Between September 29 and October 31, 2025, researcher Tomáš Klouček spent a productive month at the Technical University of Dresden (TUD), working with the Environmental Remote Sensing Group led by Prof. Dr. Matthias Forkel. His stay was part of the project “Building Bridges between Earth Observation and Environmental Sciences” and aimed to strengthen international collaboration in environmental monitoring.
The main goal of the visit was to finalize a scientific manuscript focused on monitoring light pollution in European national parks using data from the VIIRS Day/Night Band (DNB) satellite instrument. Working closely with Dr. David Moravec and Dr. Christopher Marrs, Tomáš refined analytical methods and corrected a previously unnoticed error affecting several Northern European national parks. This collaboration not only improved the scientific accuracy of the study but also enhanced the clarity and readability of the manuscript—thanks in part to linguistic support from Dr. Marrs.
During his stay, Tomáš also presented his complementary research on early detection of bark beetle infestations in forests using RGB, multispectral, and thermal imagery from UAVs. The presentation sparked lively discussion among group members and visiting scholars, setting the stage for future cooperation on thermal UAV monitoring of forest water deficits.
The exchange proved invaluable for both Tomáš’s research and career development. It strengthened his technical expertise, expanded his academic network, and opened new avenues for interdisciplinary projects linking satellite and UAV data for environmental applications.
The next steps include submitting the light pollution manuscript to a high-impact scientific journal and sharing the processed datasets with the research community. Looking forward, continued collaboration between the Czech University of Life Sciences and TU Dresden promises further advances in remote sensing for environmental protection.
“This research exchange truly bridged science and collaboration,” Tomáš reflected. “It not only improved my work but also built lasting partnerships for future projects.”
