Hyperspectral monitoring of a constructed wetland as a tertiary treatment in a wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

Hyperspectral sensing devices are being increasingly applied in the field of environmental monitoring. High spatial and spectral resolution hyperspectral data are particularly suited for detecting the vegetation health state due to the unique spectral characteristics exhibited by green plants. Wetlands are capable of filtering polluted water, with their functionality strictly related to the health state of the plants bedded out in the lagoon. This paper presents a ground spectroscopy monitoring survey of the vegetation implanted in the constructed wetland unit located in the wastewater treatment plant for domestic sewage of Latina Mare. The measurement campaign was carried out through the collection of hyperspectral data by means of a spectroradiometer. Broadband indices of vegetation were computed from the data acquired to infer the plant health state. For the test case discussed in this contribution, there is a remarkable agreement between data acquired and the observations at the ground. The broadband indices Red Difference Vegetation Index, Simple Ratio and Transformed Vegetation Index make it possible to highlight the vegetation health state in the investigated wetland unit. Removal efficiency of the unit well reflected the values of the indices.