MAKS Research Seminar: Airborne and spaceborne lidar for ecosystem structure monitoring: Availability, usability, and perspectives
Event: MAKS Research Seminar: Airborne and spaceborne lidar for ecosystem structure monitoring: Availability, usability, and perspectives
Date: Friday 17 April 2026
Time: 12:15-13:15
Venue: MKS414, Level 4, MAKS Building, Msida Campus, University of Malta
Abstract:
Ecosystem structure is an Essential Biodiversity Variable class, encompassing variables used to monitor the cover, distribution, and vertical profile of living organisms. In terrestrial ecosystems, vegetation structure is one of the key components. Vegetation structure plays a crucial role in modulating multiple ecosystem processes. In particular, it regulates energy flow, water cycling, carbon sequestration, and primary productivity. Furthermore, vegetation structure creates unique habitats that support the coexistence of species. The prevailing theory is that structurally complex vegetation stands are more effective at optimizing the incoming light and water resources, leading to better carbon assimilation, and that they provide a greater number of ecological niches, thereby enhancing biodiversity.
Therefore, consistent data on vegetation structure are essential for understanding the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and for informing various science-policy interfaces. Over the last 30 years, we have witnessed significant technological advancements in remote sensing methods, along with a growing demand for high-resolution data to capture and analyse vegetation structure. In particular, Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) sensors onboard planes and spaceborne missions have played a key role in addressing knowledge gaps, providing a way to map vegetation structure from local to global scales. Lidar data have been applied in multiple ways, including mapping canopy height and cover, modelling biodiversity, assessing forest carbon stocks, and informing conservation and restoration planning, demonstrating their practical usability for ecological research and environmental management.
However, the actual availability, accessibility, and accuracy of such data remain critical concerns. Do current datasets meet the required demands in terms of spatial and temporal scales, are they readily accessible to users, and are they sufficient to capture the complexity of vegetation structure and its changes? Looking forward, ongoing developments in lidar remote sensing, combined with data integration approaches across Europe and beyond, hold the potential to considerably improve the quality of ecosystem monitoring and provide new opportunities for research, policy, and practical applications.
Programme:
12:15 Airborne and spaceborne lidar for ecosystem structure monitoring: Availability, usability, and perspectives
Speaker: Dr VítÄ›zslav Moudrý, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague
Hosted by the Department of Cognitive Science, MAKS
13:00 Q & A session/informal discussion
Admission is free, but kindly reserve a place by sending an email.
Speaker's Profile:
Dr VítÄ›zslav Moudrý is an ecologist with strong focus on the quality, reliability, and practical usability of spatial data for addressing contemporary environmental challenges. He received his PhD in Applied and Landscape Ecology from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague in 2012.
His research focuses on modelling species–environment relationships to better understand patterns and drivers of biodiversity across spatial scales. He advances the methodological foundations of ecological modelling by integrating remote sensing data and applying virtual ecology to develop and evaluate macroecological approaches. A complementary line of his research addresses human-altered landscapes, particularly post-mining environments, where he applies remote sensing and spatial modelling to support ecological restoration and assess recovery trajectories.
In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on the use of airborne and spaceborne remote sensing for measuring and modelling terrain and vegetation structure, with particular emphasis on laser altimetry. He is particularly engaged in improving the accessibility of airborne laser scanning data across Europe, contributing to their integration at the continental scale and enabling large-scale ecosystem monitoring.
In addition to his research activities, he teaches geographic information systems, laser altimetry, and global navigation satellite systems.
