Research areas

Monitoring and modeling urban dynamics: impact on quality of life and hydrology (MAMUD). (PhD research F. Tack)

Urban change processes are affecting the human and natural environment in a not unimportant way. This enlarges the need for more effective urban management approaches based on sustainable development. The objectives of the BELSPO (Belgian Science Policy) research project MAMUD is to investigate how satellite earth observation can contribute to a better monitoring, modeling and understanding of urban dynamics and its impact on the urban and suburban environment. While most remote sensing based studies on urban dynamics only consider two-dimensional structure, in this research also stereoscopic and multi scopic high resolution imagery will be used to derive the third dimension, which, obviously, is important in describing urban morphology.

This multi scopic, multi sensor imagery research will increase the potential of producing time series of 3D information from VHR archive data (Ikonos, Quickbird, SPOT), which is very useful for studying urban changes. (For more information visit www.mamud.be)

Deformation measurements of newly built tunnels with laser scanning (PhD research T. Nuttens)

This research is based on the ovalisation monitoring of concrete railway tunnels for the first projects of this kind in Belgium. These tunnels are measured with laser scanning during the first three months after construction. Both projects to monitor the deviations from ovalisation in newly built concrete tunnels confirm the practical use of high resolution terrestrial laser scanning for this type of application.

Based on the recorded point clouds of the tunnel rings, the deviations from ovalisation and the changes in ovalisation during the first three months after construction are determined.

During this research, a workflow has been developed to determine the deviations from ovalisation and the changes during the first three months after placement. In the near future, more detailed processing of the data is planned. Also the displacements of the individual concrete elements of the tunnel sections is part of the ongoing research.

Participation in archaeological projects in the Altaï Mountains region.

Performing satellite positioning measurements (C-NAV equipment, Leica SR20...) to locate and document archaeological artefacts and to process and georeference satellite images. These processed and orthorectified satellite images are used to derive accurate maps or digital elevation models of the region.

Topographical measurements on national and international archaeological sites.

The topographical measurements with robotic total station and GNSS equipment result in detailed and accurate plans for archaeological purposes. Most recently, our research group has performed topographical recordings on a archaeological site on Malta (Multidisciplinair archeologisch, cartografisch en geomorfologisch onderzoek van het rurale achterland van Carthago in de Middelpunische periode (ca. 550-300 v. Chr.).

Promotor: Prof. dr. R. Docter; Co-promotoren: Prof. dr. M. De Dapper, Prof. dr. ir. A. De Wulf, Prof. dr. R. Goossens)

Photogrammetric restitution of archaeological monuments in Belgium as well as on international archaeological sites.

The recording of important monuments, objects or buildings on various national and international archaeological sites. The results of these projects are accurate and detailed ortho-photo plans, digital elevation models (Tweekerkenstraat Gent, Abbaye d'Aulne, Porte de Landelies, Acropolis Titani,...)

Monitoring of harbor breakwaters using digital close range photogrammetry.

The integration of GNSS measurements, total station, leveling instruments and photogrammetry for the monitoring of the moulded concrete blocks of the breakwaters at the harbour of Zeebrugge.

3D CAD modelling of spatial architectural volumes using terrestrial laser scanning and LIDAR (PhD research - Cornelis Stal).

This research focuses on the fundamental requirements for laser scanning systems (terrestrial and airborne) for 3D (and 4D) CAD modelling of spatial architectural volumes and objects, indoors as well as outdoors and the combination of laser scanning with other 3D data acquisition techniques and semantic enriched (2D) geo data.

The development of the fundamental methodology for modelling the multisource and multisensory data sets forms the base for further applications in spatial planning, building block inventory and a 3D cadastre.

Spatial and temporal analysis of land degradation and desertification monitoring (El-Arish, Egypt) (PhD research - N. Badreldin).

The research is focused mainly on the integration between remote sensing and GIS techniques for monitoring the desertification in arid and semi-arid regions, including the climate and human impacts on the land cover and land use change and also on the spatial and temporal analysis of the land degradation in North Sinai (salinity, wind erosion).

El-Arish city is suffering from many serious issues:

• wind erosion (sand dunes movement) which occurs because of the strong north-westerly wind during the dry seasons with shortage of rain and vegetation cover, leading to an invasion of windblown sand.
• Salinization (locally called : Sabkha), it is start to increase in different places, the main cause of that is the high rate of evaporation beside the unwise irrigation system.
• Sea level rising is destroying many types of onshore flora and fauna.
• Water erosion, in the strong rain seasons the flash flood occurred from the high elevated area in south of North Sinai, mainly via Wadi El-Arish to strike El-Arish city, causing a lot of losses in infra-structure and ecosystem.

Desertification in El-Arish has been studied by many local institutes. This study is focusing on desertification monitoring by using different data sources such as satellite images of different years. El-Arish city has been chosen as an example of desertification in Egypt, and where of many environmental changes can be observed clearly.