Hyperspectral camera technology for detection of fungal growth on building materials

Hyperspectral cameras are becoming more widely and frequently used as a valuable tool within different industries, from plant inspections to garbage sorting and used in the food and medical industry. However, the building industry has yet to embrace this technology, even though there are many potential benefits for application e.g., in building investigations. With a hyperspectral camera, it is possible to achieve a better colour characteristic than with an ordinary camera, allowing minor variations in the reflected colour spectra to be identified. As the growth of different fungal species reflects different colours, the current study investigates, if a hyperspectral camera can be used for detection of fungal growth on building materials.

A hyperspectral camera was used on a series of gypsum board samples, to test if fungal growth of three different species could be detected, and if fungal growth not yet visible to the human eye could be detected. The results showed that it was possible, with use of hyperspectral imaging, to detect fungal growth on the surface of the samples, and to distinguish between the three different fungal species. Also, it was possible to detect the early stages fungal growth before they were visible to the human eye.