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AC Remote Sensing 2025/2026

Objectives

Remote sensing is becoming an invaluable tool extending data collection, both in space and time, to complement classical sampling strategies for both earth and biological sciences. This advanced course aims to provide access and tools to remote sensing data acquisition and processing for different applications using satellite, drone and terrestrial multispectral imagery and LiDAR, and focusing on characterizing the vegetation and landscape, and their changes in time.

Participants must be present at 85% of the contact hours (meaning they can miss one half-day) and actively participate in all activities.

This course can give credits to PhD programmes at CIÊNCIAS or programmes with partnership from CIÊNCIAS and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students, in addition to the exercises done during the week, delivering a written report after the course is mandatory. For programmes with fewer hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course), students must do an additional assignment (summary report). If needed, 1 or 2 additional hours of contact may be added. Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.

Minimum requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences, Biology, Natural Science, or related areas. Basic programming skills (python/R) and knowledge on geospatial data processing.

Directed to: MSc or PhD students in Biology, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Ecology or related areas, postdocs and professionals working on related topics.

General plan

Day 1

Theoretical introductions concerning remote sensing sensors (active and passive) and platform (satellite, drone, terrestrial). Data access platforms: available satellites and products, Remote Sensing data visualization using web portals, data download and visualization.

Day 2

Theoretical introduction and practical classes on programming using R and/or python to access, download and process remote sensing data.

Day 3

Morning: use cases showcasing work involving researchers from the cE3c that used remote sensing data.

Afternoon: Practical session (eventually some field work nearby for data collection using terrestrial LiDAR, NDVI and multispectral cameras).

Day 4

Practical session for remote sensing data download and processing in areas of interest of the students (data is also available for students without study areas).

Day 5

Practical sessions and presentations from the students.

Fees

Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at CIÊNCIAS (e.g. Biology, Geology), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV ULisboa; UPorto), Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG ULisboa, UAveiro) and Sustainability Science (ULisboa, several institutions), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto); 50 € for more advanced PhD students of CE3C; 70 € for PhD students of the PEERS network (CFE); 125 € for CIÊNCIAS Master students and unemployed; 180 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 250 € for professionals and postdocs.

When the maximum number of students is reached, 10 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference, students from: 1) CE3C; 2) BIODIV (not from CE3C); 3) CIÊNCIAS (not from CE3C); 4) Sustainability Science (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS); 5) BEAG (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS).

How to Apply

Candidates should complete the APPLICATION FORM, which will be available in this section when the call is open.

The form is strictly confidential, as explained in its introduction, and the data are required because the CE3C Advanced Courses are also offered as part of the PRR programme of CIÊNCIAS.

When filling out the form, mind to:

  • FILL ALL THE MANDATORY FIELDS;
  • UPLOAD CV AND MOTIVATION LETTER, both mandatory; use the names as instructed;
  • If you want to resume later, SAVE the form; otherwise, you will need to fill everything out again;
  • At the end, SUBMIT the form before exiting.


If you have any questions, please contact the coordinator of the CE3C Advanced Courses, Margarida Matos (mmmatos@fc.ul.pt), and the teacher, Maria Alexandra Oliveira (maoliveira@fc.ul.pt)

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