2. • In thermal remote sensing, the invisible radiation
patterns of objects are converted into visible images
and these images are called thermograms or thermal
images.
• Thermal images can be acquired using portable, hand-
held or thermal sensors that are coupled with optical
systems mounted on an airplane or satellite.
• Applications of thermal remote sensing in agriculture
includes nursery and greenhouse monitoring,
irrigation scheduling, plants disease detection,
estimating fruit yield, evaluating maturity of fruits and
bruise (damage) detection in fruits and vegetables.
3. • Thermal remote sensing exploits the fact that
everything above absolute zero (0 K ) emits
radiation in the infrared range of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
• Hence approximately 80% of the energy
thermal sensors received in the thermal
wavelength region is emitted by land surface,
making surface temperature as the easiest
variable to extract from the thermal infrared
signal
4. Block diagram of Thermal imaging system
Microcontroller
Thermal (Infrared )
sensor
Display unit for real
time temperature
distribution
Save image in SD
card
Wireless
transmission
Display thermal
image on PC
Digital Image
Processing to identify
abnormalities
5. • An infrared thermal imaging system comprises of a
thermal camera equipped with infrared detectors, a signal
processing unit and an image acquisition system.
• Thermal imaging systems are evaluated on their thermal
sensitivity, scan speed, image resolution, and intensity
resolution
• Thermal remote sensing differs from optical remote
sensing by measuring emitted radiations from the surface
of the target object.
• Whereas optical remote sensing measures reflected
radiations of the target object under consideration
• 8 - 14 µm regions have been of greatest interest for
thermal remote sensing
6. • pplications of Thermal Imaging
• TheArmal profile of seeds can be used to
detect subtle(fine) changes in temperature
• These changes vary with viability. (capability)
• This enables the classification and separation
of viable seeds from non-viable ones
• Thermal Infrared (TIR) part of the spectrum is
more sensitive to determine water stress (lack
of available moisture) than other reflectance
in visible, Near Infrared wavelengths.
7. • Methods of using Thermal Infrared to assess
spatial variation in soil water availability also
have utility in precision agriculture
applications
• It is also used for irrigation scheduling
• Soil salinity causes severe environmental
degradation that obstructs crop growth.
• Soil salinity information can be extracted from
thermal imageries as emitted radiance can
provide subsoil information while reflected
radiation cannot.
8. • During plant pathogen infection, the
physiological state of the infected tissue is
changed.
• Changes in photosynthesis, transpiration,
stomatal conductance (minute opening in
epidermis of leaves, stems and other plant
organs) and even cell death can occur
• Digital Infrared Thermography has the
potential to identify and quantify disease
control and associated pathogens
9. • Thermal imaging can be used to estimate yield as
thermography is based on sensing an object's own
heat radiation.
• Maturity of fruits and vegetables can be estimated
by thermal imaging and even different varieties
could be identified if they are of the same ripeness.
• Detailed thermal analyses of the transpiration
(exhalation of water vapour through stomata)
behavior of the produce and its interrelation with
the environment allow the determination of the
optimal harvest date and the adapted design of
postharvest machinery
10. • Bruises and scratches are the most common
forms of damage on the surface of fruits and
vegetables during transportation and
handling.
• Bruising is defined as damage of fruit tissue as
a result of external forces which cause physical
changes of texture or chemical changes of
color, smell and taste
• Thermal imaging is a potential technique for
bruise detection