**Fourier Transform Hyperspectral Imaging for Cultural Heritage Fourier Transform Hyperspectral Imaging for Cultural Heritage**

Massimo Zucco, Marco Pisani and Tiziana Cavaleri Cavaleri

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Massimo Zucco, Marco Pisani and Tiziana

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66107

### **Abstract**

Hyperspectral imaging is a technique of analysis that associates to each pixel of the image the spectral content of the radiation coming from the scene. This content can be helpful to recognize the chemical nature of the materials within the scene or to calculate their colours under particular conditions. Different solutions of hyperspectral imager have been realized with different spatial resolution, spectral resolution and range in the elec‐ tromagnetic spectrum. In particular, improving the spectral resolution allows discrimi‐ nating smaller features in the spectrum and the unambiguous detection of the absorption bands characteristic of superficial materials. Hyperspectral imagers based on interfer‐ ometers have the advantage of having a spectral resolution that can be varied according to the needs by changing the optical path delay of the interferometer. A spectrum for each pixel is obtained with an algorithm based on the Fourier transform of the calibrated interferogram. We present the results of the application of a hyperspectral imager based on Fabry‐Perot interferometers to the field of cultural heritage. On different artworks, the hyperspectral imager has been used for pigment recognition, for colour rendering elaborations of the image with different light sources or standard illuminants and for calculating the chromatic coordinates useful for specific purposes.

**Keywords:** hyperspectral imaging (HSI), fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), cultural heritage, conservation, colour rendering, Fourier transform
