About
Prof. Alfred Stein is a Full Professor in Spatial Statistics and Image Analysis at the Department of Earth Observation Science, Faculty ITC, University of Twente. He earned his MSc in Mathematics and Information Science from Eindhoven University of Technology and a PhD in Spatial Statistics from Wageningen University. His career spans roles at Wageningen University (1988–2002), ITC (2002–present), including leadership positions as department head, vice-rector research, and portfolio holder for education.
- Education: MSc (Eindhoven University of Technology), PhD (Wageningen University)
- Leadership: Department Head (Earth Observation Science), Vice-Rector Research (2008–2012), Portfolio Holder Education (2012–)
His research focuses on Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Statistics, emphasizing Bayesian inference, data quality, image analysis, and fuzzy techniques. Key application domains include agriculture, health, urban land use, coastal systems, hazards, and wildlife. He has mentored over 30 PhD students since 1998, with 11 currently under supervision.
Recent research trends highlight AI-driven remote sensing for glacier mapping, urban livability, and disease modeling. Publications span Deep Learning for SAR tomography, Bayesian hierarchical models for health data, and multitemporal SAR analysis for environmental monitoring. Awards include the Best Paper Award (2019) and ISARA Founder's Award (2020).
- Scientific Awards
- Best Paper Award (2019)
- ISARA Founder's Award (2020)
As Editor-in-Chief of Spatial Statistics and associate editor for multiple journals, he leads academic discourse. Collaborations include the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria as Honorary Professor. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in climate action and sustainable cities.
