Airborne Laser Polarization Sensor Data from Boreal Forest Campaign

NASA's 1990 FED MAC campaign collected multispectral radiometric and polarization measurements of boreal forest surfaces using the Airborne Laser Polarization Sensor (ALPS). The dataset includes 12 data channels from photo multiplier tubes, with laser wavelengths at 1060 nm and 532 nm, captured via helicopter on September 9 and 11. It was produced by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Biospheric Sciences Branch and associated university investigators.

Use Cases

• Analyze vegetation structure by correlating 532 nm green wavelength laser returns with ground truth from coaxial video.
• Study surface scattering properties using polarization filter angles from the 12 PMT channels.
• Model boreal ecosystem energy components with multispectral radiometric data from the 1090 nm and 532 nm bandpass filters.
• Calibrate airborne laser systems using the documented 20 cm laser spot diameter from 100 meters altitude.
• Investigate temporal changes in forest sites by linking data file times to oral commentary on the supplemental VHS tape.

Strengths

• Data captured from 12 distinct sensor channels (PMTs) for multispectral analysis.
• Includes synchronized video recording from a camera coaxial with the laser for ground correlation.
• Specific temporal coverage from two flight days in September 1990.

Limitations

• Very small temporal sample from only two days of data collection.
• Spatial coverage is limited to specific, undisclosed flight lines over boreal forests.
• Dataset includes legacy analog video data (VHS tapes) which may present access and digitization challenges.

Provenance

Source

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Biospheric Sciences Branch (Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics) and associated university investigators.

Collection Method

Airborne remote sensing using a helicopter-mounted ALPS instrument, a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, and a video camera.

Time Range

1990-09-09 to 1990-09-11

Freshness

null

Geography

Boreal forest regions, specific locations not detailed.