UCL DEPARTMENT OF SPACE & CLIMATE PHYSICS

• Remote sensing from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Hyperspectral imaging over complex targets
• Radiometric calibration and data validation
• Remote sensing for Planetary Science and Astrobiology

B.Sc. Physics with Astrophysics, University of Kent

M.Sc. Astronomy, University of Sussex

"3D Vision and data fusion for satellite calibration and validation using Autonomous Robotic platforms"

Supervisors: Prof. Jan-Peter Muller & Dr. Nigel Fox

Satellite-based radiometric measurements play a critical role in monitoring the Earth's climate system. Although technology has significantly advanced in the use of onboard calibration and with respect to lunar calibration measurements, there is an underlying need to conduct frequent radiometric calibration campaigns over terrestrial field sites. Up until the present-day such sites are usually located in desert or semi-arid environments and are all bright targets. This simplifies ground logistics and ensures that surface Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) can be straightforwardly characterized. 
However, although there is substantial interest in bright surfaces (particularly desert, snow and ice), global changes in BRDF/albedo are more likely to occur over dark surfaces. Even with the 14-bit dynamic range instruments launched since 2000 by NASA and ESA, there is an urgent need to ensure that dark surfaces are monitored as well. Apart from volcanic regions, most of these surfaces are likely to be dense vegetation. Logistics for such areas are very difficult due to access, safety considerations and the fact that many such sites are remote. One way of addressing this logistics issue is to monitor from an autonomous un-manned aerobot such as the helicopter system developed by NPL. 

2010

• RSPSoc 2010 Annual Conference (September)
• ESA Living Planet Symposium (June/July)
• RAS National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2010 (April)
• RSPSoc Annual Student Meeting (ASM) 2010 (March) 

I really like tea!