SciAps Vis-NIR Spectroradiometers ASD Spectroradiometers
FieldSpec, TerraSpec and LabSpec — the gold standard in NIR spectral analysis, now powered by SciAps.
For more than 25 years these instruments have set the standard for near-infrared spectral analysis in research, exploration and industry. Now part of the SciAps portable analyzers division, they are backed by SciAps engineering and support — with faster deliveries, faster service and more frequent updates.
Three Instruments, One Legacy
Selecting the right spectral analysis instrument depends on your budget, environment, and performance needs. Toggle between the three models to compare.
TerraSpec
Rugged mining & core work with a field-swappable fiber
Built for mining environments with rough handling. A user-replaceable fiber optic cable with an SMA 905 connector allows quick field swaps to minimize downtime, and it compensates for lower sensitivity with artificial light sources.
- Bifurcated cable compatibility for precise spot measurements in mining.
- Designed for enclosed formations, core logging, and reconnaissance sampling.
- With a High Brite Contact Probe, can assist in building spectral libraries.
- 1Fiber optic cable — User-connected, SMA 905 connector
- 2Signal-to-noise — Sufficient (loss at jumper connection)
- 3Best for — Mining and rugged fieldwork — rough handling, fiber swapped on site
Where ASD Fits in Exploration
From scanning a region to naming the mineral in your hand — four steps, and ASD sits in the middle of them.
- 1
Aerial survey
Specialized sensors scan large areas from the air, looking for signatures worth a closer look.
- 2
Ground confirmation
FieldSpec validates and refines those aerial images on the ground, where the rock actually is.
- 3
Targeted drilling
Confirmed data narrows a broad anomaly down to precise drilling locations.
- 4
Material analysis
XRF identifies the metals; NIR pinpoints the specific mineral compositions they sit in.
That ground-level step works because ASD instruments are post-dispersive: light is dispersed after it reflects off the sample, so the sun itself can be the light source. Measuring reflected energy this way adapts to changing light and still calibrates reliably. Pre-dispersive systems disperse light before it reaches the sample and depend on an internal lamp — which is why they stay indoors.
Where the ASD Spectroradiometers goes to work
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ASD instrument should I choose?
FieldSpec for outdoor and remote-sensing work, where its factory-installed fiber and roughly twice the sensitivity matter most. TerraSpec for mining and rough handling, where a user-replaceable SMA 905 fiber can be swapped in the field. LabSpec where the work happens in controlled conditions and cost matters more than sensitivity.
What is the difference between the fiber optic cables?
FieldSpec's fiber is factory-installed and not field-replaceable, which removes the signal loss that occurs at a junction. TerraSpec's connects with an SMA 905 so it can be replaced on site — useful where a damaged cable would otherwise stop work.
Are ASD instruments still supported now they are part of SciAps?
Yes. FieldSpec, TerraSpec and LabSpec are part of the SciAps portable analyzers division, with SciAps engineering and support behind them — faster deliveries, faster service and more frequent updates.
How do ASD spectroradiometers differ from the ReveNIR?
The ReveNIR is a handheld built for identifying minerals quickly in the field. The ASD instruments are research-grade spectroradiometers for reflectance, transmittance and radiance measurements where data quality is the point — remote sensing, ground-truthing, and laboratory work.