AERIAL SENSOR APPLICATION SAMPLES: 8-Bit vs. 12-Bit Imagery

8-Bit

 

12-Bit

These images show part of a coastal lagoon in California imaged with an 8-bit, 4 channel sensor and the 12-bit DMSC. While 8-bit sensors allow a maximum of 256 radiometric intensity gradations for each channel, a 12-bit range corresponds to 4096 levels. This vastly increased range allows the capture of finer distinctions between different plants and substrates, resulting in better separation capabilities.