TIE Events
Time: 15:45-17:00
Location: Plaza Auditorium
Great Barrier Reef: Innovative Methods and Partnerships for Climate Change Resilience
Event Code - TIE.01
Event Description: The rate of environmental change that is occurring from the enhanced greenhouse effect warming our world challenges the adaptive capacity of many species. Coral reefs are particularly susceptible ecosystems given that they are built by animals reliant on symbiosis with an alga whose thermal tolerance is limited. Many coral reefs around the world are experiencing severe decline. The Great Barrier Reef is better placed than most reef systems in that it spans more than 14 degrees of latitude and hence a range of climatic zones. But the frequency, severity, and geographical expanse of episodes of coral bleaching is increasing and challenging the reef's capacity to adapt and to retain the biodiversity for which it is renowned.
In this session, you will hear about the efforts underway to assist the Great Barrier Reef to survive climate change through an innovative suite of methodologies to build more resilient reefs. From the government funded R&D of the Reef Restoration & Adaptation Program to the grassroots efforts of our charity partner, Resilient Reefs Foundation, you will hear the thinking behind the various approaches and the value of working together.
Panelist:
- Ryan Donnelly, Resilient Reefs Foundation
- Cameron Bee, Resilient Reefs Foundation
- Ben Moshirian, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Time: 08:00-09:15
Location: Plaza Auditorium
How Does Australia Prepare for the Next Generation of EO Technologies?
Event Code - TIE.02
Event Description: This town hall style session at IGARRS will serve as an essential forum for discussing the benefits and opportunities offered by the Australia-United States Partnership in Landsat Next. With Sally Jensen, Director, Data Acquisition Planning Strategy at Geoscience Australia leading the session, attendees will be guided through an exploration of this pioneering collaboration.
The Landsat Next initiative represents a significant leap forward in Earth observation technology, promising enhanced capabilities for monitoring and managing our planet's resources. This session will delve into the technical advancements underpinning Landsat Next, including improved spatial resolution, more frequent revisit times, and the expanded range of spectral bands. These innovations are poised to provide unprecedented insights into environmental changes, agricultural trends, urban development, and natural disaster impacts enabling improved decision-making by governments and industry.
Ms Jensen, with her extensive experience in remote sensing and Earth sciences, will lead a panel discussion on how Landsat Next can be leveraged for scientific research, policy-making, and commercial applications. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how this partnership can drive innovation across disciplines, foster international collaboration, and support sustainable development goals.
Through a Q&A session, participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts, share their insights, and explore potential collaborations. This town hall aims to not only highlight the technical achievements of Landsat Next but also to inspire a collective vision for how these advancements can be harnessed to benefit the global community.
Join us for an engaging and informative session that promises to illuminate the future of Earth observation and the pivotal role of the Landsat Next partnership in shaping it.
Moderator: Leyla Alpaslan, Branch Head, Digital Earth, Geoscience Australia
Panelist:
- Sally Jensen, Director, Data Acquisition Planning Strategy, Geoscience Australia
- Sebastian Robertson, CEO, Birdi, and President of Earth Observation Australia
- Dr Marta Yebra, Professor in Environment and Engineering, Australian National University
- Dr Alisa Starkey, Chief Science Officer, Ozius
- Dr Fang Yuan, Earth Observation Technical Lead & Insights Team Lead, FrontierSI
Time: 10:30-11:45
Location: Plaza Auditorium
Earth Observation Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific Pacific Island Nations Initiatives
Event Code - TIE.03
Event Description: Pacific Island nations face unique and urgent sustainability challenges in the context of climate change, environmental vulnerability, and geographic isolation. This session will explore how Earth observation science, technologies and data are being applied across the Pacific region to support progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Bringing together five leading scholars and practitioners including Pacific Island representatives this panel will explore the intersection between Earth observation and wicked policy problems. It will provide real-world examples from Pacific region case studies highlighting how satellite imagery, geospatial data, and remote sensing are being used to address issues such as coastal resilience, food and water security, disaster response, biodiversity monitoring, and climate adaptation.
Following brief individual opening statements, the panel will engage in a moderated conversation examining cross-cutting themes such as data accessibility, Indigenous knowledge integration, capacity building, and regional collaboration and how public policy can be better informed by science. Audience members will be invited to contribute questions and reflections during an open Q&A session.
This session aims to foster greater international awareness and collaboration around the innovative use of Earth observation for sustainable development in the Pacific, and to elevate the voices and leadership of Pacific Island researchers in global geoscience discourse. Its lessons also extend beyond the Pacific experience to other island-based communities and opportunities and challenges when applying scientific applications to solve problems of development generally.
Moderator: Mr Alex Leith, Executive Director Auspatious, Treasurer - Earth Observation Australia
Panelist:
- Professor Brian Head, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland. Advisor to UNESCO.
- Professor Yukihiro Takahashi, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hokkaido University. Immediate Past President, Japan Geoscience Union
- Assoc. Professor Anthony Rea, RMIT University
- Ms Salote Covilati, Technical Assistant, Pacific Geospatial Women Network
- Ms Carrol Chan, PhD Candidate University of Newcastle, Co-Founder OSMFiji
Time: 13:15-14:30
Location: Plaza Auditorium
Quantum Technology for Remote Sensing
Event Code - TIE.04
Event Description: Quantum Sensing is an emerging sensing modality that uses quantum properties of mater and light---namely, quantum superposition, measurement, and entanglement---to achieve unprecedented measurement sensitivity and performance, including quantum-enhanced methodologies that outperform their classical counterparts. Typical quantum sensors exploit techniques such as quantized energy levels in atomic systems, mater waves, quantum entanglement, superposition of quantum states, quantum illumination methods, and manipulation of photons and atoms, in general. Guided by advancements in our ability to generate, manipulate, and control quantum systems, the emerging quantum sensing technologies promise unrivalled sensitivity, resolution, and precision, potentially leading to game-changing applications. Significant gains include technologies important for a range of NASA, Department of Defense, National Reconnaissance Organization, and United States Space Force missions such as timing, remote sensing, in situ measurements, metrology, interferometry, quantum communication, ranging, imaging, radar and lidar receivers, and gravity measurements.
This Technology, Industry and Education (TIE) session will bring together a panel of experts from industry, academia, and government, to brainstorm with the IGARSS attendees on the potential of Quantum Sensing in the near and far terms. After some brief remarks by the panel members, questions from the moderator, the audience will engage with the panel members in an open question and answer session to explore the current state of the art in quantum sensing and the potential for revolutionary gains in the performance of various sensor types.
Organizer and Moderator: Aaron Strangfeld, ESTEC, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands
Panelists:
- Dr Sristri Agrawal, CEO and Founder, Mesa Quantum, USA
- Prof. Mathias Weigelt, The German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Dr. Russell Anderson, Head of Quantum Sensing, Q-CTRL, Australia
- Prof. Rainer Dumke, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore (TBC)
Time: 8:00-9:15
Location: Meeting Room Plaza 5 - P5
Entrepreneurship Workshop Part 1: Accelerate Your Geospatial Startup
Event Code - TIE.05
Event Description: The runway to start a successful business is shorter than ever due to rapidly evolving technology and changing marketplace conditions. This panel will help you take your idea for a new geospatial business, product, or service from concept to success as quickly as possible. Our panel of geospatial entrepreneurs will discuss their startup journeys, including how to seek funding, choose a business incubator or accelerator, and implement the right go-to-market strategy. The session will include Q and A between panelists and attendees. After a coffee break, attendees will have a chance to discuss their geospatial startup ideas one on one with our expert panelists.
Moderators: Kevin Corbley, President, Corbley Communications Inc. USA
Panelists:
- Dr Alisa Starkey, Director/Chief Science Officer at Ozius Pty Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia
- Awais Ahmed, CEO/Founder of Pixxel in Bengaluru, India
- Rakshit Bhatt, VP/Co-Founder of GalaxEye in Chennai, India
- Dr Shawana Johnson*, President of Global Marketing Insights, Brecksville, OH, USA
*Dr Johnson will add to the startup journey theme by discussing how international geospatial organizations can engage in business with the US Government.
Time: 10:30-11:45
Location: Plaza Auditorium
Advances and applications in Earth Observation for SDG.
Accelerating Earth Intelligence in the context of GEO
Event Code - TIE.06
Event Description: This Technology, Industry and Education (TIE) session will bring together GRSS and GEO experts from industry, academia, and user communities to brainstorm with the IGARSS attendees and Asia-Pacific stakeholders on how today's advancements in Geosciences, Earth Observation and AI provide sufficient level of support to GEO Work Program priorities specifically in the monitoring and implementation of SDGs. Emphasis is placed on key synergies between GRSS and GEO at regional and global level and the support provided to GEO Working Groups to address challenges in Capacity Building and development of solutions for accelerating applications in the global scale.
Speakers will highlight:
- The Digital Earth Pacific
- Australian perspectives in GEO
- The Earth Observation for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) GEO Cross-Cutting Enabler and the role of GRSS Remote Sensing Environment, Analysis and Climate Technologies (REACT) Technical Committee in supporting it
- The Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observation (AI4EO) GEO Cross-Cutting Enabler and synergies with GRSS Image Analysis and Data Fusion (IADF) Technical Committee
- GRSS contributions in education and capacity building for GEO and the GEO-CRADLE enabling mechanism
- The GRSS Education portfolio in GEO. Fostering AI4EO literacy and education for qualifying scientists in using Earth Intelligence
Moderators:
- Dr. Haris Kontoes, National Observatory of Athens, GRSS GEO Principal, EuroGEO Action Group Coordinator, Greece
- Prof. Megan Lewis, Australian Co-Chair, Coordination Board, Asia Oceania Group on Earth Observations
Panelists:
- Dr Haris Kontoes, National Observatory of Athens, GRSS GEO Principal, EuroGEO Action Group Coordinator, Greece
- Andiswa Mlisa, Programme Manager, Digital Earth Pacific, Pacific Community (SPC)
- Prof Megan Lewis, Australian Co-Chair, Coordination Board, Asia Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO)
- Prof Dr Irena Hajnsek, Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
- Prof Yifang Ban, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden & Lead, GEO AI4EO
- Assoc Prof Claudio Persello, University of Twente, Netherlands
- Alexia Tsouni, National Observatory of Athens, Greece
- Assoc Prof Carlos Lopez Martinez, BarcelonaTech (UPC), Spain
Time: 10:30-11:45
Location: Meeting Room Plaza 5 - P5
Entrepreneurship Workshop Part 2: Geospatial Business Brainstorming
Event Code - TIE.07
Event Description: Do you have an idea for a Geospatial business, product, or service but don't know how to get started? This session is for you. Attendees will have 10 minutes of confidential one-on-one time to share their idea with experts from the Entrepreneurship Workshop panel held earlier in the morning. These entrepreneurs will offer their advice on the next steps that should be taken to turn your business idea into reality. Signups will held during the Entrepreneurship Workshop session, but walk-ins will be welcome to the Brainstorming session.
Moderator: Kevin Corbley, President, Corbley Communications Inc. USA
Moderator Bio: Kevin Corbley is the president of Corbley Communications, a strategic communications, marketing, and business development firm based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Since starting his company in 1993, Kevin has worked on the startup teams of some of the most successful organizations in the geospatial industry. These include Space Imaging, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Radarsat, and RapidEye - along with many others. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from the University of Notre Dame. He previously worked as a Capitol Hill journalist in Washington, D.C., and later led the communications activities for the U.S. Landsat program before starting Corbley Communications. For a decade, Kevin served as a judge and team advisor for one of the largest university business startup competitions in the United States.
Panelists:
- Dr Alisa Starkey, Director/Chief Science Officer at Ozius Pty Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia
- Awais Ahmed, CEO/Founder of Pixxel in Bengaluru, India
- Rakshit Bhatt, VP/Co-Founder of GalaxEye in Chennai, India
- Dr Shawana Johnson*, President of Global Marketing Insights, Brecksville, OH, USA
*Dr Johnson will add to the startup journey theme by discussing how international geospatial organizations can engage in business with the US Government.
Time: 15:45-17:00
Location: Plaza Auditorium
Crossing the Chasm: Funding of research to industry translation and its impact
Event Code - TIE.08
Event Description: This panel brings together perspectives from research and industry to explore how grants and other funding mechanisms can help move Earth observation and remote sensing innovations from research to commercial and operational reality.
Drawing on real-world experiences, the discussion will cover what it takes to build successful research - industry collaborations, secure funding for applied innovation, and navigate the path to uptake and impact. The panel will also unpack true value and impact of such funding programs - is it commercial returns, market traction, capability building, all three?
Hosted by the Queensland Earth Observation Hub - a joint initiative of the Queensland Government and SmartSat CRC - this session will highlight the role of research translation funding in supporting the growth of the EO industry through investment, collaboration, and the development of products and services with real-world impact.
Moderator: Gavin Kennedy, Co-ordinator Queensland Earth Observation Hub
Panelists:
- Jasmine Vreugdenburg, Deputy Director for Innovation, Queensland Government
- Dr Carl Seubert, Chief Research Officer, SmartSat CRC
- Mark Covington, CEO, Geoimage
- Dr Mahdiyeh Razeghi, Earth Scientist, University of Southern Queensland
Time: 10:30-11:45
Location: Plaza Auditorium
CEOS - The world's space agencies working together and with industry to serve science and society
Event Code - TIE.09
Event Description: This session introduces the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), highlighting Australia's historical, current, and future involvement and the collaborative technical advancements in global Earth observation (EO) by its member agencies.
Representatives from Australian CEOS agencies and partners, including CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and the Bureau of Meteorology, will participate in a panel and Q&A session. The session will also include brief presentations followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. It aims to foster dialogue between CEOS practitioners and the broader IGARSS community, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and innovation at the working level.
Moderator: Prof Megan Lewis, The University of Adelaide
Panelists:
- Dr Alex Held, CSIRO Chief Scientist Earth Observation and AquaWatch
- Dr Takeo Tadono, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Dr Matt Steventon, Symbios
- Dr Shaun Levick , Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
- Dr Adam Lewis, Digital Earth Africa
Time: 15:45-17:00
Location: Plaza Auditorium
IEEE GRSS Journals
Event Code - TIE.10
Event Description: This event brings attendees together with Editors-in-Chief (TGRS, GRSM, J-STARS, GRSL, J-MASS, and the GRSS Section in IEEE Access) and Associate Editors of the Society's journals to share experiences. The discussion will focus on insights from the Editors for building a successful submission roadmap, with special emphasis on reproducibility and replicability. The session will begin with presentations from each Editor-in-Chief on their respective journals, followed by an open debate where attendees can engage directly with the Editors. Additionally, we will highlight successful pathways from reviewer to Editor-in-Chief.: GRSS
Moderator: Alejandro C. Frery, Vice-President for publications, IEEE GRSS
Panelists:
- Alejandro C. Frery, Vice-President for Publications, IEEE GRSS
- Peng Ren, Plagiarism Chair, IEEE GRSS
- Luis Gomez, Future Publications Chair, IEEE GRSS
- Ronny Hänsch, Editor-in-Chief, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters (GRSL)
- Jun Li, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing (J-STARS)
- Xiuping Jia, Editor-in-Chief, Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (TGRS)
- Bill Emery, Editor-in-Chief, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine (GRSM)