Lidar Techniques for Geoscience Applications
Professor Jeff Thayer
University of Colorado, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Dept.
Director, Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research
CTO, ASTRALiTe, Inc.
Abstract
The Active Remote Sensing Lab (ARSENL) within CU’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department has been developing, deploying, operating, and analyzing lidar systems for geoscience applications for over 13 years. Our lidar systems have been deployed to the far reaches of the planet, as well as locally in Boulder, on aircraft and more recently on unmanned aircraft systems. As a remote sensing instrument, lidar exploits light scattering characteristics to derive information about an object. We have employed Rayleigh, Mie, Raman, resonance, and polarization lidars to derive atmospheric properties, such as temperature, waves, aerosol and cloud characteristics. Recently we have explored the application of lidar for bathymetric purposes and have improved the ability to determine the bathymetry and depths of very shallow water (<5 m) with centimeter-level precision. This seminar will describe the lidar techniques we employ for geoscience applications, with specific examples of systems deployed for atmospheric and bathymetric measurements. A new venture as chief technology officer of a lidar technologies startup company will also be described and discussed.
Professional Chronology
University of Michigan (Graduate Research Associate, 1984-1990); SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (Research Physicist, 1990-1994; Senior Research Physicist, 1995-2004); University of Colorado, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, Boulder, CO (Associate Professor, tenure-track, 2004-2009; Associate Professor, tenured, 2009-2012; Professor, 2012-present); Director, Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research (2013-present); Chief Technology Officer at ASTRALiTe, Inc. (2014-present) Recent honors and awards: 2017 – Joseph T. Negler Professorship, 2016 – CU Boulder Faculty Assembly Award for Excellence in Research, 2015 – Aerospace Department’s Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring Award, 2015 – Distinguished Alumni Award SUNY Oneonta, 2012 – College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research, 2012 – Roubos Engineering Endowed Faculty Fellowship; 2012– College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research, 2011– College of Engineering Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2010 – University of Colorado Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award, 2005 – University of Michigan Alumni Merit Award , 2004 – SRI Presidential Achievement Award.
Experience Summary
Prof. Thayer has over 25 years of experience applying remote sensing techniques to research the aerospace environment of Earth. He specializes in geophysical fluid dynamics, gas and plasma interactions, thermodynamics, electrodynamics and active remote sensing techniques using radars and lidars. In his past fourteen years as a faculty member at the University of Colorado, he has supervised 15 PhD students, 10 Masters students, two post-doctoral researchers, and numerous undergraduates. Prof. Thayer and his research group study a broad range of topics related to the geosciences. Prof. Thayer is also active in the science community serving on the National Academies Heliophysics Midterm Decadal Survey Assessment Committee (2018-present); Co-chair of NSF Quo Vadis? Community Workshop (2015-2017); Member of the NASA Living with a Star Institute on Atmospheric Drag (2015-2018); Co-chair of the NSF AST/AGS Mid-term review of Arecibo Observatory (2014-2015); Member of NCAR’s HAO External Advisory Committee (2012-2014); Member of the National Academies Atmosphere-Ionosphere-Magnetosphere committee for the Decadal Survey for Space Science (2010 – 2012); Chair of the NSF CEDAR Science Steering Committee (2007-2010).
Prof. Thayer has over 110 refereed publications – see http://ccar.colorado.edu/rses/index.html
Monday, March 18, 2019
3:00-4:00
FL2-1001
