Ing. Lucie Homolová, Ph.D. – head
Scientists:
Ing. Vojtěch Bárta, Ph.D.
Ing. Olga Brovkina, CSc.
Ing. Daniel Kopkáně, Ph.D.
Ing. Petr Lukeš, Ph.D.
Ing. Jan Novotný, Ph.D.
Ing. Miroslav Pikl, Ph.D.
doc. Mgr. Ing. František Zemek, Ph.D.
Ph.D. students:
MSc. Antonín Kusbach
Mgr. Marian Švik
Others:
Ing. Barbora Navrátilová
Motto:
Science from above: we help to understand landscape changes using Earth observation data.
Our department studies the actual status and changes of ecosystems using the up-to-date and rapidly developing methods of remote sensing. Our goal is to develop innovative solutions for qualitative and quantitative assessment, study spatio-temporal changes of ecosystems and their response to various stress agents, and to explore new relationships between the ecosystem elements using different types of remote sensing and field data. We primarily study forest, agricultural and urban systems and our research is often connected to the activities of other GCRI departments and research institutes, as it frequently integrates a broad variety of data at different ecosystem levels (e.g., leaf – plant – canopy – landscape) from local to regional scales.
In our research we use the unique airborne research infrastructure of GCRI – Flying Laboratory of Imaging Systems (FLIS), which is the only one operated in the Czech Republic and one of the few in Europe. FLIS carries a suite of state-of-the-art imaging spectroradiometers, thermal spectroradiometer and a laser scanner. This configuration allows simultaneous data acquisition, providing a comprehensive information about land surface. Besides the airborne data we also analyse multitude of field spectroscopic and laser scanning data, as well as satellite observations (e.g., Sentinels, Landsat, Modis).
Main research activities:
- Up-scaling of leaf-level spectral and biochemical properties to canopies and landscapes through 3D radiative transfer modelling.
- Quantitative estimation of vegetation traits (including leaf pigments, water content, leaf area index) for various types of crops and forests using different types of remote sensing data
- 3D modelling of forest structure from airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data towards better understanding of forest radiation budget and sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence signal.
- Estimation of forest structure and inventory parameters (e.g. individual tree detection, species composition, tree height, crown width and productivity (e.g. aboveground biomass, leaf area) at different scales using airborne and satellite remote sensing data.
- Studying thermal heat fluxes in urban systems to support effective town planning and improve human well-being in towns.
- Studying anthropogenic objects such as waste landfills and exploring methods of methane detection from imaging spectroscopy.
Ongoing research projects:
- Water management analysis to support natural flooding and the transformation effect of the floodplain (2024 – 2026; TAČR SS07010401)
- Aqua Research Infrastructure Services for the health and protection of our unique, oceans, seas and freshwater ecosystems (2024 – 2028; Horizon Europe; web)
- A step towards advanced forest inventory through laser scanning and 3D modelling. Can field surveys be minimized? (2023 – 2025; MŠMT Inter-Cost LUC23023-8)
- Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment (CHIME) L2 Algorithm and Processor Prototyping and Development (2023 – 2029; ESA SA/AO/1-11446/22/I-AG)
- Yield Prediction and Estimation from Earth observation (2023 – 2025; ESA ESA/AO/1-11144/22/I-EF)
- New methods of evaluating the volume and surface of active and reclaimed landfills (2023 – 2025; TAČR SS06020164)
- BENCHMARKS: Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils (2023 – 2027; Horizon Europe 101091010; web)
- Evaluation of the impact of land cover changes on local hydrology and climate in the Krkonoše National Park using remote sensing and hydrological modeling (2022 – 2025; TAČR SS05010124; web)
Still not enough?
- See our short video about airborne remote sensing and how do we analyse and use the data
- Check the virtual guide into our airborne research facility (vložit jako odkaz na pano letadla
- Check our map server to see our airborne acquisitions.
- Do you want to know the parameters of our airborne sensors and how the data are being processed? Visit the website of our technical department, which takes care of the airborne facility and its operation.
- Browse our book about airborne remote sensing.
Forest aboveground biomass assessment using an area-based approach – verified technology
Photogalery
