title: Realistic Instrumentation Platform for Active and Passive Optical Remote Sensing.
abstract: We describe the development of a novel versatile optical platform for active and passive remote sensing of environmental parameters. Applications include assessment of vegetation status and water quality. The system is also adapted for ecological studies, such as identification of flying insects including agricultural pests. The system is based on two mid-size amateur astronomy telescopes, continuous-wave diode lasers at different wavelengths ranging from violet to the near infrared, and detector facilities including quadrant photodiodes, two-dimensional and line scan charge-coupled device cameras, and a compact digital spectrometer. Application examples include remote Ramanlaser-induced fluorescence monitoring of water quality at 120 m distance, and insect identification at kilometer ranges using the recorded wing beat frequency and its spectrum of overtones. Because of the low cost this developmental platform is very suitable for advanced research projects in developing countries and has, in fact, been multiplied during hands-on workshops and is now being used by a number of groups at African universities.
authors.affiliation: Lund Laser Center, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Laser Research Institute, Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa Center for Animal Movement Research, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden mikkel.brydegaard@fysik.lth.se.
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brydegaard
authors.affiliation: Lund Laser Center, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aboma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merdasa
authors.affiliation: Lund Laser Center, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Laser Research Institute, Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebru
authors.affiliation: Lund Laser Center, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Department of Physics, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Hiran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jayaweera
authors.affiliation: Lund Laser Center, Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Center of Optical and Electromagnetic Research, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svanberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D007313:Insecta / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: Environmental monitoring; Fluorescence; Instrumentation; Lidar; Luminescence; Modulation; Raman; Remote sensing; Spectroscopy; Stand-off detection