White Papers

BENEFITS OF SWIR white paper Exploring the benefits of SWIR satellite imagery Besides offering 30 centimeter resolution panchromatic and eight-band visible and near-infrared (VNIR) imagery, WorldView-3 collects shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery in eight bands. This allows the satellite to sense the VNIR spectrum as well as expand deeper into the infrared spectrum than any other commercial imaging satellite, providing rich data for precisely identifying and characterizing manmade and natural materials. WorldView-3's eight SWIR bands span the spectrum's three atmospheric transmittance imaging windows to capture unique information for materials identification, wildfire response, food security, mining/geology and other applications. WorldView-3 is the first commercial satellite to have 16 high-resolution spectral bands that capture information in the VNIR and SWIR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). Operating at an altitude of 617 km, the satellite provides 31 cm panchromatic resolution, 1.24 m VNIR resolution and 3.7/7.5 m SWIR resolution, according to our operating licenses (Department of Commerce).WorldView-3 builds upon WorldView-2's unique capabilities, providing eight additional spectral bands farther into the SWIR portion of the EMS. This spectral expansion enhances WorldView-3's capability to capture the uniqueness of each ground material's spectral signature. Due to minimal atmospheric influence or noise in this part of the EMS, as well as an enhanced ability to differentiate among ground materials, the SWIR bands open the door for automated information extraction to save time, money and possibly lives. Doubling the spectral bands WorldView-3's 16 spectral bands allow for automated information extraction for various applications. Because WorldView-3 provides continuity of WorldView-2 VNIR bands at a higher spatial resolution as well as a revolutionary sensor with eight new SWIR spectral bands offered on a commercial satellite for the first time, the satellite is helping to transform the remote sensing industry from a pixel-based industry into a product-based industry, expanding the use of remotely sensed data to create ways to better understand and manage our changing planet. Moving from pixels to insight WORLDVIEW-3 8 BAND IMAGERY Rooftops made of plastic or polymer materials are shown in yellow and orange and clearly differentiated from green vegetation and blue/gray asphalt and dirt. , e l p m a x e r o F . t n e s e r p e r a s e p y t l a i r e t a m t n e r e ff i d t a h w d n a t s r e d n u o t d e e n s e i r t s u d n i y n a M h t i w d e n r e c n o c e r a s t n e m n r e v o g l a c o l e l i h w , s e p y t f o o r w o n k o t s d e e n y r t s u d n i e c n a r u s n i e h t land cover types for tax assessment. With the SWIR bands on WorldView-3, accurate . t n i o p s i h t o t e l b a l i a v a n e e b t o n s a h t a h t a t a d e t i l l e t a s m o r f d e r e h t a g e b n a c n o i t a m r o f n i . e y e d e k a n e h t o t r a l i m i s k o o l t a h t s l a i r e t a m n e e w t e b e t a n i m i r c s i d o t e l b i s s o p Materials identification info@maxar.com

• Cover