Doctoral theses of the School of Engineering at Aaltodoc (external link)
Doctoral theses of the School of Engineering are available in the open access repository maintained by Aalto, Aaltodoc.
Public defence, geoinformatics, MSc Samantha Wittke
How can freely available Earth observation data and open research resources can be used to monitor natural resources? Public defence from the Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment.
In this event, we are committed to Aalto University’s principles for a safer space.
Title of the thesis: Applications of open remote sensing tools and multitemporal data in natural resource monitoring
Thesis defender: Samantha Wittke
Opponent: University Lecturer Milto Miltiadou, University of Exeter, UK
Custos: Assistant Professor Henrikki Tenkanen, Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment
Observing Forests and Fields from Space: Applications of Open Satellite Data and Tools
How can we monitor forests, agricultural land, and environmental disturbances over large areas without relying solely on fieldwork? In her doctoral thesis, Samantha Wittke explored how freely available satellite observations can be used to better understand changes in natural environments. The work also contributes an open-source software and a new reference dataset to advance Earth observation research.
The research focused on repeated satellite observations collected over time. The aim was to assess how these data can be used to study forests and agriculture in Finland, including estimating forest characteristics, detecting crop losses, and identifying changes caused by understory forest fires. The work also sought to make satellite-based research more accessible through openly available and reusable software and datasets.
The results show that freely available Earth observation data can support a wide range of environmental applications. The studies demonstrated that multitemporal satellite observations can be used to estimate forest characteristics, detect crop losses, and assess the timing and impacts of understory forest fires. The research also highlighted the importance of accessible and reproducible research infrastructure for working with large Earth observation datasets. To support this, the thesis introduces EODIE, an open-source software tool that facilitates the collection and processing of Earth observation data at the field-plot level, and LiPheStream, a unique high-resolution laser scanning dataset that enables detailed monitoring of individual trees over time.
The thesis demonstrates that openly available satellite data, combined with reusable research infrastructure, can improve our ability to study environmental change and support evidence-based management of natural resources.
Key words: Remote Sensing, FAIR, Earth Observation
Thesis available for public display 7 days prior to the defence at Aalto University's public display page.
Doctoral theses of the School of Engineering
