This standard defines performance characteristics for hyperspectral imaging devices, usually referred to as hyperspectral cameras or imagers, as well as metadata for hyperspectral images, for a set of use cases defined to represent a wide range of applications. In the context of this standard, a hyperspectral camera or data set is defined as one in which pixel spectra are measured over a specified spectral range without gaps and with a spectral sampling interval not exceeding 1/30 of the spectral range. The standard considers cameras operating in the spectral range from 250 to 2500 nm wavelength, and applies to a defined set of hyperspectral camera architectures. Camera characteristics are defined to cover all key aspects of camera performance. Within the applicable camera architectures, the characteristics are defined so as to be directly comparable between cameras. Metadata are defined for describing camera-related aspects of a hyperspectral image, which can aid information extraction in the subsequent exploitation of the image.

The standard defines terminology, device classes, laboratory tests, characterization and calibration methodologies, and recommended practices for application-specific tasks. Initial work is limited to devices that cover the the 0.25-2.50um spectral region.

This standard prescribes the basic specification, testing and characterization that must be done on UV-SWIR (0.25-2.50um) based hyperspectral sensors in order to provide calibrated absolute output and performance, or at least relative performance that will suit the user's task.