Evaluating NIR-Red and NIR-Red edge external filters with digital cameras for assessing vegetation indices under different illumination

Consumer-grade digital cameras with or without external filters are recognized as a cost-effective method of vegetation monitoring. These cameras could produce time series information related to biophysical properties of vegetation. This paper evaluates the use of low-cost external filters with digital cameras for assessing vegetation indices (VIs). The system was implemented for ground-based (handheld) remote sensing in assessing biophysical properties of vegetation like plant phenology and Chlorophyll content. It also has high potential for above-canopy measurement using low-altitude remote sensing (LARS). In this study the modified cameras were used to capture near-infrared (NIR), red-edge (RE), and red (R) bands using proposed external filters. We use the low-cost NIR-R and NIR-RE external filters with modified cameras and tested the cameras performance using custom chamber under different illumination. Based on our findings, a method was proposed for enhancing the value of VI, which comprised the extracted DN of two broadbands like NIR and R. New ranges of broadband in red edge area (REhigh and RElow) are proposed as alternative bands in estimating Chlorophyll content. In addition, evaluation and implementation for assessing VIs are detailed in this study.