Abstract

Universiti Putra Malaysia in collaboration with a private company, Aeroscan Precision (M) Sdn Bhd based in UPM
Serdang conducted a research and commercial applications of airborne hyperspectral sensing data in precision forestry.
The UPM-APSB’s AISA sensor was flown over a representative series of forested areas in Peninsular Malaysia from
12-20th. July 2004. It is a pushbroom imaging spectrometer recording remote sensing images over a large spectrum of
wavelengths from the visible (400 nm) to near infrared (1 000 nm). Images have a ground pixel size of 1m by 1 m at a
flight altitude of 1 000 m a.s.l and a constant flight speed of 120 knots. The ground validation segment of the projects
was focused around hill/montane dipterocarps,. In order to characterize the properties and status of the forests, a number
of images and field spectrum were developed. Prior to and after the flight, field spectral reflectance measurements using
a handheld FieldSpec spectroradiometer were taken over the timber species of interest. The use of spectral unmixing
methods for the discrimination of individual timber species image components leading to a more accurate identification
of timber species, timber inventory and volume estimates were evaluated. The results imply that UPM-APSB airborne
hyperspectral imaging technology would enable the development of a rapid forest resources assessment, especially in
the sustainable forest management in Malaysia and other tropical countries.

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