Post-doctoral researcher / Research Engineer in remote sensing for the characterization of forest resources using optical/lidar coupling

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will be welcomed to the TETIS (Territory, Environment, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information) Joint
Research Unit (UMR) in Montpellier, renowned for its research into the use of remote sensing data for various
applications related to forestry, agriculture and the environment.
Your work will contribute to the GIROFLEE project, funded by Plan Innovation Outre-Mer. The overall aim of this
project is to promote the development of a sustainable and endogenous wood energy sector on Réunion Island,
catalyzing territorial dynamics around the ecological and energy transition, and more generally the development
of a circular bio-economy that respects the hierarchy of uses. One of the project's initiatives involves the
mobilization of remote sensing technologies to characterize forest deposits. The aim of this action is to exploit
the potential of these technologies (by coupling optical and radar satellite data, and airborne lidar) to locate
deposits and characterize them using qualitative and quantitative predictive models adapted to the specific
characteristics of Réunion's forests. The main stands of interest in this project are plantations of Cryptomeria
Japonica and Acacia mearnsii, an invasive alien species. Your work will focus mainly on the latter species, whose
stands are particularly dynamic and complex, mainly due to natural disturbances (cyclones, fires), and are still
poorly understood.
 

Two sub-objectives are associated with the mission:
- study structural changes linked to natural disturbances through diachronic analysis of Digital Surface Models
(DSM) and Sentinel-1 time series. These changes will have to be qualified in terms of disturbance (silvicultural
intervention vs. cyclone) or impact (areas affected, severity, level of entanglement, etc.).
- Quantify the mobilizable resource, in particular by estimating the volume of standing timber.
To achieve these objectives, you will be responsible for:
- process geospatial and remote sensing data that will be used to map forest plots.
- develop methods for forest resource modeling and monitoring following disturbances (cyclones). These methods
will be based on very high-resolution optical data (Pléiades, Pléiades Néo), time series (Sentinel-2, Sentinel-1) and
airborne lidar data (Lidar HD IGN and UAV acquisitions).
- test the algorithms developed on the study site to check their robustness with respect to input data (e.g. canopy
height models derived from satellite photogrammetric data, airborne lidar or drone data) and extrapolation to
other sites.
- develop scientific results in the form of articles and communications
- take part in a field mission planned for Reunion Island.

Training and skills

 Preferred training: thesis in remote sensing, signal processing, or 2D/3D geospatial data modeling.
 Skills :
- Advanced Python and/or R language (packages dedicated to spatial data desirable)
- Modeling and machine learning
JOB OFFERING
Post-doctoral researcher / Research Engineer in remote sensing for the
characterization of forest resources using optical/lidar coupling.
- Remote sensing and geomatics (GIS)
- Tools for processing 3D point clouds (photogrammetric or lidar)
- Data analysis, particularly for satellite time series (desirable)
 Experience :
With a PhD, you are interested in remote sensing applications for studying and managing forest
environments. You also have good communication skills with people from different disciplines, autonomy
and curiosity. Good command of English required.
 Skills required:
 Autonomy, Creativity
 Methodology, rigor and organization at work
 Writing skills (French and English)
 Interpersonal skills

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter