Dr Priyakant Sinha
Senior Lecturer in Spatial Science - Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre; Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law; School of Environmental and Rural Science
Biography
Dr Priyakant Sinha is a researcher and academic in the field of remote sensing and geospatial science and has more than 20 years of research and project experience in a range of geographic locations (Australia, Ethiopia and India) on diverse themes related to natural landscape, river catchment management (water quality, soil productivity, soil biodiversity), biophysical modelling (landscape fragmentation, habitat connectivity modelling), salt marsh vegetation mapping, and environmental impact assessment. A significant part of his research is also on vegetation condition assessments (natural and agriculture system), crop conditions and productivity estimations. He is highly skilled in remote sensing data analysis for different optical sensors, LiDAR and UAV data analysis, spatial modelling, and has developed new methods for time-series change analysis. His research include advanced methodologies such as machine learning, Google Earth Engine (GEE), GDAL library usage, WebApp development for remote sensing data analysis and geospatial data processing.
He has worked across a range of research projects including: hyperspectral radiometer (ASD) and very high resolution WV3 data to identify and map banana species in Uganda (World Bank funded project); Sugarcane crop vigour and yield mapping at regional and block Level from SPOT/WV3 data for growers in QLD and NSW; High Resolution WV3 data for Mango yield forecasting for Australia Mango Growers; Canola Harvest timing prediction from UAV/Satellite time series data; Habitat suitability modelling for seabirds; habitat connectivity modelling and effective habitat area (EHA) change monitoring from time series remote sensing data; conservation priorities in threatened eastern Himalayan mammals; and UAV/Drone based next generation high resolution 3D imaging techniques for improved farm management. In past (2012-13), he also worked with NSW Dept. of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and developed GIS raster based multi-criteria analysis shell modelling (MCAS-Model) for spatial Natural Resource Management (NRM) priorities strategies for Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) (e.g., Murrumbidgee CMA and Upper and Lower Murray CMAs).
Dr Sinha has more than 10 years of experience in teaching remote sensing and geospatial courses to university students in Australia and Ethiopia and in developing new courses at post-graduation level. In India (2000-03), Dr Sinha was principal GIS and Remote Sensing analyst in the World Bank funded project on Sodic Land Reclamation for improving wheat crop production. He has published several research articles in reputed journals of his field.
