Characterizing Experiments with Synthetic MSI/HSI Data: A Structured Taxonomy for Agri-Food Research

Abstract

Synthetic multispectral and hyperspectral data are increasingly used to address limited measurements, labels, and acquisition resources in spectral-imaging research. Yet the scope of the evidence produced by these experiments depends not only on the synthesis method, but also on sensing conditions, sample variability, data provenance, evaluation design, and downstream use. We present a literature-informed taxonomy for experiments using synthetic MSI/HSI data through spectral reconstruction and/or data augmentation, with a deliberate focus on agri-food research. The taxonomy is paired with a traversal procedure that connects available evidence, sensing constraints, experimental choices, and evaluation design to the forms of generalization that were actually tested, producing a compact experiment characterization record. Although primarily intended for studies with an existing research question, the same structure can also support earlier-stage planning when only an object of study, dataset, or sensing setup is initially defined. The framework was developed through question-driven reading, practical research experience, and iterative refinement against additional recent studies, and is offered as a basis for further use and refinement.