Hannes Feilhauer

Hannes Feilhauer is a full Professor for Remote Sensing in Geo- and Ecosystem Research at the Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research (RSC4Earth), which is a joint initiative of the Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences at Leipzig University and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). His work focuses on the spatio-temporal analysis of species distribution patterns, functional ecosystem properties, ecosystem services, and biodiversity using optical remote sensing sensors, field measurements, and modeling techniques.

His educational background includes a PhD in Geography from Bonn University (2009) and a Diploma in Geoecology from Bayreuth University (2006). His academic career path includes positions as Visiting Professor for Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics at the Free University of Berlin (2018), Senior Scientist at the Institute of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2010-2018), and various research positions dating back to 2006.

Feilhauer's research primarily investigates the application of remote sensing for ecological analysis, with particular emphasis on mapping fuzzy ecosystem characteristics that cannot be adequately represented in conventional maps. His work bridges the gap between spectral data and ecological patterns, developing methods to map continuous fields of biodiversity and ecosystem properties. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between spectral variation and biodiversity, the application of optical trait indicators, and the mapping of habitat variability.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on advancing remote sensing applications for biodiversity monitoring, with increasing integration of machine learning approaches and analysis of high-resolution satellite data (particularly Sentinel-2). His work spans from fundamental methodological developments in spectral analysis to applied ecosystem monitoring, with particular attention to grassland ecosystems, species distribution patterns, and the impacts of environmental change.

• Science award for Physical Geography of the Prof. Dr. Frithjof Voss Stiftung für Geographie

Feilhauer leads a research group that includes multiple PhD candidates and postdoctoral scientists working on projects related to vegetation monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and remote sensing methodology development. His group is involved in several major research initiatives including AIReSVeg (AI and Remote Sensing for Vegetation Monitoring), Jena Experiment, and DeepFeatures, reflecting his engagement with both fundamental ecological research and cutting-edge technical developments in remote sensing.

The Remote Sensing in Geo- and Ecosystem Research group operates within the RSC4Earth framework, collaborating closely with researchers from the Earth System Data Science group and the Remote Sensing Department at UFZ. This collaborative environment enables integration of remote sensing data with ecological modeling and Earth system science approaches.