ESGRS

Beyond the Fringe: Pushing the Boundaries of Precision in Earth Observation
2026-06-29 10:00 - 11:00 (Asia/Dubai) | Virtual
This webinar explores the frontiers of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth observation, moving beyond conventional InSAR to advanced techniques that redefine measurement precision. We know that multi-stack PSInSAR reveals millimeter-scale urban subsidence and structural instability, but it is less well known that SAR coherence analysis enables rapid change detection, for example in conflict and disaster zones. The session further introduces SAR geodesy for centimeter-to-decimeter absolute positioning without ground control points, showcasing the path for  enabling GCP-free mapping. This talk bridges interferometric phase analysis with precise geodetic positioning and reveals how modern SAR is transforming from a displacement tool into a comprehensive geodetic observation system.

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Prof. Timo BalzVice-Director of the International Academy of GeoInformation at Wuhan UniversityTimo Balz was born in Stuttgart, Germany. He received the Diploma degree (Dipl.-Geogr.) in geography and the Doctoral degree (Dr.-Ing.) in aerospace engineering and geodesy from the University Stuttgart, Stuttgart, in 2001 and 2007, respectively. From fall 2001 to the end of 2007, he was a Research Assistant with the Institute for Photogrammetry, University Stuttgart. Between 2004 and 2005, he was a Visiting Scholar with Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. From 2008-2010, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing (LIESMARS), Wuhan University. From 2010-2015, he was an Associate Professor for Radar Remote Sensing with LIESMARS. Since 2015, he has been a Full Professor with LIESMARS. Since 2021, he has been Vice-Director of the International Academy of GeoInformation, Wuhan University. He serves as Associate Editor for the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine and MDPI’s Remote Sensing. He is a member of the editorial board of Geo-Spatial Information Science and the Journal of Digital Earth. He is Chair of an ISPRS Commission I Working Group on SAR from 2016-2022 and again from 2022-2026. He has authored and co-authored more than 150 scientific articles in journals, books, and conference proceedings. Timo Balz’s research interests include surface motion estimation with SAR, data visualization, SAR geodesy, and SAR-optical fusion.

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Climate Change and Dust Monitoring from Space: Advancing Earth Observation for Resilience in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
2026-07-07 10:00 - 11:00
Arid and semi-arid regions are among the most vulnerable environments to climate change, land degradation, water stress, heat extremes, and atmospheric dust. This webinar will explore how satellite Earth observations, remote sensing, GIS, climate modeling, and data science can be used to monitor climate-related hazards and support evidence-based decision-making. Special attention will be given to dust dynamics, air quality, desertification, land surface changes, coastal and marine vulnerability, and the broader impacts of climate change across the MENA region.
Drawing on regional and international examples, including applications from Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean region, the presentation will highlight how space-based observations can improve our understanding of interconnected Earth system processes and support climate resilience, sustainable development, and adaptation planning. The webinar will also discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence, geospatial analytics, and integrated risk assessment in transforming satellite data into actionable knowledge for governments, researchers, and environmental decision-makers.

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Prof. Hesham El-AskaryDirector Earth Systems Science and Data Solutions Lab at Chapman UniversityProf. Hesham M. El-Askary is a Professor of Earth Systems Science and Remote Sensing at Chapman University and Director of the Earth Systems Science and Data Solutions Lab. He is also the former Vice President for Special Projects and Space Missions at the Egyptian Space Agency. Currently, he serves as an Advisor to the Director General of ICESCO, a consultant and science lead for the UN International Organization for Migration, and a consultant/advisor with UNESCO on open science and capacity-building initiatives. Prof. El-Askary is an internationally recognized Earth systems scientist with more than two decades of experience in remote sensing, Earth Observation, GIS, climate change impacts, environmental modeling, natural hazards, and data-driven solutions for sustainable development. He currently contributes to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Seventh Assessment Report cycle, with a focus on climate change impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, risk, exposure, and Mediterranean-region climate challenges. This builds on his earlier IPCC contribution to the Desertification chapter of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land. His research focuses on the use of satellite Earth observations, geospatial analytics, artificial intelligence, and environmental modeling to understand complex interactions among the atmosphere, land, water, coastal, marine, and human systems. His work has addressed sea-level rise, land degradation, desertification, drought, flash floods, air quality, dust storms, coral reefs, mangroves, renewable energy, water resources, biodiversity, and climate resilience across Egypt, the MENA region, and other vulnerable regions. Prof. El-Askary has led and contributed to major projects funded by NASA, NSF, USDA, the European Union, Horizon 2020, and regional institutions.

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