PhD Candidates

by | Nov 29, 2013 | Ads, Career

PhD Student for Research Project

Research Topic: Remote Sensing data fusion at different levels for applications within Digital Earth.

Overview:

In the beginning of next year the Institute of Geospatial Science and Technology (INSTeG), a COE of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia will launch a new research project under the leadership of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christine Pohl. For this project we are looking for a PhD candidate to pursue her/his PhD research within 2.5 – 3 years.

The PhD research will be embedded in a MOSTI and UTM funded project on the “Development of suitable image fusion techniques to increase the usability of RazakSAT-2”. Within this project the candidate will investigate the combination of optical and radar remote sensing data at three different fusion levels: 1. Pixel level, 2. Feature level, and 3. Information level.

Remote sensing imagery has become more and more useful for topographic map updating in the past decade. With the availability of higher resolution data in terms of spatial content of satellite images information extraction meets needs of larger scale mapping. A lot of attention is being paid to change detection for map updating using remote sensing data. In many cases images of sensors operating in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum are used to extract the relevant features. In the tropics, however, this is very difficult due to the persistent cloud cover that exists in these areas. Therefore the PhD candidate will study the means to integrate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data in the fusion process. SAR sensors are capable of acquiring images independent of weather conditions and daylight since the microwaves penetrate clouds and provide information on surface texture, structure, soil moisture and other parameters that optical sensors are not able to obtain. The complementary characteristics of the two sensor types play a major role in the benefit of VIR/SAR fusion in remote sensing. The value adding is meant in terms of information extraction capability, reliability and increased accuracy. Successful image fusion produces data that results in other, better or additional information that cannot be extracted from each single image alone. Due to the different nature of the two sensor types all three fusion levels will be explored to obtain best results.

The Project will be launched early next year. Working language is English, the doctoral thesis will be written in English.

Requirements for Applicant:

• MSc in remote sensing, geosciences or related disciplines
• Experience with remote sensing digital image processing software, preferably ENVI, PCI Geomatics or ERDAS IMAGINE
• Programming skills
• Proficiency in English language, written and spoken
• Willingness to work in an international team

Compulsory Attachments for Application:

• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of university degree
• Letter of motivation
• Report on previous work in remote sensing
• Statement why the applicant wants to work within INSTeG

Contact for further questions and application:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christine Pohl
Institute of Geospatial Sciences and Technology (INSTeG)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Phone: +6 (0) 14 2755021
Email: c.pohl@utm.my
Website: https://research.utm.my/insteg/coe-members/christine-biography/
Scopus ID: 7102763531
LinkedIn ID: 235792713
SkypeID: chrispo2013

MSc Candidates

by | Feb 18, 2013 | Ads, Career

MSc Student for Research Project

Research Topic: Remote sensing image fusion to optimize RazakSAT-2 data

Overview:

In the beginning of next year the Institute of Geospatial Science and Technology (INSTeG), a COE of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, will launch a new research project under the leadership of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christine Pohl. For this project we are looking for an MSc candidate to pursue her/his MSc research within 2.5 – 3 years.

The research will be embedded in a MOSTI and UTM funded project on the “Development of suitable image fusion techniques to increase the usability of RazakSAT-2”. Within this project the candidate will investigate the combination of different optical bands at pixel level.

Remote sensing imagery has become more and more useful for topographic map updating in the past decade. With the availability of higher resolution data in terms of spatial content of satellite images information extraction meets needs of larger scale mapping. A lot of attention is being paid to change detection for map updating using remote sensing data. RazakSAT is a unique satellite system since it operates in a near-equatorial orbit with a low inclination angle of 9°. This enables the satellite to cover the equatorial region 14 times a day, a pre-requisite to optimize the possibility of obtaining cloud-free data. This is a very important pre-requisite for mapping and map updating in the humid tropics where cloud-cover is a serious problem to monitoring from space. In order to improve the usability of RazakSAT imagery for map updating the project aims at the development of an image fusion processing flow. New methods, such as the Ehlers fusion method are applied prior to image interpretation and classification. The Ehlers technique has shown great potential in the past using Intensity Hue Saturation (IHS) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to increase the spatial resolution of satellite imagery whilst maintaining the spectral resolution and quality of the data. Others, such as the new Fuze Go ^TM pansharpening software also provide excellent image enhancement capabilities. The MSc project will focus on a selection of suitable pansharpening approaches that will be tested, adapted and further developed to optimize RazakSAT-2 image quality and usability.

The Project will be launched early next year. Working language is English, the thesis will be written in English.

Requirements for Applicant:

• BSc in remote sensing, geosciences or related disciplines
• Experience with remote sensing digital image processing software, preferably ENVI, PCI Geomatics or ERDAS IMAGINE
• Proficiency in English language, written and spoken
• Willingness to work in an international team

Compulsory Attachments for Application: