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Topics Webinar | Leveraging Earth Observation for Assessing Climate Change Impact in the Arctic: Insights and Innovations from the EO-PERSIST Project

Part of the MDPI Topics Webinars series
4 Mar 2025, 16:00 (CET)

Registration Deadline
4 March 2025

EO-PERSIST, Arctic Region, Permafrost, Earth Observation, MSCA Staff Exchanges
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Welcome from the Chair

Permafrost plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate system, storing vast amounts of carbon and influencing ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. However, as the climate warms, permafrost has begun to thaw at an accelerated rate, creating significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. In this webinar, we will explore the critical role of Earth Observation (EO) technologies in monitoring and understanding permafrost changes. From satellite imagery to remote sensing techniques, EO provides valuable, real-time data that help researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders track permafrost dynamics, assess risks, and develop strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Join us to learn how cutting-edge EO innovations are advancing the science of permafrost monitoring and shaping the future of Arctic sustainability. To this end, key research findings will be presented from EO-PERSIST, an EU-funded project that aims to develop a cloud-based platform for mapping the socio-economic impacts of climate change in the Arctic regions.

Date: 04 March, 2025
Time: : 4:00 p.m. CET | 10:00 a.m. EST | 11:00 p.m. CST
Webinar ID: 826 0289 7331
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com

Event Chair

Department of Geography, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.

Introduction
Bio
Dr. George P. Petropoulos (PhD, King’s College London, UK) is an Assistant Professor in Geoinformatics within the Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece. His research focuses on the exploitation of technologically advanced EO sensors and synergistic multi-sensor EO modeling and GIS geospatial techniques to obtain spatiotemporal estimates of key state variables characterizing land surface processes. He is the author/co-author of, so far, over 110 peer reviewed journal articles and over 30 book chapters, and he is the editor/co-editor of six books published by both Elsevier and Taylor & Francis. He has developed fruitful collaborations with key scientists in his area of specialization globally, and his research and teaching work has received international recognition via several significant awards he has obtained. His research profile is available at the following link: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=Boe7HJcAAAAJ&hl=en

Invited Speakers

Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest.

Introduction
Talk
Mapping Permafrost Thawing: Impacts on Landscapes and Ecosystem Using Earth Observation
Bio
Ionuț Șandric is an Associated Professor within the Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest. He is an experienced scientist with a demonstrated history of working in the computer software industry. He is a strong information technology professional skilled in GIS application, uncertainty analysis, spatial analysis, Earth observation, Python programming, and spatial modeling. His research is focused on the monitoring and modeling of natural hazards using artificial intelligence, drones, and satellite imagery.
Research Keywords
GIS, Natural Hazards, Remote Sensing, Drones, Environmental Science, Deep Learning, Space-Time Analyses, Spatial-Temporal Modelling, Uncertainty Propagation

Department of Geography, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.

Introduction
Talk
Some First Observations Related to Socioeconomic Impacts Assessment Related to Thawing Permafrost
Bio
Nikolina Myofa is a postdoctoral researcher. She holds a PhD in Social Urban Geography from Harokopio University. Her research thesis concerns the socio-spatial development of two Athenian neighborhoods with social housing estates, Dourgouti and Tavros. She has published papers in peer reviewed international scientific journals, conference proceedings, and scientific web pages. Her research focuses on the issues of housing, housing inequalities, segregation, housing policies, the study of socio-spatial developments in urban space, as well as thematic cartography.
Research Keywords
Housing, Housing Policy, Social Segregation, Social Geography, Cartography

Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece.

Introduction
Talk
Presentation Title: Monitoring Arctic Coastal Properties Using Geoinformatics
Bio
Spyridon E. Detsikas is a graduate of the Department of Geography of Harokopio University and a graduate of the Department of Natural Resource Utilization and Agricultural Engineering of the Agricultural University of Athens (Integrated Master). His research focuses on the use of geoinformatics and geospatial data analysis techniques in soil and environmental applications. Despite being in the early stage of his career, he has so far authored 10+ book chapters, 5+ articles in international journals and 15+ conference presentations. He has extensive experience in 5+ research projects funded by EU and national funding agencies from researcher and project management roles. Additional information about his research interests and outputs is available in his Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cc44asIAAAAJ&hl=en.
Research Keywords
Soil Modeling, Soil Spectroscopy, Data Analysis

National Technical University of Athens, Remote Sensing Laboratory, Greece.

Introduction
Talk
SAR and Passive Microwave Observations and Modeling Tools for Monitoring Soil Freeze/Thaw Dynamics and Snow Cover Properties in Northern Environments
Bio
Kleanthis Karamvasis is a postdoctoral researcher at the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the National University of Athens. He has participated in several EU-funded research projects and has professional experience in both industry and academia. His expertise includes working with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for various applications, such as detecting land deformation in cultural heritage and Arctic regions, delineating flooded areas, and estimating soil moisture.
Research Keywords
Deep Learning, Groundwater, Remote Sensing, Security, InSAR, Time Series

Research Scientist, Earth Observation Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland.

Introduction
Talk
SAR and Passive Microwave Observations and Modeling Tools for Monitoring Soil Freeze/Thaw Dynamics and Snow Cover Properties in Northern Environments
Bio
Juval Cohen received his D.Sc. (Tech) degree in Geoinformatics in 2020 from Aalto University, School of Engineering, Espoo, Finland. He is currently a research scientist in the Earth Observation Research unit of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. His main research field is the influence of boreal forest canopy on the remote sensing signal for SAR, optical, and passive microwave sensors. The emphasis of his research is on SAR applications, such as soil freeze/thaw detection and flood mapping in the boreal region. His tasks at FMI also include conducting quality assessments and evaluating new SAR satellite instruments, as well as the building of operational processing chains for remote sensing end-products utilizing different GIS software. During his work at FMI, he has developed satellite SAR-based operational products for the near-real-time monitoring of soil freeze/thaw state and floods.
Research Keywords
remote sensing of snow, forests and floods

Program

Speaker/Presentation

Time in CEST/CET

Time in EST

Dr. George P. Petropoulos

Chair Introduction

4:00 - 4:10 pm

10:00 - 10:10 am

Dr. Ionut Sandric

Mapping Permafrost Thawing: Impacts on Landscapes and Ecosystem Using Earth Observation

4:10 - 4:30 pm

10:10 - 10:30 am

Dr. Nikolina Myofa

Assessing the Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Change in the Arctic: Insights from the EO-PERSIST Project

4:30 - 4:50 pm

10:30 - 10:50 am

Mr. Spyridon E. Detsikas

Monitoring Arctic Coastal Properties Using Geoinformatics

4:50 - 5:10 pm

10:50 - 11:10 am

Mr. Kleanthis Karamvasis

SAR and Passive Microwave Observations and Modeling Tools for Monitoring Soil Freeze/Thaw Dynamics and Snow Cover Properties in Northern Environments

5:10 - 5:30 pm

11:10 - 11:30 am

Mr. Juval Cohen

SAR and Passive Microwave Observations and Modeling Tools for Monitoring Soil Freeze/Thaw Dynamics and Snow Cover Properties in Northern Environments

5:30 - 5:50 pm

11:30 - 11:50 am

Q&A Session

5:50 - 6:20 pm

11:50 - 12:20 pm

Chair

Closing of Webinar

6:20 - 6:30 pm

12:20 - 12:30 pm

Registration

This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar.  Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.


Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Relevant Special Issues and Papers

Environmental Monitoring Based on Remote Sensing, Earth Observation and Geoinformation
Edited by Dr. George P. Petropoulos, Prof. Dr. Daniela Silva-Fuzzo, Prof. Dr. Nikos Koutsias, and Prof. Dr. Yansong Bao
Deadline for submission: 29 July, 2025

Quantifying Soil Erosion Processes Using Satellite Data: Progress and Perspectives
Edited by Prof. Dr. Arjun Heimsath
Deadline for submission: 26 April 2025

Open-Source Geoinformation Software Tools in Environmental Modelling
Edited by Dr. George P. Petropoulos, Dr. Prashant Srivastava, and Prof. Dr. Daniela Silva-Fuzzo
Deadline for submission: 31 July 2025

Aerial and Drone LiDAR Data for Geomorphological Mapping, Landform Extraction and Landscape Evolution
Edited by Dr. Dario Gioia, Dr. Nicodemo Abate, Dr. Giuseppe Corrado, Dr. Antonio Minervino Amodio, Prof. Marcello Schiattarella

Segment Anything Model Can Not Segment Anything: Assessing AI Foundation Model’s Generalizability in Permafrost Mapping
Authors: Li, W.; Hsu, C.-Y.; Wang, S.; Yang, Y.; Lee, H.; Liljedahl, A.; Witharana, C.; Yang, Y.; Rogers, B.M.; Arundel, S.T.; et al
Remote Sens. 2024, 16, 797. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16050797

New Method for Hydraulic Characterization of Variably Saturated Zone in Peatland-Dominated Permafrost Mires
Authors: Lakshmiprasad, R.B.; Peth, S.; Woche, S.K.; Graf,Land 2024, 13, 1990. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13121990

Assessment of Ecosystem Service Value in Response to LULC Changes Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case Study in the Merbil Wetland of the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India.
Authors: Lahon, D.; Sahariah, D.; Debnath, J.; Nath, N.; Meraj, G.; Kumar, P.; Hashimoto, S.; Farooq, M.ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2023, 12, 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi12040165

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