Christian Büdel

Dr. Christian Büdel is a Researcher at the Chair of Geomorphology within the Institute of Geography and Geology at the University of Würzburg. He has been working at the university since November 2009 and is actively involved in multiple research projects including the INCREASE project (2021-2025) on geovisual analysis of geohazards and the BigData@Geo project on advanced environmental technologies using AI.

Dr. Büdel completed his Geography studies at the University of Würzburg from 2001 to 2008, with a focus on Physical Geography and Geomorphology, and minors in History and Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology. His diploma thesis focused on natural and quasi-natural morphological processes in the Spessart and Main Valley. Prior to his current position, he worked as a Geography Specialist at Luftbilddatenbank, Estenfeld from April 2008 to November 2009, where he prepared expert assessments regarding aerial image-based preliminary surveys for munitions contamination.

His research interests span geomorphology, geoarchaeology, landscape and environmental development, and geomorphological systematization. He specializes in Quaternary stratigraphy, mapping techniques, and historical-geographical landscape inventory, with particular focus on arid regions, mid-mountain areas, river valleys, and specific regions including Iran and Southern Germany. His work often integrates remote sensing technologies and digital elevation models for landscape analysis. Current projects include GEO-XR, which uses extended reality techniques to visualize landscape development processes that occur too slowly for human perception.

Analysis of Dr. Büdel's publications reveals a strong focus on geomorphological processes in arid regions, particularly in Iran, as well as landscape development in Central Europe. His research combines field work with advanced remote sensing techniques, including Sentinel-1 SAR data and TanDEM-X digital elevation models. He has made significant contributions to understanding alluvial fan formation, playa sediments, landslide dynamics in cuesta landscapes, and historical landscape changes. His collaborative work spans multiple institutions and international partners, particularly in Iran and within European research frameworks.

Dr. Büdel is part of the Geomorphology research group at the University of Würzburg, working closely with Prof. Roland Baumhauer and other colleagues. His current work involves using extended reality (VR and AR) technologies to visualize landscape development processes that occur too slowly for human perception, such as river terrace formation and marshland drainage. He is also involved in projects related to smartphone-supported mapping of landforms and the characterization of surfaces in arid regions using Sentinel-1 radar data.