Chris Roelfsema
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/765 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/920
Associate Professor
Chris Roelfsema
Email: : c.roelfsema@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 56977
Positions
Academic Director, Heron Island Research Station : Faculty of Science
Affiliate of Centre for Marine Science : Centre for Marine Science : Faculty of Science
Affiliate of Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science : Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science : Faculty of Science
Associate Professor : School of the Environment : Faculty of Science
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.
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Availability
Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema is: : Available for supervision : Media expert
Fields of research
Aerospace engineering Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Animal behaviour Applied computing Artificial intelligence Behavioural ecology Biological Sciences Carbon sequestration science Cartography and digital mapping Climate change impacts and adaptation Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified Cloud computing Computer vision and multimedia computation Conservation and biodiversity Data engineering and data science Data management and data science Data models, storage and indexing Data quality Database systems Deep learning Distributed computing and systems software Earth Sciences Ecological applications Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation Ecology Ecosystem function Ecosystem services (incl. pollination) Engineering Environmental Sciences Environmental assessment and monitoring Environmental education and extension Environmental management Environmental management Environmental management not elsewhere classified Environmental rehabilitation and restoration Fisheries sciences Geology Geomatic engineering Geomatic engineering not elsewhere classified Geomorphology and earth surface processes Geospatial information systems and geospatial data modelling Global change biology High performance computing Image processing Information and Computing Sciences Information extraction and fusion Information retrieval and web search Invertebrate biology Machine learning Machine learning not elsewhere classified Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Marine geoscience Natural resource management Navigation and position fixing Neural networks Oceanography Other biological sciences Pattern recognition Photogrammetry and remote sensing Phycology (incl. marine grasses) Physical geography and environmental geoscience Physical oceanography Planning and decision making Plant biology Satellite, space vehicle and missile design and testing Satellite-based positioning Semi- and unsupervised learning Spatial data and applications Surveying (incl. hydrographic surveying) Vertebrate biology Wildlife and habitat management Zoology
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.
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Research impacts
See Research Impact on Mapping a better future for coral reefs
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Works
Search Professor Chris Roelfsema’s works on UQ eSpace
All (276) Book (2) Journal Article (133) Other Outputs (82) Conference Publication (38) Book Chapter (21)
Featured
2025
Journal Article
RapidBenthos: automated segmentation and multi-view classification of coral reef communities from photogrammetric reconstruction
Remmers, Tiny, Boutros, Nader, Wyatt, Mathew, Gordon, Sophie, Toor, Maren, Roelfsema, Chris, Fabricius, Katharina, Grech, Alana, Lechene, Marine and Ferrari, Renata (2025). RapidBenthos: automated segmentation and multi-view classification of coral reef communities from photogrammetric reconstruction. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 16 (2), 427-441. doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.14477
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Fine-scale interplay between decline and growth determines the spatial recovery of coral communities within a reef
Vercelloni, Julie, Roelfsema, Chris, Kovacs, Eva M., González-Rivero, Manuel, Moores, Matthew T., Logan, Murray and Mengersen, Kerrie (2024). Fine-scale interplay between decline and growth determines the spatial recovery of coral communities within a reef. Ecography, 2024 (1) e06818, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/ecog.06818
Featured
2023
Conference Publication
The AquaSat-1 mission concept: actionable information on water quality and aquatic ecosystems for Australia and Western USA
Bright, C., Ardila, D., Hestir, E., Malthus, T. J., Matthews, M., Thompson, D. R., Carter, N., Dekker, A. G., Frasson, R. P.M., Green, R. O., Held, A., Joehnk, K., Kravitz, J., Pease, J., Roelfsema, C., Seubert, C. and Wojtasiewicz, B. (2023). The AquaSat-1 mission concept: actionable information on water quality and aquatic ecosystems for Australia and Western USA. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), Pasadena, CA USA, 16-21 July 2023. New York, NY USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10282912
Featured
2021
Journal Article
How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?
Roelfsema, Chris M., Lyons, Mitchell B., Castro-Sanguino, Carolina, Kovacs, Eva M., Callaghan, David, Wettle, Magnus, Markey, Kathryn, Borrego-Acevedo, Rodney, Tudman, Paul, Roe, Meredith, Kennedy, Emma V., Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel, Murray, Nicholas and Phinn, Stuart R. (2021). How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?. Remote Sensing, 13 (21) 4343, 4343. doi: 10.3390/rs13214343
How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Reef Cover, a coral reef classification for global habitat mapping from remote sensing
Kennedy, Emma V., Roelfsema, Chris M., Lyons, Mitchell B., Kovacs, Eva M., Borrego-Acevedo, Rodney, Roe, Meredith, Phinn, Stuart R., Larsen, Kirk, Murray, Nicholas J., Yuwono, Doddy, Wolff, Jeremy and Tudman, Paul (2021). Reef Cover, a coral reef classification for global habitat mapping from remote sensing. Scientific Data, 8 (1) 196, 196. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00958-z
Reef Cover, a coral reef classification for global habitat mapping from remote sensing
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Fine-scale time series surveys reveal new insights into spatio-temporal trends in coral cover (2002–2018), of a coral reef on the Southern Great Barrier Reef
Roelfsema, Chris, Kovacs, Eva M., Vercelloni, Julie, Markey, Kathryn, Rodriguez-Ramirez, Alberto, Lopez-Marcano, Sebastian, Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel, Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove and Phinn, Stuart R. (2021). Fine-scale time series surveys reveal new insights into spatio-temporal trends in coral cover (2002–2018), of a coral reef on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 40 (4), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s00338-021-02104-y
Featured
2020
Journal Article
The global distribution of seagrass meadows
McKenzie, Leonard, Nordlund, Lina Mtwana, Jones, Benjamin Lawrence, Cullen-Unsworth, Leanne C., Roelfsema, Chris M. and Unsworth, Richard (2020). The global distribution of seagrass meadows. Environmental Research Letters, 15 (7) 074041, 074041. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab7d06
The global distribution of seagrass meadows
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Coral reef applications of Sentinel-2: coverage, characteristics, bathymetry and benthic mapping with comparison to Landsat 8
Hedley, John D., Roelfsema, Chris, Brando, Vittorio, Giardino, Claudia, Kutser, Tiit, Phinn, Stuart, Mumby, Peter J., Barrilero, Omar, Laporte, Jean and Koetz, Benjamin (2018). Coral reef applications of Sentinel-2: coverage, characteristics, bathymetry and benthic mapping with comparison to Landsat 8. Remote Sensing of Environment, 216, 598-614. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2018.07.014
Featured
2016
Journal Article
Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs for Monitoring and Management: A Review
Hedley, John, Roelfsema, Chris M., Chollett, Iliana, Harborne, Alastair, Heron, Scott, Weeks, Scarla J., Skirving, William, Strong, Alan E., Eakin, C. Mark, Christensen, Tyler R. L., Ticzon, Victor, Bejarano, Sonia and Mumby, Peter J. (2016). Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs for Monitoring and Management: A Review. Remote Sensing, 8 (2) 118, 1-40. doi: 10.3390/rs8020118
Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs for Monitoring and Management: A Review
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Multi-temporal mapping of seagrass cover, species and biomass: A semi-automated object based image analysis approach
Roelfsema, Chris M., Lyons, Mitchell, Kovacs, Eva M., Maxwell, Paul, Saunders, Megan I., Samper-Villarreal, Jimena and Phinn, S.R. (2014). Multi-temporal mapping of seagrass cover, species and biomass: A semi-automated object based image analysis approach. Remote Sensing of Environment, 150, 172-187. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2014.05.001
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Challenges of remote sensing for quantifying changes in large complex seagrass environments
Roelfsema, Chris, Kovacs, Eva M., Saunders, Megan I., Phinn, Stuart, Lyons, Mitchell and Maxwell, Paul (2013). Challenges of remote sensing for quantifying changes in large complex seagrass environments. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 133, 161-171. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2013.08.026
Challenges of remote sensing for quantifying changes in large complex seagrass environments
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Mapping coral reefs at reef to reef-system scales, 10s-1000s km(2), using object-based image analysis
Roelfsema, Chris, Phinn, Stuart, Jupiter, Stacy, Comley, James and Albert, Simon (2013). Mapping coral reefs at reef to reef-system scales, 10s-1000s km(2), using object-based image analysis. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 34 (18), 6367-6388. doi: 10.1080/01431161.2013.800660
Featured
2010
Journal Article
Integrating field data with high spatial resolution multispectral satellite imagery for calibration and validation of coral reef benthic community maps
Roelfsema, Chris and Phinn, Stuart (2010). Integrating field data with high spatial resolution multispectral satellite imagery for calibration and validation of coral reef benthic community maps. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 4 (1) 043527, 043527.1-043527.28. doi: 10.1117/1.3430107
2025
Journal Article
Multi-scale observations during the 2024 mass coral bleaching event on Heron Reef, Australia
Rowell, Devin A., Hammerman, Nicholas M., Golding, Kirsten M., Kenyon, Tania Marie, Meziere, Zoe, Morgans, Courtney, Brown, Kristen Taylor, Diederiks, Faye F., Carrasco Rivera, David E., Eigeland, Karen, Paewai-Huggins, Roima, Markey, Kathryn, Beger, Maria, Chong, Fiona, Donno, Gabriella, Dutton, Alice, Victoria Hsiao, Wanchien, Kininmonth, Stuart, Lawson, Caitlin A., Middleton, Heather, Eyal, Gal and Roelfsema, Chris (2025). Multi-scale observations during the 2024 mass coral bleaching event on Heron Reef, Australia. Marine Biology, 173 (1) 17. doi: 10.1007/s00227-025-04759-5
Multi-scale observations during the 2024 mass coral bleaching event on Heron Reef, Australia
2025
Journal Article
Mapping reef island shoreline changes: a systematic review of data sources and methods
Kottermair, Maria, Phinn, Stuart R., Roelfsema, Chris and Harris, Daniel (2025). Mapping reef island shoreline changes: a systematic review of data sources and methods. Remote Sensing, 17 (24) 4041, 4041. doi: 10.3390/rs17244041
Mapping reef island shoreline changes: a systematic review of data sources and methods
2025
Journal Article
Insights into seagrass distribution, persistence, and resilience from decades of satellite monitoring
Carrasco Rivera, David E., Cowley, Dylan, Smart, Joanna N., Hammerman, Nicholas M., Golding, Kirsten M., Diederiks, Faye F. and Roelfsema, Chris M. (2025). Insights into seagrass distribution, persistence, and resilience from decades of satellite monitoring. Remote Sensing, 17 (24) 4033, 1-48. doi: 10.3390/rs17244033
2025
Journal Article
Evaluating macroalgal hyperspectral reflectance separability in support of kelp mapping
Rowan, Gillian, Smart, Joanna N., Roelfsema, Chris and Phinn, Stuart R. (2025). Evaluating macroalgal hyperspectral reflectance separability in support of kelp mapping. Remote Sensing, 17 (20) 3491, 3491. doi: 10.3390/rs17203491
Evaluating macroalgal hyperspectral reflectance separability in support of kelp mapping
2025
Journal Article
A framework for an effective nationwide seagrass data collection: a case study for Indonesia
Sjafrie, Nurul Dhewani Mirah, Hernawan, Udhi Eko, Wicaksono, Pramaditya, Yuwono, Doddy M., Adi, Novi Susetyo, Hafizt, Muhammad, Selamat, Muhammad Banda, Prayudha, Bayu, Harahap, Setiawan Djody, Salsabila, Huwaida Nur, Wijaya, Jennifer, Sani, Sofia Yuniar, Ambo-Rappe, Rohani and Roelfsema, Chris (2025). A framework for an effective nationwide seagrass data collection: a case study for Indonesia. Ocean & Coastal Management, 271 107968, 107968. doi: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107968
A framework for an effective nationwide seagrass data collection: a case study for Indonesia
2025
Journal Article
A review of the application of coral reef condition indicators in conservation planning
Davey, Madeline, Klein, Carissa J, Roelfsema, Chris, Kuempel, Caitlin D and Possingham, Hugh (2025). A review of the application of coral reef condition indicators in conservation planning. Ecological Indicators, 179 114222, 114222. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114222
A review of the application of coral reef condition indicators in conservation planning
2025
Journal Article
Two decades of coral carbonate production within and across geomorphic zones
Diederiks, Faye F., Browne, Nicola K., Rivera, David E. Carrasco, Hammerman, Nicholas M., Vercelloni, Julie, Kovacs, Eva, Markey, Kathryn and Roelfsema, Chris M. (2025). Two decades of coral carbonate production within and across geomorphic zones. Coral Reefs, 44 (5), 1631-1649. doi: 10.1007/s00338-025-02736-4
Two decades of coral carbonate production within and across geomorphic zones
Funding
Current funding
- 2024 - 2026
Understanding the threats to the endangered seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, in south-east Queensland
Threatened Species Research Grants
Open grant - 2023 - 2026
Developing capability to assess live coral cover and seagrass species using satellite based hyperspectral imagery
SmartSat CRC
Open grant - 2023 - 2026
The Lott Support Seagrass - Coral Monitoring
Golden Casket Lottery Corporation Ltd
Open grant - 2023 - 2026
Robust citizen science for reef habitat assessment in support of management
Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited
Past funding
- 2023 - 2025
Delivery of a 3D live habitat map for the full extent of the Great Barrier Reef (Phase Two)
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Open grant - 2023 - 2025
Locating Unidentified Reef and Habitat Features in the Northern Australian Seascape
Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited
Open grant - 2023
Impact and Recovery Mapping of Tongan Coral Reefs Based on Satellite Imagery
The University of Queensland in America, Inc
Open grant - 2023 - 2024
Improving data on the distribution and ecological value of temperate subtidal seagrass in tayaritja (Furneaux Group of Islands), Tasmania
University of Tasmania
Open grant - 2022 - 2024
Indo Pacific Seagrass Mapping
CSIRO
Open grant - 2022 - 2024
Westport: Benthic Habitat Mapping (WAMSI project administered by UWA)
University of Western Australia
Open grant - 2020 - 2023
Project ARK: Generating critical knowledge to support resilience-based management of Lady Elliot Island (Great Barrier Reef Foundation project administered by The University of the Sunshine Coast)
University of the Sunshine Coast
Open grant - 2020 - 2022
Allen Global Coral Atlas - Phase 2 (Vulcan Inc. funding administered by Great Barrier Reef Foundation)
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Open grant - 2019 - 2020
GBRF Habitat Mapping support
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Open grant - 2019 - 2021
Delivery of a 3D live habitat map for the full extent of the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Open grant - 2018
Desktop Analysis Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program (RimRep): Technical Innovation
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Open grant - 2018 - 2021
Global Dynamic Coral Reef Map
Vulcan Inc
Open grant - 2016 - 2018
Delivering a reef resilience plan for the Cairns management area through an integrated spatial decision support environment
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Open grant - 2015 - 2016
Marine plant habitat survey and monitoring program
Griffith University
Open grant - 2015 - 2016
Great Barrier Reef common 'live' habitat maps: Capricorn pilot
Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Open grant - 2014
Development of new capabilities in Earth System monitoring
UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Open grant - 2013 - 2016
Seagrass connectivity, community composition and growth: attributes of a resilient Great Barrier Reef (led by JCU)
James Cook University
Open grant - 2012 - 2014
Seagrass as an ecological indicator: resolving challenges of scale and complexity
UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
Open grant - 2011 - 2013
Integration of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remote Satellite Sensing for Automated and Persistent Monitoring
CSIRO Flagships Collaboration Fund
Open grant - 2008
Benthic Habitat Mapping of Aitutaki Reef, Cook Islands
South Pacific Applied Geosciences Committee (SOPAC)
Open grant - 2008
International evaluation of algorithms for mapping in optically shallow waters
ARC Linkage International
Open grant - 2004 - 2007
Conserving the Marine Biodiversity of Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands
MacArthur Foundation (John & Catherine MacArthur)
View all 22 past funded projects View less
Supervision
Availability
Associate Professor Chris Roelfsema is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
-
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
Read more Read less - #### 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:
Read more Read less - #### 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
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Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Hyperspectral Earth Observation to monitor seagrass species and live coral
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 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
##### Tectonic Geomorphology of the Great Barrier Reef: the contribution of geological structures to reef growth and geomorphology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Dr Daniel Harris - Doctor Philosophy
##### Using coral reef condition indicators for more effective protected area planning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Carissa Klein, Professor Hugh Possingham - Doctor Philosophy
##### A spatial and temporal assessment of coral sediment thresholds in Moreton Bay
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicola Browne - 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
##### Sustaining Life on Pacific Atoll Islands in the Face of Accelerating Coastal Change: Insights from 3D 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
##### Understanding the highly complex visual systems of seahorses and implications for conservation measures.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Wen-Sung Chung, Associate Professor Karen Cheney - Doctor Philosophy
##### Genomic signatures of adaptation across coral reef seascapes: linking geography, environment, and evolutionary processes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cynthia Riginos - 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
View all 11 current supervisions View less
Completed supervision
- 2022
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2014
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Alistair Grinham, Professor Stuart Phinn - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg - 2020
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2019
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2019
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ammar Abdul Aziz, Professor Stuart Phinn - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Iraphne Childs, Professor Stuart Phinn - 2016
Doctor Philosophy
##### Parameterization of bottom spectral reflectance for shallow water ocean color inversion models
Associate Advisor - 2015
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn, Professor Catherine Lovelock - 2013
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2012
Master Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn - 2011
Master Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Stuart Phinn
View all 13 completed supervisions View less
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
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:
External profiles
Personal links
- Personal profile
- ResearchGate
- Research focus
- UQ Research with Impact
- Remote Sensing Toolkit
- Google Scholar
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science
- Centre of Marine Science
- Heron Island Research Station
- Mapping Global Coral Reefs
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Social media
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