In Remote Sensing, absolute calibration of airborne image acquisition systems is essential. The MISI (Modular Imaging Spectrometer Instrument), developed at RIT’s Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory (DIRS), is one such devise that needs this calibration. Without this calibration, visible and thermal radiometric data collected by the MISI can be difficult to interpret. RIT has previously developed a line scanner but its means of calibration did not take into account the detector gain and bias of the system. Line scanners, in general, that operate in the thermal regions of the EM spectrum use blackbody radiators for their means of calibration. The detectors on these instruments are subject to low frequency drift due to temperature changes, pre amplifier noise, and effects due to detector vacuum loss. This drift can be corrected by using two blackbody radiators placed within the MISI.

This research focused on the construction, regulation, and implementation of such a radiation source. For this research one radiation source was constructed. The uniformity of the source had an average temperature variation of 0.5°C, when fully insulated. A feedback control system was designed to regulate and monitor the blackbody. A software controlled algorithm, used to control the radiation source, was also designed and can control the source to ±0.15°C. Temperature knowledge of the radiation source was believed to be about 0.2°C.

The road to gathering information for this research was plagued with detours and road blocks. Let me just say that many a faculty member, as well as fellow students, took time out of their busy schedules to help me get through those tough turns and maneuver safely around obstacles. I would like to personally thank Tim Gallagher for his insight into electronics and machine shop expertise. Thanks also goes to Dr. Joe Hornak for asking me how my research was going every time I saw him in the hall (which inevitable lead to a two day session on thermodynamics). Most of all I would like to thank my advisor Dr. John Schott for helping me with this research by making sure I was moving in the right direction and convincing me to stay in school to further my education.

Addition thanks goes to Major Harry Gross for his insight in control systems theory and Lee Sanders for his helpful comments and problem solving skills.

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