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Kyle R. Kovach

Ph.D. Candidate

Kyle Kovach   Faculty of Biology - Geobotany
  Schanzlestrasse  1
  D - 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau
  Tel: + 49 (0) 761-203-2938
  kyle.kovach@biologie.uni-freiburg.de

Education

(Current)   Ph.D. Candidate, University of Freiburg
(2016)   MS, Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University
    - Thesis: Modeling Timber Harvests In The Northeastern United States
(2012)   BS, Environmental Resource Management, The Pennsylvania State University
(2012)   BA, Political Science, The Pennsylvania State University

Research Interests

  • UAV / Drone Environmental Applications
  • Hyperspectral / LiDAR Remote Sensing
  • Machine Learning / Computer Vision
  • Econometrics
  • Decision and Social Learning Theory

Current Research

Drone technology, coupled with advances in the hyperspectral imaging system build size and cost, have the potential to change the research landscape by allowing scientists to independently collect exceptionally high resolution data to help aid in better understanding our environment.

My current research project utilizes a UAV platform and hyperspectral imaging system to produce high spectral and spatial resolution images with great temporal frequency. My goal is to use this drone-based imaging system to produce remotely sensed images which can then help assess functional traits of tree species in experimental sites.

Past Research

My past research at The Pennsylvania State University dealt with timber harvest probability in the northeastern United States.  It involved a thorough examination of environmental, social, and economic factors influencing harvests, and also an assessment of past harvests extracted from the US Forest Services FIA database.

Publications

Frey, J ., Kovach, K ., Stemmler, S ., Koch, B. UAV Photogrammetry of Forests as a Vulnerable Process. A Sensitivity Analysis for a Structure from Motion RGB Image Pipeline. Remote Sensing 2018, 10, 912, doi: 10.3390 / rs10060912. Full Text
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