Spectral and spatial artifacts from the use of desktop scanners for remotesensing

Inexpensive desktop scanners are frequently used for the scanning of small format aerial photographic images. However, these scanners do not always co nform to the spectral and spatial quality required for subsequent image ana lysis. This Letter outlines simple tests that can be conducted to character ize the properties of desktop scanners and illustrates the performance of a specific instrument. Spectral and spatial artifacts introduced by this sca nner 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 instru ments is warranted for quantitative applications.