Abstract: A method of automatically determining a measure of atmospheric aerosol optical properties using a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image. A plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels are resolved from the image. A statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels is determined, and then corrected for non-aerosol transmittance losses. One or more wavelength-dependent aerosol optical depths are derived from the statistical spectral deviation. Wavelength-dependent gaseous optical depths can be derived from the statistical spectral deviation.

Abstract: A method of automatically compensating a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image for atmospheric effects, comprising resolving a plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels from the image, determining a spectral baseline from the spectrally-diverse pixels, determining a statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels, normalizing the statistical spectral deviation by applying a scale factor, and compensating image pixels with both the spectral baseline and the normalized spectral deviation.

Abstract: A method of automatically compensating a multi- or hyper-spectral, multi-pixel image for atmospheric effects, comprising resolving a plurality of spectrally-diverse pixels from the image, determining a spectral baseline from the spectrally-diverse pixels, determining a statistical spectral deviation of the spectrally-diverse pixels, normalizing the statistical spectral deviation by applying a scale factor, and compensating image pixels with both the spectral baseline and the normalized spectral deviation.

Abstract: A non-invasive multispectral energy system made up of a transilluminating radiating means that illuminates soft tissues that have been treated with a contrast agent using first and second non-IR illuminating signals to produce thereby a first and second near-IR multispectral images; means for optically combining the first and second near-IR multispectral images into a combined tissue image; and a means for processing the combined tissue image to detect cancer and tumors. The non-invasive multispectral imaging system uses a diode laser system that emits the first and second near-IR illuminating signals with wavelengths selected from a range between 750 nm and 1,000 nm as a radiating means and a CCD camera. which is placed in a location with the soft tissues between the CCD camera and the transilluminating radiating means. IR dyes and endogenous chromophores and fluorsphores enhance IR contrast and tumor sites. IR contrast agents such as Indeganine Green (ICG) are used.