University of Tasmania, Australia

Geographical Information Science

The Spatial Science discipline is involved in a wide range of GIS research topics, such as forest resource management, web-based mapping, marine habitat mapping and modeling, coastal and marine management, hydrological modeling, landslide hazard mapping, vegetation classification, real-time GPS tracking, and much more. One of the active research topics includes the use of GIS to model sea ice breakout in bays around Casey station, Antarctica . The model will contribute to a better understanding of the relation between sea ice and marine habitats. The shape of the coastline, the wind speed and the wind direction, or the direction where most of the strong winds come from, are important indicators for sea ice retention times. Raster-based GIS tools are helpful in modelling shape parameters of the coastline and their influence on sea ice retention. In this study, the concept of "bayness", or the degree to which a location is a member of a bay, is modelled with alpha-shapes. It is argued that the spatial concept of bayness is a critical factor in modelling near-shore fast ice dynamics. A fast ice breakout model is presented, combining bayness and wind fetch as the main driving forces. This conceptual model will be calibrated and validated by a time series of photographs, or satellite images to be acquired during future seasons.

Remote sensing and image processing

Remote sensing research in the Spatial Science discipline focuses on feature extraction from high-resolution satellite imagery and modelling and visualizing related uncertainty. Classification of remote sensing imagery is often applied to partition an image into meaningful objects. Classification algorithms, either supervised or unsupervised, are most often pixel-based assigning a class label to each individual pixel. In contrast, segmentation in remote sensing, identifies homogeneous image objects based on spatial properties. Spatial relations between pixels are an important source of information that can help in object extraction from remotely sensed imagery. In a subsequent object-based classification, information about these objects, like reflectance distribution, texture, object shape and size, and object semantics can be used to improve classification. An important aspect of any classification or segmentation is uncertainty in the classification result. An application area of this research is the implementation and application of advanced image processing techniques for classification, detection of change, and visualization of vegetation on Heard Island , Southern Ocean.

Geodesy/Geodynamics

Research interests have an emphasis on ‘environmental geodesy’ – the use of space geodetic tools such as GNSS, satellite altimetry and space gravity applied to global climate change and sea level studies. This includes the application of radar altimeter data for global climate studies, changes to surface elevation of ice sheets, crustal strain and seismic deformation, and surface expression of hydrologic loading. The group is actively involved in the absolute calibration of radar altimeters for both ocean and ice based applications. The Surveying and Spatial Sciences group also has close links with the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre and CSIRO Marine Research. Contact Dr Christopher Watson for further information.

Photogrammetry

Research interests currently focus on forest inventory measurement using digital photogrammetry, airborne laser scanning and satellite data. Research in close-range photogrammetry includes photogrammetric methods of measuring animal aggregation behaviour, including underwater systems to measure the schooling characteristics of commercial fisheries.

Surveying and Instrumentation

Research topics include the development of specialised instruments and techniques for precise measurement applied to industry and technology, including digital video, laser, EDM and optical measurement systems. Also analysis techniques applied to deformation measurement, precise engineering surveys and network adjustments.

For more detailed information visit the profiles of individual staff members in the Staff section. Visit the School's homepage and follow the Research link, to learn about the wide range of research being undertaken within the School, including research programmes in environmental mapping and remote sensing, geodesy, satellite positioning and geodynamics, global climate change and Antarctic studies, and coastal and marine studies. Visit the School's homepage and follow the Facilities link, for information about our teaching and research facilities.