Methods for gas detection using stationary hyperspectral imaging sensors

1. A method, comprising:

producing a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time using data from a HSI sensor;

producing a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time using data from the HSI sensor;

subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube;

calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube;

selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest;

producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube;

examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and

outputting a result of the examination.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the outputting further comprises displaying the detection image.

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising calibrating the HSI sensor prior to producing the first HSI data cube.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein calibrating the HSI sensor comprises:

determining a number of detector counts for each pixel of the HSI sensor for each degree in temperature; and

creating a temperature response curve for the HSI sensor based at least in part on the number of detector counts for each degree in temperature.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein calibrating the raw difference cube comprises dividing the raw difference cube on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a measured pixel response selected from the temperature response curve.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting at least one desired spectral band further comprises:

selecting a first spectral band that reflects a high absorption wavelength for the gas of interest; and

selecting a second band that reflects a low absorption wavelength for the gas of interest.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein producing a detection image comprises subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the high absorption wavelength pixel value from the low absorption wavelength pixel value.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein examining the detection image comprises determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis positive and negative pixel values with an absolute value greater than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the positive pixel values indicate an increase in a level of the gas of interest, and wherein the negative pixel values indicate a decrease in a level of the gas of interest between the first time and the second time.

9. A computer program product for detecting the presence of a gas of interest, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable memory having computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code for producing a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time using data from a HSI sensor;

computer readable program code for producing a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time using data from the HSI sensor;

computer readable program code for subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube;

computer readable program code for calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube;

computer readable program code for selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest;

computer readable program code for producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube;

computer readable program code for examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and

computer readable program code for outputting a result of the examination.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code for outputting comprises readable program code for displaying the detection image.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code further comprises computer readable program code for calibrating the HSI sensor prior to producing the first HSI data cube.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer readable program code for calibrating the HSI sensor comprises:

computer readable program code for determining a number of detector counts for each pixel of the HSI sensor for each degree in temperature; and

computer readable program code for creating a temperature response curve for the HSI sensor based at least in part on the number of detector counts for each degree in temperature.

13. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer readable program code for calibrating the raw difference cube comprises computer readable program code for dividing the raw difference cube on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a measured pixel response selected from the temperature response curve.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code for selecting at least one desired spectral band further comprises:

computer readable program code for selecting a first spectral band that reflects a high absorption wavelength for the gas of interest; and

computer readable program code for selecting a second band that reflects a low absorption wavelength for the gas of interest.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the computer readable program code for producing a detection image comprises computer readable program code for subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the high absorption wavelength pixel value from the low absorption wavelength pixel value.

16. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program code for examining the detection image comprises computer readable program code for determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis positive and negative pixel values with an absolute value greater than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the positive pixel values indicate an increase in a level of the gas of interest, and wherein the negative pixel values indicate a decrease in a level of the gas of interest between the first time and the second time.

17. A system, comprising:

a receiving mechanism for receiving a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time and a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time created using data from a HSI sensor;

a processor; and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor comprises:

logic for subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube;

logic for calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube;

logic for selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest;

logic for producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube;

logic for examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and

logic for outputting a result of the examination.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the logic for outputting further comprises displaying the detection image.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor further comprises logic for calibrating the HSI sensor prior to producing the first HSI data cube.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the logic for calibrating the HSI sensor comprises:

logic for determining a number of detector counts for each pixel of the HSI sensor for each degree in temperature; and

logic for creating a temperature response curve for the HSI sensor based at least in part on the number of detector counts for each degree in temperature.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the logic for calibrating the raw difference cube comprises logic for dividing the raw difference cube on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a measured pixel response selected from the temperature response curve.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the logic for selecting at least one desired spectral band further comprises:

logic for selecting a first spectral band that reflects a high absorption wavelength for the gas of interest; and

logic for selecting a second band that reflects a low absorption wavelength for the gas of interest.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the logic for producing a detection image comprises logic for subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the high absorption wavelength pixel value from the low absorption wavelength pixel value.

24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the logic for examining the detection image comprises logic for determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis positive and negative pixel values with an absolute value greater than a predetermined threshold value, wherein the positive pixel values indicate an increase in a level of the gas of interest, and wherein the negative pixel values indicate a decrease in a level of the gas of interest between the first time and the second time.