Which imagery does not typically operate well in poor light conditions?

Panchromatic imagery is essentially monochrome and captures a broad spectrum of light in a single band. This type of imagery relies heavily on ambient visible light for its captures, which makes it less effective in low-light conditions. Unlike other forms of imagery, such as thermal, which can detect heat emitted by objects, or multispectral and hyperspectral, which utilize various wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum to gather information, panchromatic imagery does not possess this capability. As a result, the effectiveness of panchromatic imagery diminishes significantly in darkness or poor lighting environments, where it cannot produce clear and insightful images.

Understanding how different types of imagery respond to lighting conditions is crucial in geospatial intelligence, as it influences the choice of imaging technology for specific operational needs.