Earth Observation

About Us

The Earth Observation research group (EOG), University of New England (UNE), focuses on the interface of environmental science, Earth Observation (EO), and natural resource management bringing to the forefront technological and scientific advancement. The EOG provides actional information for informed decision-making by communities and government agencies by delivering reliable and robust data and information.

Delivering impactful results in-situ observations with satellite and airborne remote sensing, focus is on translating environmental science principles into practical tools for conservation, agriculture, and water quality management aligning with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6: to ensure the availability and sustainable manager of water for all; and (13) take action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Our Research

Earth Observation & Ecosystem Function — Development of observation-driven frameworks that translate satellite, airborne, and in-situ measurements into estimates of ecosystem productivity, water cycling, and energy balance across terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Plant Ecophysiology & Functional Traits : Linking chlorophyll fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy, and biophysical modelling to understand how plants respond to climate stress, upscaling leaf scale (PAM fluorometry) and landscape (solar-induced fluorescence and imaging spectrometers).
Threatened Species Habitat & Biodiversity: Developing forecast-capable habitat quality models for threatened Australian mammals — including koalas, greater gliders, and other metatherians. By utilizing ecosystem function as the mechanistic link between climate, vegetation, and species persistence, this benefits ecologists and land managers anticipate how ecosystems will change over time for accurate decision making.
Water Quality & Coastal Ecosystems: Integrating EO with in-situ water quality monitoring to improve management of agricultural runoff, harmful algal blooms, and optical water properties across freshwater, estuarine, and coastal environments.
Climate, Energy Balance & Agri-Environmental Systems: Investigation of microscale energy balance, microclimate translation, and the role of novel land-use systems, including agrisolar, by shaping ecophysiological outcomes for biodiversity and agricultural productivity under a changing climate.

Join Us

The EOG welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD, Masters, and Honours students who are passionate about environmental science, remote sensing, ecology and water quality. Projects span terrestrial ecosystems, coastal waterways, agricultural landscapes, and threatened species conservation. The EOG is committed to observation-driven science to deliver evidence based improvements. Delivering an inclusive, collaborative and supportive research environment with access to cutting-edge tools including NASA imaging spectrometers, flux tower networks, drone platforms and high-performance computing it ensures we remain at the forefront of technological advancement.

Please contact Professor Bradley (Bradley.Evans@une.edu.au), Group Lead, to discuss opportunities.

Our People

*Professor Bradley Evans*	Group Lead — Earth observation, ecosystem modelling, imaging spectroscopy, plant functional traits
*Rowena Smith*	Project Manager, UNE ASPIRE/DVCR — Research operations, project management, stakeholder engagement
*Adjunct Professor Alex Held*	CSIRO Chief Scientist, Earth Observation & AquaWatch Australia — Optical and microwave remote sensing, international satellite coordination (CEOS), vegetation and ecosystem mapping
*Dr Adam Roff*	Senior Research Scientist, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water — Technology and innovation for ecology, drone-based wildlife monitoring, remote sensing for conservation

Research Students

*Name*	Degree	Project
*Ivana Dimovski*	PhD Candidate	Koala habitat and presence in the New England region: past, present, and future
*Alex Borisut*	PhD Candidate	Focussing on water quality in coastal and inland waterbodies. Focussing on applying multi-scale remote sensing techniques to provide essential water quality information for informed decision making by communities and agencies by delivering reliable and robust data.
*Yvie van de Kaa*	PhD Candidate	Intersection of Earth Observation, water quality science and operational environmental management. Working with long term operational datasets from Mackay Regional Council, her PhD investigates how satellite Earth Observation can be integrated with in-situ monitoring, weather information and operational datasets to improve the monitoring and management of recycled water storages.
*Nathalie Broedl-Godbee*	PhD Candidate	Optical water properties, frameworks, and implications for the utility of hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy for estimating global, uniform water quality estimates routinely and collaboratively
*Justine Kreuger*	PhD Candidate (on leave)	Chlorophyll fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and climate determining estimation and monitoring of regional tree condition and health — leaf PAM to SIF in an integrated plant trait expression and prediction framework
*William Rodas Bravo*	Masters Research	The role of PAM and SIF in the crop prediction system, from field to landscape at the paddock scale
*Thomas Armstrong*	Honours (proposed 2027)	Microscale energy balance and its role in the ecophysiological translations of floral and faunal biodiversity in agrisolar systems