Sebastian van der Linden

Sebastian van der Linden has been a Professor of Geography at the University of Greifswald since 2019, heading the Earth Observation and Geoinformation Science Lab within the Institute of Geography and Geology. His institutional roles include:

• Member of the Greifswald Moor Center (GMC) since 2020
• Member of the EnMAP Science Advisory Group (EnSAG) since 2021
• Deputy Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Baltic Sea Region Research (IFZO) since 2022

His research centers on Earth observation methodologies using multi- and hyperspectral remote sensing data to analyze spatiotemporal dynamics of land use, land cover, and environmental processes. Specialized expertise includes peatland monitoring (particularly rewetting impacts), climate change effects on vegetation systems, and machine learning-driven land cover mapping at local to regional scales. This work integrates quantitative approaches to understand human-environment interactions and ecological transformations.

While no specific scientific awards are documented in the source material, his leadership positions in major research consortia reflect significant professional recognition. He actively supervises doctoral candidates including Farina de Waard, whose research examines peatland degradation in northern Germany using spatiotemporal remote sensing techniques. Current projects such as EnMAP-Box and ReWetSpec demonstrate applied research in environmental monitoring, supported through institutional frameworks and partnerships like the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt scholarship funding.

The Earth Observation and Geoinformation Science Lab (formerly Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Processing Working Group) operates as a multidisciplinary research hub developing advanced methodologies for environmental assessment. The team implements machine learning algorithms and sophisticated learning strategies to enhance accuracy and temporal robustness in land cover classification, with field-based validation components integrated into advanced teaching modules.