric scattering, absorption and thermal emission. Based on a radiative-transfer model utilising the MODTRAN computer code, the authors performed the image correction from atmospheric effects. The corrected data have been used for the following applications: water quality assessment, vegetation status in the zones nearby the lagoon, evaluation of the impact of human activities on the environment. The obtained results are shown and discussed