Earth Observation for Tropical Forest Structure Analysis and Disturbance Monitoring

Wednesday 20th March, 1-2pm, Cottrell 2V1 and streamed on Teams (contact the seminar organiser for the Teams link).
This seminar is open to all staff, students and affiliates of the University of Stirling. The seminar is hosted by Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES). 

Who this might appeal to: The presentation is related to the use of Earth Observation applied to tropical forest structure estimation and forest disturbances. Therefore, it can be of interest to Earth and Planetary Observation, Ecosystem Change, and Healthy Environments for Sustainable Societies.

Abstract: The contribution of Earth Observation (EO) to understanding tropical forest ecosystems through structural analysis and disturbance monitoring has advanced significantly in recent years due to new satellite datasets and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Tropical forests, crucial for biodiversity and carbon sequestration, face challenges from both anthropic and natural disturbances. By leveraging advanced EO and AI technologies, we can now estimate forest structure and analyse disturbances and dynamics in ways not previously possible, integrating diverse data sources such as field information, satellites, and airborne sensors. The focus of the presentation is on the efficacy of EO in monitoring above-ground biomass (carbon stocks) and various forest disturbances, including deforestation, logging, and natural events. Through the application of advanced image processing and machine learning/deep learning, the analysis captures changes in forest structure and dynamics, providing insights into the temporal progression and spatial distribution of disturbances. This underscores the significance of EO in delivering timely and precise information crucial for effective conservation and sustainable forest management. Ultimately, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge aimed at safeguarding tropical ecosystems and supporting informed decision-making for their preservation.

Bio: Dr. Polyanna da Conceição Bispo is Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of Manchester. Expert in Forest Ecology and Earth Observation, her research is dedicated to advancing methodologies and strategies for monitoring tropical forests. Dr. Bispo’s work extends to understand the influence of environmental factors on biodiversity and forest structure, including the impact of disturbances on forests and their subsequent recovery. Furthermore, her research is closely tied to climate change issues and the formulation of decision-making policies. A Brazilian biologist, Dr. Bispo earned her MSc and PhD in remote sensing from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil. During her nearly two-year tenure as a European Space Agency (ESA) International Postdoctoral Fellow from 2013 to 2015, she focused on exploring advanced technologies such as Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) for monitoring biomass in the Brazilian Amazon. She was also a Marie Curie Research Fellow working on the same topic at the University of Leicester. Later, in the same institution, she contributed to the Forests 2020 project funded by the UK Space Agency and led by Ecometrica. This initiative, a significant investment within the International Partnerships Programme (IPP), aimed to enhance forest monitoring in six partner countries (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ghana) by leveraging advanced uses of satellite data. She is the founder and leader of the RSATE (Remote Sensing Applied to Tropical Environments, https://twitter.com/rsategroup) research group, a collaborative effort involving multi-institutional and international scientists. This group focuses on addressing challenges related to deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss in tropical regions and their global implications.

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