Evaluating the NASA STELLA-Q2 Performance for Spectral Indices Using Encelia farinosa

Spectral indices are widely used to evaluate vegetation health and distinguish plant tissues, but field spectrometers vary greatly in cost and accessibility. This project tests whether the NASA STELLA-Q2, a lower-cost instrument, can produce reliable spectral index measurements comparable to those from an ASD spectroradiometer, which is substantially more expensive. Leaf and flower measurements of Encelia farinosa were collected with both instruments, and reflectance data were used to calculate NDVI and flower-related indices. The goal was to determine whether STELLA measurements are comparable to ASD for index-based analysis. Because STELLA has fewer, broader spectral bands than ASD, performance may vary with index sensitivity. These results help assess whether STELLA is a practical, low-cost option for vegetation and flower spectral analysis.