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OVERVIEW

The Autonomous Modular Sensor (AMS) is an airborne scanning spectrometer that acquires high spatial resolution imagery of the Earth's features from its vantage point on-board low and medium altitude research aircraft. Data acquired by AMS is helping to define, develop, and test algorithms for use in a variety of scientific programs that emphasize the use of remotely sensed data to monitor variation in environmental conditions, assess global change, and respond to natural disasters.

The AMS is no longer maintained and operated by the Airborne Sensor Facility.

AMS was transferred to the United States Forest Service (USFS) under a 2012 agreement between NASA and the Department of Agriculture. The USFS plans to use it in operational fire imaging and measurement aboard their Cessna Citation aircraft during the active fire season. AMS will also support other agency objectives, such as vegetation inventory analysis and water and river mapping.

IMAGE GALLERY

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Fire Images
Wildland fires captured during various missions aboard a small UAV in the Western US.
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Monterey Bay & Elkhorn Slough
A selection of images from various flights in the Monterey Bay area.
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San Francisco Bay & Sacramento River Delta
A selection of images acquired after the region was inundated with a month of heavy rain.

SENSOR CONFIGURATIONS

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Wild Fire / Land Surface Scanner
IFOV: 1.25 or 2.5 mrad
FOV: 42.5 or 85.9 degrees
Resolution: 3 - 50 meters
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Water Vapor Imager
IFOV: 2.5 mrad
FOV: 85.9 degrees
Resolution: 50 meters (variable)
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Atmospheric Mapping Sensor
IFOV: 2.5 mrad
FOV: 85.9 degrees
Resolution: 50 meters (variable)
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Ocean Color Imager
IFOV: 2.5 mrad
FOV: 85.9 degrees
Resolution: 3 - 50 meters

SPECIFICATIONS

Interface & Controls
The Interface Control Document (ICD) describes in detail the various AMS characteristics, dimensions, weight and balance, electrical and data interfaces, cabling diagrams, mounting hard points, and operational environment.

RELATED WEB SITES

Fire Mapping
A collaborative project between NASA and the U.S. Forest Service to collect and distribute real-time fire imagery.

RELATED INSTRUMENTS

eMAS
A multispectral scanner which collects 50 meter imagery from 65,000 feet above the Earth.
MASTER
The sister instrument to eMAS which can be flown much closer to Earth's surface.

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Zaca Fire (2007)

This animation shows 12 channels acquired over the Zaca Fire with the longer wavelengths penetrating the smoke.