Mark Hansen

Professor Mark Hansen is a distinguished academic at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), holding a professorship in the Department of Engineering, Design and Mathematics within the Faculty of Environment and Technology. He is a key member of the Centre for Machine Vision at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, where his work bridges theoretical computer vision with practical applications across multiple industries. His research portfolio spans academic and commercial projects, with a strong emphasis on translating laboratory innovations into real-world solutions through close industry partnerships.

Professor Hansen earned his academic credentials from prestigious institutions, completing a BSc(Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Bristol before earning his PhD at UWE in 2012 with a thesis titled "3D Face Recognition Using Photometric Stereo." His educational background in both psychology and computer science has uniquely positioned him to develop biometric systems that incorporate human perception principles.

Professor Hansen's research interests center around computer vision and machine learning, with particular expertise in photometric stereo techniques for 3D acquisition. His work spans multiple domains including agricultural technology (agri-tech), livestock welfare monitoring, microplastic detection, and precision farming systems. He has pioneered applications of photometric stereo for face recognition, plant phenotyping, and animal biometrics, demonstrating exceptional versatility in applying core computer vision techniques to diverse problems. His research consistently emphasizes practical implementation, with numerous projects resulting in commercialized technologies that address real-world challenges in agriculture and environmental monitoring.

Analysis of Professor Hansen's recent publications reveals a strategic expansion of his core expertise in photometric stereo and 3D vision into increasingly diverse application domains. While maintaining his foundational work in biometrics and face recognition, he has successfully transitioned these techniques to agricultural contexts (pig and cow identification), environmental monitoring (microplastic detection), and sustainable food production systems (aquaponics optimization). His publication pattern shows a clear progression from fundamental computer vision research to applied interdisciplinary work addressing global challenges in food security, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.

• Highly commended prize for innovation at the National Potato Industry Awards for the Harvesteye system
• Associate Editor for Elsevier's Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
• Featured on BBC Click for 3D Handprint Recognition research
• Featured on Netflix's "Connected" S1Ep1 for Pig Face Recognition work

Professor Hansen has supervised six PhD students to completion with projects including "3D video based detection of early lameness in dairy cattle" and "3D plant phenotyping system using photometric stereo," and currently supervises seven additional PhD students through UWE, the Farscope CDT and SWBio schemes. His research is supported by substantial grant funding from diverse sources including InnovateUK, BBSRC, AHRC, EPSRC, JPIAMR, and international collaborations with institutions such as Imperial College, Notre Dame University, Bristol University, Manchester University, SRUC, and others. Current major projects include Intellipig (pig health monitoring), Mealworm protein production automation, FARM interventions to Control Antimicrobial Resistance, Pig ID tracking systems, and microplastic monitoring in home environments.

Professor Hansen leads research within the Centre for Machine Vision at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a world-class facility that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between computer scientists, engineers, and domain experts from agriculture, environmental science, and healthcare. His team includes three dedicated research staff working on 3D Face Recognition, Photometric Stereo, 3D acquisition technologies, reflectance mapping, and agri-technology applications. The collaborative nature of his work is evident in the extensive network of academic and industry partners spanning multiple continents, reflecting the practical impact and interdisciplinary relevance of his research.