Craig Coburn

Craig Coburn is a Full Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Lethbridge, where he has served since 2002 with promotions to Associate Professor in 2009 and Full Professor in 2019. His research centers on remote sensing physics, specializing in bidirectional reflectance properties and the development of low-cost remote sensing instrumentation for environmental monitoring and satellite calibration.

Dr. Coburn's academic foundation includes:

• B.Sc. (Honours) in Geography from the University of Saskatchewan (1994)
• M.Sc. in Geography from the University of Alberta (1996)
• Ph.D. in Geography/Remote Sensing from Simon Fraser University (2002)

His work spans instrument design to data processing algorithms, with emphasis on surface bidirectional reflectance. He pioneered world-leading goniometers and low-cost camera systems deployed via aircraft, UAVs, and high-altitude balloons for agricultural monitoring, biological system analysis, and global satellite validation. His research bridges theoretical physics with practical environmental applications.

Analysis of his 2017-2021 publications reveals sustained focus on radiometric calibration, BRDF characterization, and sensor development. Key trends include interdisciplinary collaborations in atmospheric science (airborne metals), ecology (riparian systems), and soil science (erosion detection), alongside growing emphasis on UAV platforms and low-cost sensor validation for democratizing remote sensing.

No scientific awards were specified in the source material.

Dr. Coburn holds Principal Investigator status for the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration-funded cattle wintering sites project ($45,000) and contributes as Co-Investigator to Alberta Ingenuity Centre for Water Research initiatives totaling $568,000. His grant portfolio spans riparian ecology, watershed analysis, and historical projects including National Land and Water Information System (Agriculture Canada) and Mountain Pine Beetle monitoring.

His laboratory innovations include robotic goniometers for surface reflectance measurement and thermal imaging systems deployed globally for satellite calibration, supporting both research objectives and hands-on student training in remote sensing physics.