Two researchers from The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, are spearheading international working groups aimed at advancing data systems, infrastructure and pioneering technology in the realm of remote sensing.
Iksha Gurung and Kumar Ramasubramanian, two computer scientists from UAH’s Earth System Science Center, supported by NASA’s Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT), are actively seeking new collaborators to join their working groups within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Earth Science Informatics Technical Committee.
“Our goal is to bring researchers and industry experts together to explore the challenges and best practices arising from computation and management of large amounts of remote sensing data from various agencies and data providers,” says Gurung.
Gurung co-chairs the High Performance and Disruptive Computing in Remote Sensing (HDCRS) working group. Gurung’s working group discusses the challenges and innovative ways to utilize high performance computing systems to tackle complex Earth science problems. Gurung is particularly proud of the working group’s annual summer schools.
“Our one-week summer school provides an opportunity for early-career professionals to learn from and network with world-class leaders in high performance computing, cloud computing and quantum computing who work with remote sensing domain experts,” says Gurung.
Ramasubramanian chairs the Remote Sensing Data Systems (RSDS) working group. The group organizes workshops and implements collaborative projects that cover a broad spectrum of data management solutions for remote sensing data, including cutting edge technologies, such as graph database, array database and machine learning. The group also identifies best practices in storing, retrieving and processing large amounts of remote sensing data.
“The RSDS working group is envisioned as a forum where technology developers, researchers, post-docs and early-career professionals can converge to discuss challenges and successes of using big data within the remote sensing field,” says Ramasubramanian.
Both the HDCRS and RSDS working groups host workshops, webinars and hackathons throughout the year. For more information on how to become a collaborator with the working groups, visit
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Earth Science Informatics Technical Committee.
