USGS scientists Todd Hoefen (left) and John Meyer (right) make spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.
Raymond Kokaly
Raymond Kokaly is an expert on the application of remote sensing and spectroscopy for vegetation and mineral characterization. His peer-reviewed publications on the use of spectroscopy include: quantifying biochemical content in leaf spectra, discriminating conifer species, examining post-fire surface cover, and characterizing the impact of oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon spill.
His research has used multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing data from AVHRR, Landsat, Hyperion, AVIRIS, HyMap, and MODIS. Raymond created the PRISM software, a framework for archiving and analyzing spectroscopic data collected in the laboratory and the field and from remote sensing platforms. PRISM was applied to map surficial minerals across most of Afghanistan, covering more than 480,000 sq. km. an area about the size of the state of California.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, 1996–present
Education and Certifications
University of Colorado at Boulder, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, 1993
Science and Products
Increasing data accessibility by adding existing datasets and capabilities to a cutting-edge visualization app to enable cross-community use
Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Imaging of Critical Mineral Resources
Development and Validation of Hyperspectral Imager for Field and Lab Scanning
USGS High Resolution Spectral Library
Reflectance spectra collected August 21, 2022, at Black Rock Desert, Nevada, with an ASD FieldSpecⓇ 4 Hi-Res NG spectroradiometer for calibration/validation of imaging spectrometer data
Reflectance spectra collected August 16, 2022, at Smith Creek Valley, Nevada, with an ASD FieldSpecⓇ 4 Hi-Res NG spectrometer for calibration/validation of imaging spectrometer data
HySpex by NEO VNIR-1800 and SWIR-384 imaging spectrometer radiance and reflectance data, with associated ASD FieldSpec® NG calibration data, collected at Cripple Creek Victor mine, Cripple Creek, Colorado, 2017
Corescan Hyperspectral Core Imager, Mark III system data collected for the characterization of mineral resources near Nabesna, Alaska, 2014-2016
Data for Dust deposited on snow cover in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 2011-2016: Compositional variability bearing on snow-melt effects
Imaging spectrometer reflectance data, mineral predominance map, and white mica wavelength position map, Nabesna Quadrangle, Alaska
Whole rock, soil, sediment, x-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analyses of samples from the Orange Hill-Bond Creek area, Nabesna Quadrangle, Alaska
Airborne imaging spectrometer data collected for characterizing mineral resources near Nabesna, Alaska, 2014
USGS Spectral Library Version 7 Data
USGS scientists Todd Hoefen (left) and John Meyer (right) make spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.
Hyperspectral (VNIR-SWIR) analysis of roll front uranium host rocks and industrial minerals from Karnes and Live Oak Counties, Texas Coastal Plain
VNIR-SWIR (400–2500 nm) reflectance measurements were made on the surfaces of various cores, cuttings and sample splits of sedimentary rocks from the Tertiary Jackson Group, and Catahoula, Oakville and Goliad Formations. These rocks vary in composition and texture from mudstone and claystone to sandstone and are known host rocks for roll front uranium occurrences in Karnes and Live Oak Counties, T
Calibration and validation for the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission concept: Recommendations for a multi-sensor system for imaging spectroscopy and thermal imagery
The EnMAP imaging spectroscopy mission towards operations
Optimizing Landsat Next shortwave infrared bands for crop residue characterization
Microplastic particles in dust-on-snow, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado Rocky Mountains, 2013–16
Hyperspectral remote sensing of white mica: A review of imaging and point-based spectrometer studies for mineral resources, with spectrometer design considerations
Multiscale hyperspectral imaging of hydrothermal alteration in Yellowstone National Park, USA
Evaluation of SWIR crop residue bands for the Landsat Next mission
Mineral Mapping of the Battle Mountain District, Nevada, USA, Using AVIRIS-Classic and SpecTIR Inc. AisaFENIX 1K Imaging Spectrometer Datasets
NASA's surface biology and geology designated observable: A perspective on surface imaging algorithms
Quantifying uncertainty for remote spectroscopy of surface composition
Dust deposited on snow cover in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 2011-2016: Compositional variability bearing on snow-melt effects
USGS Digital Spectral Library
References for material identification in remote sensing images. The library contains spectral reflectance data for of hundreds of materials, including minerals, vegetation, organic and volatile compounds, and man-made materials.
Processing Routines in IDL for Spectroscopic Measurements (PRISM)
USGS Processing Routines in IDL for Spectroscopic Meausres (PRISM) software provides a framework to conduct spectroscopy analysis of measurements made by spectrometers. PRISM functions allows users to compare spectra of materials of unknown composition with reference spectra of known materials.
View_SPECPR: Software for Plotting Spectra
The View_SPECPR software system plots spectra stored in SPECPR (SPECtrum Processing Routines) files.
Science and Products
Increasing data accessibility by adding existing datasets and capabilities to a cutting-edge visualization app to enable cross-community use
Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Imaging of Critical Mineral Resources
Development and Validation of Hyperspectral Imager for Field and Lab Scanning
USGS High Resolution Spectral Library
Reflectance spectra collected August 21, 2022, at Black Rock Desert, Nevada, with an ASD FieldSpecⓇ 4 Hi-Res NG spectroradiometer for calibration/validation of imaging spectrometer data
Reflectance spectra collected August 16, 2022, at Smith Creek Valley, Nevada, with an ASD FieldSpecⓇ 4 Hi-Res NG spectrometer for calibration/validation of imaging spectrometer data
HySpex by NEO VNIR-1800 and SWIR-384 imaging spectrometer radiance and reflectance data, with associated ASD FieldSpec® NG calibration data, collected at Cripple Creek Victor mine, Cripple Creek, Colorado, 2017
Corescan Hyperspectral Core Imager, Mark III system data collected for the characterization of mineral resources near Nabesna, Alaska, 2014-2016
Data for Dust deposited on snow cover in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 2011-2016: Compositional variability bearing on snow-melt effects
Imaging spectrometer reflectance data, mineral predominance map, and white mica wavelength position map, Nabesna Quadrangle, Alaska
Whole rock, soil, sediment, x-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analyses of samples from the Orange Hill-Bond Creek area, Nabesna Quadrangle, Alaska
Airborne imaging spectrometer data collected for characterizing mineral resources near Nabesna, Alaska, 2014
USGS Spectral Library Version 7 Data
USGS scientists Todd Hoefen (left) and John Meyer (right) make spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.
USGS scientists Todd Hoefen (left) and John Meyer (right) make spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.
Hyperspectral (VNIR-SWIR) analysis of roll front uranium host rocks and industrial minerals from Karnes and Live Oak Counties, Texas Coastal Plain
VNIR-SWIR (400–2500 nm) reflectance measurements were made on the surfaces of various cores, cuttings and sample splits of sedimentary rocks from the Tertiary Jackson Group, and Catahoula, Oakville and Goliad Formations. These rocks vary in composition and texture from mudstone and claystone to sandstone and are known host rocks for roll front uranium occurrences in Karnes and Live Oak Counties, T
Calibration and validation for the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission concept: Recommendations for a multi-sensor system for imaging spectroscopy and thermal imagery
The EnMAP imaging spectroscopy mission towards operations
Optimizing Landsat Next shortwave infrared bands for crop residue characterization
Microplastic particles in dust-on-snow, Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado Rocky Mountains, 2013–16
Hyperspectral remote sensing of white mica: A review of imaging and point-based spectrometer studies for mineral resources, with spectrometer design considerations
Multiscale hyperspectral imaging of hydrothermal alteration in Yellowstone National Park, USA
Evaluation of SWIR crop residue bands for the Landsat Next mission
Mineral Mapping of the Battle Mountain District, Nevada, USA, Using AVIRIS-Classic and SpecTIR Inc. AisaFENIX 1K Imaging Spectrometer Datasets
NASA's surface biology and geology designated observable: A perspective on surface imaging algorithms
Quantifying uncertainty for remote spectroscopy of surface composition
Dust deposited on snow cover in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, 2011-2016: Compositional variability bearing on snow-melt effects
USGS Digital Spectral Library
References for material identification in remote sensing images. The library contains spectral reflectance data for of hundreds of materials, including minerals, vegetation, organic and volatile compounds, and man-made materials.
Processing Routines in IDL for Spectroscopic Measurements (PRISM)
USGS Processing Routines in IDL for Spectroscopic Meausres (PRISM) software provides a framework to conduct spectroscopy analysis of measurements made by spectrometers. PRISM functions allows users to compare spectra of materials of unknown composition with reference spectra of known materials.
View_SPECPR: Software for Plotting Spectra
The View_SPECPR software system plots spectra stored in SPECPR (SPECtrum Processing Routines) files.