A 3-DIMENSIONAL RADIATIVE-TRANSFER HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGE SIMULATOR FOR ALGORITHM VALIDATION

We are currently developing a high model fidelity HyperSpectral Image simulation software package. It is based on a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo approach for modeling 3D atmospheric radiative transport, as well as spatially inhomogeneous surfaces including surface BRDF effects. “Ground truth ” is accurately known through input specification of surface and atmospheric properties, and it is practical to consider wide variations of these properties. Treating both land and ocean surfaces, 3D terrain, 3D surface objects, and effects of finite clouds with surface shadowing. The computed data cubes can serve both as a substitute for and a supplement to field validation data