Spectral and spatial artifacts from the use of desktop scanners for remote sensing.

Inexpensive desktop scanners are frequently used for the scanning of small format aerial photographic images. However, these scanners do not always conform to the spectral and spatial quality required for subsequent image analysis. This Letter outlines simple tests that can be conducted to characterize the properties of desktop scanners and illustrates the performance of a specific instrument. Spectral and spatial artifacts introduced by this scanner are outlined. It is important for image analysts to be aware of these scanner properties, and decide in each case whether the use of these instruments is warranted for quantitative applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]