Overview
Background
Research interest: Monitoring ecosystem health of coral reefs and seagrass habitats, integrating field and remote sensing image datasets, and the developing applied cost-effective mapping and monitoring approaches. Developed approaches have been adopted as standard practice globally, making a difference in conservation of these valuable habitats. The long term monitoring studies at Heron and Moreton Bay formed the basis for the development of mapping and monitoring over time and space at local to global scale. See here major research impact
Major projects:
- Long term monitoring of benthic composition at Heron Reef (2002-ongoing).
- Long term monitoring of seagrass composition and abundance in Moreton bay Marine Park (2000-ongoing).
- Smart Sat CRC Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Seagrass and Coral Reefs 2023-2027.
- Developement of Underwater Field Spectrometry and Benthic Photo Collection and Analysis
- 3D GBR Habitat Mapping Project 2015 - ongoing:
- Global habitat mapping project 2019-2023 Allen Coral Atlas .
Current position: Associate Professior in Marine Remote Sensing leading the Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Lab. . Academic Director Heron Island Research Station and affiliated researchers with Centre for Marine Science and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
Capacity Building and Citizen Science: Capacity: under/post graduate courses; Msc/PhD supervision, workshops/courses; Remote Sensing Educational Toolkit, and online courses (e.g. TNC).Strong supporter of citizen science based projects, as trainer, organiser and advisor for Reef Check Australia, CoralWatch, Great Reef Census and UniDive.
Availability
- Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, Institution to be confirmed
- Masters (Coursework) of Engineering, Delft University of Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma of Marine Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Volunteer, Australian Coral Reef Society, Australian Coral Reef Society
- Member, Australian Marine Science Association, Australian Marine Science Association
- Volunteer, Coral Watch, Coral Watch
- Volunteer, Great Reef Census, Great Reef Census
- Member, International Coral Reef Society, International Coral Reef Society
- Member, Professional Assosciation of Diving Instructors, Professional Assosciation of Diving Instructors
- Volunteer, Reef Check Australia, Reef Check Australia
Research interests
-
Monitoring Marine Ecosystems - Integrating Field and Earth Observation
Research interest: Monitoring ecosystem health of coral reefs and seagrass habitats, integrating field and remote sensing image datasets, and the developing applied cost-effective mapping and monitoring approaches. Developed approaches have been adopted as standard practice globally, making a difference in conservation of these valuable habitats. The long term monitoring studies at Heron and Moreton Bay formed the basis for the development of mapping and monitoring over time and space at local to global scale. See here major research impact Major projects: Long term monitoring of benthic composition at Heron Reef (2002-ongoing). Long term monitoring of seagrass composition and abundance in Moreton bay Marine Park (2000-ongoing). Smart Sat CRC Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Seagrass and Coral Reefs 2023-2027. Developement of Underwater Field Spectrometry and Benthic Photo Collection and Analysis 3D GBR Habitat Mapping Project 2015 - ongoing: Global habitat mapping project 2019-2023 Allen Coral Atlas . Current position: Associate Professior in Marine Remote Sensing leading the Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Lab. . Academic Director Heron Island Research Station and affiliated researchers with Centre for Marine Science and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science Capacity Building and Citizen Science: Capacity: under/post graduate courses; Msc/PhD supervision, workshops/courses; Remote Sensing Educational Toolkit, and online courses (e.g. TNC).Strong supporter of citizen science based projects, as trainer, organiser and advisor for Reef Check Australia, CoralWatch, Great Reef Census and UniDive.
Research impacts
See Research Impact on Mapping a better future for coral reefs
Works
Search Professor Chris Roelfsema’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Journal Article
An integrated field and remote sensing approach for mapping seagrass cover, Moreton Bay, Australia
Roelfsema, C. M., Phinn, S. R., Udy, N. and Maxwell, P. (2009). An integrated field and remote sensing approach for mapping seagrass cover, Moreton Bay, Australia. Journal of Spatial Science, 54 (1), 45-62. doi: 10.1080/14498596.2009.9635166
2009
Journal Article
The effects of ecologically determined spatial complexity on the classification accuracy of simulated coral reef images
Lim, Alan, Hedley, John D., LeDrew, Ellsworth, Mumby, Peter J. and Roelfsema, Chris (2009). The effects of ecologically determined spatial complexity on the classification accuracy of simulated coral reef images. Remote Sensing of Environment, 113 (5), 965-978. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2009.01.011
2009
Journal Article
A physics based retrieval and quality assessment of bathymetry from suboptimal hyperspectral data
Brando, Vittorio E., Anstee, Janet M., Wettle, Magnus, Dekker, Arnold G., Phinn, Stuart R. and Roelfsema, Chris (2009). A physics based retrieval and quality assessment of bathymetry from suboptimal hyperspectral data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 113 (4), 755-770. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2008.12.003
2009
Other Outputs
Habitat Mapping of Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Sharma, A., Kruger, J., Kumar, S., Roelfsema, C., Leiper, I., Phinn, S., George, N. and Story, R. (2009, 04 01). Habitat Mapping of Aitutaki, Cook Islands Pacific Islands GIS & RS News 19-20.
2008
Journal Article
Preface: High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring and Management
Kasper Johansen, Roelfsema, Christiaan M. and Phinn, Stuart R. (2008). Preface: High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring and Management. Journal of Spatial Science, 53 (1), 43-47. doi: 10.1080/14498596.2008.9635134
2008
Conference Publication
Evaluating eight field and remote sensing approaches for mapping the benthos of three different coral reef environments in Fiji
Roelfsema, Chris and Phinn, Stuart (2008). Evaluating eight field and remote sensing approaches for mapping the benthos of three different coral reef environments in Fiji. Remote Sensing of Inland, Coastal, and Oceanic Waters, Noumea, New Caledonia, 18 November 2008. Bellingham, WA, U.S.A.: SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.804806
2008
Conference Publication
Linking structures to processes: Multi-scale image and field data analyses
Phinn, S. R., Roelfsema, C. M., Lyons, M., Kamal, M. and Johansen, K. (2008). Linking structures to processes: Multi-scale image and field data analyses. SPIE '08, Noumea, New Caledonia, 17-21 November, 2008.
2008
Journal Article
Mapping seagrass species, cover and biomass in shallow waters: An assessment of satellite multi-spectral and airborne hyper-spectral imaging systems in Moreton Bay (Australia)
Phinn, Stuart, Roelfsema, Chris, Dekker, Arnold, Brando, Vittoro and Anstee, Janet (2008). Mapping seagrass species, cover and biomass in shallow waters: An assessment of satellite multi-spectral and airborne hyper-spectral imaging systems in Moreton Bay (Australia). Remote Sensing of Environment, 112 (8), 3413-3425. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2007.09.017
2007
Journal Article
Photo-library method for mapping seagrass biomass
Kutser, Tiit, Vahtmae, Ele, Roelfsema, Chris M. and Metsamaa, Liisa (2007). Photo-library method for mapping seagrass biomass. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 75 (4), 559-563. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2007.05.043
2007
Book Chapter
Science addressing community concerns about the marine environment
Albert, S., Love, M., Udy, J., Tibbetts, I., Roelfsema, C., Neil, D., Marion, G., Hough, S., Ross, A. and Duke, N. (2007). Science addressing community concerns about the marine environment. Conserving the marine biodiversity of Marovo Lagoon: Development of environmental management initiative that will conserve the marine biodiversity and productivity of Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands. (pp. 43-83) edited by N. C. Duke, J. W. Udy, S. Albert, M. Love, A. Ross, I. R. Tibbetts, C. Roelfsema, D. T. Neil, G. Marion, J. Corrin Care, W. Carter, P. Dart and S. Hough. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
2007
Book Chapter
The UQ Marovo Experience: Science-based support for community management of marine resources
Duke, Norm, Udy, James, Albert, Simon, Love, Mark, Ross, Annie, Tibbetts, Ian., Roelfsema, Chris, Neil, David, Marion, Guy, Prange, Joelle, Corrin-Care, Jennifer, Carter, William, Dart, Peter and Hough, Sean (2007). The UQ Marovo Experience: Science-based support for community management of marine resources. Conserving the marine biodiversity of Marovo Lagoon: Development of environmental management initiatives that will conserve the marine biodiversity and productivity of Marova Lagoon, Solomon Islands. (pp. 11-27) edited by N. C. Duke, J. W. Udy, S. Albert, M. Love, A. Ross, I. R. Tibbetts, C. Roelfsema, D. T. Neil, G. Marion, J. Corrin Care, W. Carter, P. Dart and S. Hough. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2007
Other Outputs
Herald Cay Benthic photo Analysis CSIRO habitat: Mapping project
Roelfsema, C. M. and Phinn, S. R. (2007). Herald Cay Benthic photo Analysis CSIRO habitat: Mapping project. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2007
Book Chapter
Lessons learned, future directions and recommendations
Love, M., Corrin-Care, J., Ross, A., Albert, S., Tibbetts, I., Udy, J., Roelfsema, C. and Duke, N. (2007). Lessons learned, future directions and recommendations. Conserving the marine biodiversity of Marovo Lagoon: Development of environmental management initiatives that will conserve the marine biodiversity and productivity of Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands. (pp. 129-141) edited by N. C. Duke, J. W. Udy, S. Albert, M. Love, A. Ross, I. R. Tibbetts, C. Roelfsema, D. T. Neil, G. Marion, J. Corrin Care, W. Carter, P. Dart and S. Hough. St Lucia, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2007
Conference Publication
Mapping benthic habitats on Fijian coral reefs: Evaluating combined field and remote sensing approaches
Roelfsema, C., Phinn, Stuart R. and Comley, J. (2007). Mapping benthic habitats on Fijian coral reefs: Evaluating combined field and remote sensing approaches. The 28th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Kuala Lumpur, 12-16 November 2007. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing.
2007
Journal Article
Queensland Researchers Develop Photo-Mapping Technique for Benthic Habitats
Roelfsema , C. M. and Phinn, S. R. (2007). Queensland Researchers Develop Photo-Mapping Technique for Benthic Habitats. Position, October - November 2007
2006
Journal Article
A bloom of Lyngbya majuscula in Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia: An important feeding ground for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Arthur, K. E., Limpus, C. J., Roelfsema, C. M., Udy, J. W. and Shaw, G. R. (2006). A bloom of Lyngbya majuscula in Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia: An important feeding ground for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Harmful Algae, 5 (3), 251-265. doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2005.07.006
2006
Conference Publication
Mapping seagrass (species, composition, cover and above-ground biomass): A multi-sensor evaluation in Moreton Bay, Australia
Phinn, S R, Roelfsema, C M, Dekker, A, Brando, E, Anstee, and Wettle, (2006). Mapping seagrass (species, composition, cover and above-ground biomass): A multi-sensor evaluation in Moreton Bay, Australia. 13th Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu Convention Centre, Hawaii, 20-24 February, 2006. Hawaii:
2006
Other Outputs
Assessment of the capabilities of remote sensing for mapping intertidal seagrass beds within the Great Barrier Reef
Phinn, S R, Hough, S. M., Anstee, , Roelfsema, C M and Dekker, A (2006). Assessment of the capabilities of remote sensing for mapping intertidal seagrass beds within the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville: Reef and Rainforest CRC's.
2006
Other Outputs
Remote sensing for coastal ecosystem indicators assessment and monitoring (SR). SR 30.1 final report: Maps, techniques and error assessment for seagrass benthic habitat in Moreton Bay
Phinn, S R, Roelfsema, C M, Dekker, A, Brando, E, Anstee, and Daniels, P. (2006). Remote sensing for coastal ecosystem indicators assessment and monitoring (SR). SR 30.1 final report: Maps, techniques and error assessment for seagrass benthic habitat in Moreton Bay. Brisbane: CRC for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management.
2006
Journal Article
Monitoring toxic cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula (Gomont) in Moreton Bay, Australia by integrating satellite image data and field mapping
Roelfsema, C. M., Phinn, S. R., Dennison, W. C., Dekker, A. G., Brando, V. E. and Estuary and Waterways Management Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone (2006). Monitoring toxic cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula (Gomont) in Moreton Bay, Australia by integrating satellite image data and field mapping. Harmful Algae, 5 (1), 45-56. doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2005.05.001
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Coral Reef Dynamics Integrating Geospatial/Earth Observation/Ecology
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema, Dylan Cowley, Nikki Brown, Stuart Phinn UQ, Julie Vercelloni QUT/AIMS, Emma Kennedy, Juan Carlos Ortiz AIMS and relevant others
Coral Reef research can focus on work on the Heron Reef but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
Since 2002 UQ Team have used Heron Reef as basis to develop integrated earth observation and field data monitoring, modelling and mapping approaches. Part of that work was establishing a detailed field-based baseline of the reef, which is completed annually and has produced a 20+ year annual data set. Since 2011, the Reef Check Australia Coral Watch Field teams have joined the surveys and collected their associated data sets. Iin 2023 we collected orthomosaics of 20-50 m for 10 sites around Heron Reef, this provide the possiblity to get more detail benthic information and higher spatial scale locally.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building coral reef science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also coral morphologies, or algae cover or other
- Developing approaches in GEE for time series analysis to link field data to image date to get high resolution thematic maps of Heron reef.
- Ecological assessment over time of benthic components, but also impacts, fish, inverts and general coral healthy using coral health chart, reef check data and geolocated photos
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Seagrass Dynamics Integrating Geospatial/Earth Observation/Ecology
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema, Dylan Cowley, Nikkie Brown, Carissa Klein, Stuart Phinn UQ, Julie Vercelloni QUT/AIMS, and relevant others
Seagrass research can focus on work in the Moreton Bay but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
Since 2000 the UQ Team have used Moreton Bay as basis to develop integrated earth observation and field data monitoring, modelling and mapping approaches. Part of that work was establishing a detailed field-based baseline of the seagrass in the Moreton Bay and specificly Eastern Banks. In the last 20+ years seagrass has been mapped regulary in this region.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building seagrass science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also seagrass species, composition and biomass or other
- Developing approaches in GEE or other for time series analysis to link field data to image date to get high resolution thematic maps of Eastern Banks Moreton Bay.
- Ecological assessment over time of seagrass composition, but also impacts, fish, inverts and geolocated photos or other field data for the Eastern Banks or the Moreton Bay Marine Parks
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
Title: Multi-Temporal Mapping of Seagrass Cover, Species and Biomass: A Semi-Automated Object Based Image Analysis Approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2014.05.001
Title: A Multi-date seagrass species and percentage cover field data set, derived from georeferenced photo transects for the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2015.40
Title: Challenges of Remote Sensing for Quantifying Changes in Large Complex Seagrass Environments https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2013.01.015
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Coral community assamblage from 3D photogrammetry
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema(UQ), Dylan Cowley(UQ) Tiny Remmers (UQ/AIMS) Stuart Phinn(UQ), Nikkie Brown (UQ) Julie Vercelloni AIMS, Emma Kennedy AIMS, Juan Carlos Ortiz AIMS and relevant others
Coral Reef research can focus on work on the Heron Reef but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
In 2023 orthophotomosaics were collected around Heron Reef as basis to integrate with satellite imagery and to understand the site level changes in benthic composition. The work can be supported by detailed field-based baseline of the reef, which is completed annually and has produced a 20+ year annual data set. Since 2011, Iin 2023 we collected orthomosaics of 20-50 m for 10 sites around Heron Reef, this provide the possiblity to get more detail benthic information and higher spatial scale locally.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building coral reef science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also coral morphologies, or algae cover or other at site level scale over time and space
- Developing approaches for time series analysis of the orthophoto mosacis.
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
Title: Close-range underwater photogrammetry for coral reef ecology: a systematic literature review
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Coral community assamblage from 3D photogrammetry
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema(UQ), Dylan Cowley(UQ) Tiny Remmers (UQ/AIMS), Nikkie Brown (UQ) Julie Vercelloni AIMS, Emma Kennedy AIMS, Juan Carlos Ortiz AIMS and relevant others
Coral Reef research can focus on work on the Heron Reef but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
In 2023 orthophotomosaics were collected around Heron Reef as basis to integrate with satellite imagery and to understand the site level changes in benthic composition. The work can be supported by detailed field-based baseline of the reef, which is completed annually and has produced a 20+ year annual data set. Since 2011, Iin 2023 we collected orthomosaics of 20-50 m for 10 sites around Heron Reef, this provide the possiblity to get more detail benthic information and higher spatial scale locally.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building coral reef science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also coral morphologies, or algae cover or other at site level scale over time and space
- Developing approaches for time series analysis of the orthophoto mosacis.
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
Title: Close-range underwater photogrammetry for coral reef ecology: a systematic literature review
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Coral Reef Dynamics Integrating Geospatial/Earth Observation/Ecology
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema, Dylan Cowley, Nikki Brown, Julie Vercelloni QUT/AIMS, Emma Kennedy, Juan Carlos Ortiz AIMS and relevant others
Coral Reef research can focus on work on the Heron Reef but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
Since 2002 UQ Team have used Heron Reef as basis to develop integrated earth observation and field data monitoring, modelling and mapping approaches. Part of that work was establishing a detailed field-based baseline of the reef, which is completed annually and has produced a 20+ year annual data set. Since 2011, the Reef Check Australia Coral Watch Field teams have joined the surveys and collected their associated data sets. Iin 2023 we collected orthomosaics of 20-50 m for 10 sites around Heron Reef, this provide the possiblity to get more detail benthic information and higher spatial scale locally.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building coral reef science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also coral morphologies, or algae cover or other
- Developing approaches in GEE for time series analysis to link field data to image date to get high resolution thematic maps of Heron reef.
- Ecological assessment over time of benthic components, but also impacts, fish, inverts and general coral healthy using coral health chart, reef check data and geolocated photos
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
-
PhD, Masters or Honours Topics: Seagrass Dynamics Integrating Geospatial/Earth Observation/Ecology
General
If you are interested in working as part of a collaborative, supportive, multi-disciplinary team that links different disciplines across academia, governments, industry and NGOs, on the topics below please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to it further.
Collaboration/Supervision possible with: Chris Roelfsema, Dylan Cowley, Nikkie Brown, Carissa Klein, UQ, Julie Vercelloni QUT/AIMS, and relevant others
Seagrass research can focus on work in the Moreton Bay but are not limited to that.
Funding
These project do not have funding or scholarships currently, but are supported by extensive pre-existing data archives of fully corrected satellite image archives and field data sets, a collective group of researchers working on the site, and ability to be supported in scholarship and funding applications.
Background
Since 2000 the UQ Team have used Moreton Bay as basis to develop integrated earth observation and field data monitoring, modelling and mapping approaches. Part of that work was establishing a detailed field-based baseline of the seagrass in the Moreton Bay and specificly Eastern Banks. In the last 20+ years seagrass has been mapped regulary in this region.
PhD Topics
The data sets themselves provide a wealth of information for interested students to work on, hence we aim to engage with those interested in building seagrass science and management related , knowledge, skills, network, experience and development opportunities to enhance existing, or develop new careers.
If you are interested, please contact c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au to discuss how to develop a research project for special topic, masters or PhD research that might suit you focussing on:
- Ecological assessment of the benthic field data reviewing not only coral cover but also seagrass species, composition and biomass or other
- Developing approaches in GEE or other for time series analysis to link field data to image date to get high resolution thematic maps of Eastern Banks Moreton Bay.
- Ecological assessment over time of seagrass composition, but also impacts, fish, inverts and geolocated photos or other field data for the Eastern Banks or the Moreton Bay Marine Parks
- Any other topic that promotes the use of the existing field data and/or high resolution image data.
- Or any other related topic.
See related information in:
Title: Multi-Temporal Mapping of Seagrass Cover, Species and Biomass: A Semi-Automated Object Based Image Analysis Approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2014.05.001
Title: A Multi-date seagrass species and percentage cover field data set, derived from georeferenced photo transects for the Eastern Banks, Moreton Bay https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2015.40
Title: Challenges of Remote Sensing for Quantifying Changes in Large Complex Seagrass Environments https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2013.01.015
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Encounter Climate Change by Developing Method for Estimating Seagrass Carbon Stock and Sequestration Using Remote Sensing Technology in Indonesia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hyperspectral Earth Observation to monitor seagrass species and live coral
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
Doctor Philosophy
A Global Initiative for Dynamic Pollution Mapping and Management in Coral Reef Ecosystems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Amelia Wenger, Associate Professor Carissa Klein
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using space based Earth Observation to map Australia's kelp forests for a stronger Blue Carbon economy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Sustaining life on Pacific atoll islands in the face of accelerating coastal change: insights from three-dimensional change detection analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Daniel Harris, Professor Stuart Phinn
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding tsunami sources and frequency in northern Tonga
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Annie Lau
-
Doctor Philosophy
Tectonic Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: the contribution of geological structures to reef growth and geomorphology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Professor Gregory Webb, Dr Daniel Harris
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification of coral deposition, accretion, and erosional zones from detailed benthic and substrate mapping using hyperspectral image data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Professor Gregory Webb, Dr Daniel Harris
-
Doctor Philosophy
Sustaining life on Pacific atoll islands in the face of accelerating coastal change: insights from three-dimensional change detection analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Daniel Harris, Professor Stuart Phinn
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEMATIC REEF HABITAT CLASSIFICATION SCHEME USING MULTI-SCALE REMOTELY SENSED DATA FOR INDONESIA'S COASTAL MANAGEMENT
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Microphytobenthos Abundance from Remote Sensing: Heron Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alistair Grinham, Professor Stuart Phinn
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Canopy Reflectance Modelling for Mapping Coastal Wetland Vegetation of South East Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Drivers of coral reef composition, cryptic marine biodiversity, and coral health along the north coast of Timor-Leste
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping Coral Reef Primary Production and Calcification from a Light-Use Efficiency Model with In-Situ and Remotely Sensed Data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Examining the utility of Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) LiDAR on a low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) across environments of various composition and dynamic complexity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping forest dynamics in Bangladesh from satellite images: Implications for the global REDD+ program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz, Professor Stuart Phinn
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Cyclone disaster mapping, monitoring and management using satellite remote sensing and spatial analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Iraphne Childs, Professor Stuart Phinn
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Parameterization of bottom spectral reflectance for shallow water ocean color inversion models
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the Light Environment and Biophysical Parameters of Seagrass Using Remote Sensing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Professor Catherine Lovelock
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping and monitoring the long term spatial dynamics of land cover and seagrass distribution in South East Queensland, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2012
Master Philosophy
The use of remote sensing and field validation for mapping coral communities of Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait and implications for coastal planning policy.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
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2011
Master Philosophy
Mapping and Monitoring Coral Reefs in Vietnam's Coastal Waters from High-Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing and Field Survey Data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema directly for media enquiries about:
- Algae
- Coral reefs
- Field methods
- global
- Habitat mapping and monitoring
- Remote sensing
- Seagrass
- Water quality
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