Officials of Earth Search Sciences, Inc., of McCall, Idaho, today announced that data delivered in the inaugural commercial mission for Earth Search’s remote sensing instrument has demonstrated the exceptional quality of its Probe 1 system.
Earth Search Sciences performed the test flight for an undisclosed
client over a U.S. government outdoor field “laboratory” in the
Nevada desert.
The work produced evidence of the existence of a mineral that
Earth Search officials believe had not previously been identified by
the use of remote sensing on the intensively studied field
laboratory.
“There are indications that new mineral occurrences were
identified for the first time, and on-site validation of those
indications would be significant because this field laboratory is
one of the most comprehensively studied areas in the world,” said
John Peel, chief executive officer of Earth Search Sciences. “The
information the Probe 1 system gathered on this first commercial
mission exceeded our expectations and those of our client.”
Peel said Earth Search Sciences doesn’t have access to the entire
universe of information that has been gathered from the test area but
several scientists familiar with the body of work there believe Probe 1’s
apparent detection of this mineral from an airborne platform is
noteworthy.
The surveillance of the field laboratory occurred in
late-afternoon light conditions only a few weeks after winter
solstice, and Peel said the results open a new “window of
opportunity” for remote sensing missions to be conducted globally
because of the precision of the information gathered in those
conditions.
The project marked Earth Search Science’s first commercial
application of its proprietary Probe 1 system. Remote sensing, or
“hyperspectral imaging,” creates ultra high-resolution images of the
earth’s surface. Analysis of these images can determine the presence
of target minerals in geologic formations or evidence of minerals
from vegetal “signatures.”
Earth Search’s Probe 1 instrument can be mounted aboard light
aircraft for use in a variety of environments, including remote areas
served only by backcountry airstrips.
“Probe 1 established its value in identifying potential mineral
deposits during last summer’s mission to Kazakstan, and we are
pleased to put this breakthrough instrument to work for our clients,”
said Brian Savage, president of Earth Search Sciences. “This job
employing Probe 1 is a significant step for Earth Search Sciences as
we grow from a development company to full revenue production.”
Earth Search Sciences in 1997 brought to market its Probe 1
hyperspectral imaging system following 10 years of research and
development. The instrument was designed and manufactured under
contract to Earth Search Sciences by Integrated Spectronics Pty.
Ltd., of Sydney, Australia. Concurrently, Applied Signal and Image
Technology, of Millersville, Maryland, developed near-real-time
processing software for use in computers integrated with Probe 1.
Two more of the Probe 1 instruments are scheduled to be delivered
to Earth Search Sciences in 1998.
