UMD globe logo with text reading 'International GeoCenter'

ABOUT US

We are an international consortium of leaders in earth observation and geoinformatics dedicated to advancing knowledge of our changing planet. We pursue interdisciplinary research and development, spanning mission design to launch, encompassing instrument and algorithm development, advanced geospatial data analysis, and data assimilation and prediction, to develop applications in earth system science for societal benefit. We innovate in cutting-edge techniques designed to monitor and model Earth’s environment through global collaboration and excellence in both research and teaching.

MISSION:  Our mission is to advance the development and application of remote sensing and geospatial technology and analysis, through international collaboration, innovation and education. 

VISION: Global leadership in remote sensing and geospatial technologies for societal benefit and environmental sustainability.

FULFILLING OUR VISION AND ACHIEVING OUR MISSION: The International Center for Innovation in Geospatial Analytics and Earth Observation (International GEO Center) will support the development and exploitation of both remote sensing and geospatial information science through computation, data science, and technology to advance knowledge of Earth’s environment, while simultaneously inspiring the next generation of global leaders in earth observation and geospatial analysis.

DIRECTOR: Ralph Dubayah

CONTACT:  Email geog-intgeocenter [at] umd.edu


 

CENTER ANNOUNCES GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS TO FOSTER INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

The International GEO Center is offering fellowships to support graduate student travel to foster international collaboration. The fellowships will be awarded to GEOG students working in the areas of Earth Observations and Geospatial Analysis. This fellowship is intended for supporting a short-term collaborative opportunity in summer 2023.

To be considered for the fellowship, students need to –

  • Identify the institute they would like to visit, the approximate duration of the visit, the proposed host they will collaborate with and submit a one page proposal about the work they would like to accomplish during their visit
  • Email confirmation from the student’s advisor at UMD including the goals of the collaborative research will be needed with the application

This award is intended for travel and housing support for a student’s international collaboration. It cannot be used to attend conferences. It can be used to supplement other travel awards or fellowships. The International GEO Center will support travel and accommodation up to a total of $ 5000. There are a total of 4 awards available.

Please submit your applications with the Subject 'Graduate Travel Fellowship' to geog-intgeocenter [at] umd.edu by December 5th 2022 to be considered for the fellowship. Once selected we will need confirmation from the host agreeing to the visit.

 


PAST CENTER ACTIVITIES

Quantitative Remote Sensing Summer School

The International GEO Center is organizing a Quantitative Remote Sensing Summer School
from July 5 - 13, 2022, in collaboration with the School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering of
Wuhan University, the Quantitative Remote Sensing Research Center of Wuhan University, and the
Department of Geography at the University of Hong Kong.

The summer school will be held in both Chinese and English, featuring talks by global experts in remote
sensing. The talks will focus on quantitative remote sensing theories and methods, recent advances in
research and applications covering a range of topics including atmospheric remote sensing, land cover
mapping, agricultural monitoring, remote sensing of fires, vegetation monitoring, hydrological remote
sensing, and big data processing.

Topic: International Quantitative Remote Sensing Summer School July5-13 2022

When: July 5 - July 13, 2022
Talks in English: 8:00 – 10:35 AM US EDT/ 1:00 – 3:35 PM UK Time/ 8:00 – 10:35 PM China Time

Some English talks are at 9:00 PM US EDT!
 
Registration: is Free.
Please fill out this form.
The Summer School Program is listed below!

Where: Online 

PREFERRED BACKGROUND:
· Graduate students and early career researchers in geospatial sciences /remote sensing or with related
research experience
· Undergraduate students who have completed coursework related to remote sensing or have familiarity
with satellite data and image processing 
· Interest in state-of-art quantitative remote sensing techniques
 
Please register to receive updates!

 

International Quantitative Remote Sensing Summer School Program (US Eastern Time)

 

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

08:00 - 08:15

Opening Ceremony

08:15 - 09:25

Remote sensing of vegetation phenology

Lars Eklundh, Lund University, Sweden

21:00 - 22:10

Atmospheric Correction of Optical Remote Sensing Data

Yong Xue, China Univ. of Mining and Tech., China

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

 

08:00 - 09:15

Morning Session Talks

Deep learning for remote sensing

Nikolai Kalischek, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

09:20 - 10:35

Landsat and Sentinel-2 analysis ready data

Hankui Zhang, South Dakota State University, USA

21:00 - 22:10

Incorporating global 3D canopy structure for terrestrial ecosystem monitoring- a user guide of GEDI

Hao Tang, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Thursday, July 7, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

Remote sensing of seasonal snow

Steven Hancock, The University of Edinburgh, UK

09:20 - 10:35

Multi-wavelength Aerosol Lidar for Characterizing Atmospheric Pollution: 25 Years of Progress

Detlef Mueller, Wuhan University, China

 

21:00 - 22:10

Leveraging geospatial big data and interdisciplinary approaches in urban environmental studies

Bin Chen, University of Hong Kong, HK China

Friday, July 8, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

Monitoring Vegetation in a Changing World

Aleixandre Verger, Spanish National Research Council, Spain

09:20 - 10:35

UMD GLAD land cover monitoring products

Alexandra Tyukavina, University of Maryland, USA

Saturday, July 9, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

Vegetation remote sensing and terrestrial carbon cycle estimation

Jing. M. Chen, University of Toronto, Canada

09:20 - 10:35

Integrating radar and optical data for monitoring urban development

Hongsheng Zhang, University of Hong Kong, HK China

Sunday, July 10, 2022

09:20 - 10:35

Surface Temperature from Satellite: From Algorithms to Applications

Jose Sobrino, University of Valencia, Spain

Monday, July 11, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

Remote Sensing of Fire

Joanne Hall, University of Maryland, USA

09:20 - 10:35

Human-induced Global Land Change

Xiaopeng Song, University of Maryland, USA

21:00 - 22:10

Soil moisture microwave remote sensing

Jiancheng Shi, National Space Science Center, China

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

Passive/active microwave remote sensing and vegetation monitoring from VOD indices

Jean-Pierre Wigneron, The National Institute for Agricultural Research, France

09:20 - 10:35

Agriculture monitoring with remote sensing

Sergii Skakun, University of Maryland, USA

22:20 - 23:30

Vegetation index measures, theory, applications and controversies

Alfredo Huete, University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

08:00 - 09:15

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation - Mission and Science Overview

Ralph Dubayah, University of Maryland, USA

09:20 - 10:35

Estimation of surface downward shortwave radiation

Dongdong Wang, University of Maryland, USA

10:35 - 11:00

Closing Ceremony