UASUV 2017 Med Unmanned Vehicles Technology | Page 41

Dr. Κonstantinos TOPOUZELIS
Asst. Professor in Marine Remote Sensing Research Group,
University of the Aegean
Dr. Konstantinos Topouzelis holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies (University of the
Aegean, Department of Environment), a Master's degree in Remote Sensing (University of Dundee,
Department of Applied Physics & Mechanical Engineering) and a Ph.D. in pollution monitoring from
space (National Technical University of Athens, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering). Currently he
is an assistant professor in the Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean and he is
leading the Marine Remote Sensing Group.
His main research interest is on the analysis of remote sensing datasets, including satellite and aerial
images, for marine and coastal applications. His expertise includes automatic detection of
oceanographic phenomena, Object Based Image Analysis, image processing algorithms and coastal
mapping.
He is an author of several refereed papers in international scientific journals, member of editorial board
of Mediterranean Marine Science Journal, referee in several scientific journals and principal investigator
in international research projects. Prior to his academic career he worked for the European Commission
Joint Research Centre, ISPRA, Italy and in Greek private sector.
"UAS applications in coastal areas"
Traditionally spatiotemporal changes in coastal environments are monitored using high resolution
satellite images and manned surveys. The last years, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are used as
additional tool for monitoring environmental phenomena is sensitive coastal areas.
The Marine Remote Sensin g Group (MRSG) at the University of the Aegean conducts research for the
exploration, analysis and visualization of the satellite and UAV data in the coastal environment.
We combine state of the art algorithms and in situ measurements to develop new methods,
technologies and products for the visual representation of the marine geospatial infornation. The group
has gain expertise in several disciplines of marine remote sensing including oceanic phenomena
identification, seagrass mapping, coastal bathymetry and coastline detection.
The MRSG is equipped with six autonomous unmanned aerial platforms.
Aerial systems are able to collect spatial data carrying payloads such as small spectrophotometers,
optical or multispectral sensors and thermal cameras.
Recent published work of the MRSG are associated with marine habitats mapping, port surveying,
identifying beach zones and detecting marine litter due to migratory flows on Lesvos island.