CALMIT Research Platforms

Airborne Platform

CALMIT airplane
CALMIT Piper Saratoga aerial platform.

CALMIT operates a Piper Saratoga aircraft for airborne remote sensing data collection. The platform currently supports an imaging spectrometer (AISA-Kestrel), an imaging fluorometer (AISA-IBIS), and a thermal imager (Jenoptik Infrared Camera).

The CALMIT airborne research program, with its particular combination of hyperspectral, thermal, and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging systems provides a unique ability to detect subtle aspects of plant health and function (e.g. early stress detection). While the primary focus is research, the CALMIT airplane and airborne instruments are also available as a service on a cost basis. The CALMIT airplane is also available as a test facility for airborne instrument trials.

"Hercules" Terrestrial Platform

CALMIT Hercules
Hercules all-terrain data collection platform.

CALMIT operates a unique, versatile all-terrain instrument platform, named “Hercules”, for collecting spectral data in agricultural fields. Hercules provides a high-clearance capability for measuring plant optical and thermal properties in field settings. The instrument package attached to Hercules can be raised to a height of approximately 50 feet above the ground and can be rotated a full circle around the platform. The maximum sensor payload for the boom, at full extension, is around 60 pounds. The operator has complete control of the sensor position from the deck.

Aquatic Platform

CALMIT boat platform
CALMIT boat platform.

CALMIT operates a 24-foot pontoon boat, which has been specially modified for collection of spectral data above, at, and beneath the water surface. The boat provides an excellent workspace for data collection on lakes and reservoirs. In addition to equipment for monitoring radiation fluxes, the boat carries a GPS receiver, onboard computing, and portable water-quality and analysis equipment. Researchers often operate our numerous pyranometer, terrestrial-quantum, and underwater-quantum sensors when collecting spectroradiometer data in the field.

In the case of the underwater sensors, upwelling and downwelling PAR are typically measured at two different depths, as a means of calculating the rate of extinction of light in lakes and reservoirs. The boat can be safely towed over long distances to facilitate study of distant aquatic systems. Water samples are typically collected and analyzed in support of our remote-sensing research on lakes and reservoirs.

UAV Platform

CALMIT's unmanned aerial vehicle
CALMIT's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Preceding Data Collection Platforms

CALMIT Goliath
"Goliath", an all-terrain remote sensing platform adapted from a agricultural sprayer.

Goliath was the precursor to CALMIT's current all-terrain platform, Hercules. Goliath allowed sensors to remain in the principal plane of the sun and were mounted at a distance from the vehicle to minimize interference.

CALMIT Logo