Dr Alan Blackburn

Lancaster Environment Centre,
Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1524 510237 email

Research interests

My research focuses on developing remote sensing and GIS techniques for environmental applications, particularly in ecology and biodiversity, vegetation physiology and dynamics and environmental security. This work takes place at a variety of scales, from individual plant leaves to biomes.

Current teaching

Undergraduate modules

LEC 103 Environmental Processes and Systems (Biosphere)

Geog 105 Geographical Skills in a Changing World (Remote Sensing)

Geog 204 Interacting Landscapes: Biogeography and Geomorphology

Geog 205 Investigating Mediterranean Environments (Field Course)

Geog 371 Environmental Remote Sensing and Image Processing

Masters module

Geog 413 Geoinformatics

La Alpujarra, Spain

Biography

Academic posts.
Present. Senior Lecturer, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University.

1993 -2000. Lecturer, Geography Department, King's College London.

Qualifications.
Ph.D. in Remote Sensing, Southampton University. 1993.

B.Sc. in Physical Geography. University of Bristol. 1990.

Key admin roles.
Part 1 Director of Studies, 2012-present.

Director of Teaching and Learning, 2008-2011.

Undergraduate Admissions Tutor, 2003-2007.

Publications

Journal articles

Emengini, E.J., Blackburn, G.A and Theobald, J.C. (2013) Early detection of oil-induced stress in crops using spectral and thermal responses. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing. DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.7.073596 download.pdf

Onojeghuo, A.O. and Blackburn, G.A. (2012) Characterising reedbeds using LiDAR data: potential and limitations. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. DOI:10.1109/JSTARS.2012.2212235 download.pdf

Martin, T.E. and Blackburn, G.A. (2012) Habitat associations of an insular Wallacean avifauna: A multi-scale approach for biodiversity proxies. Ecological Indicators. 23, 491-500. download.pdf

Martin, T.E., Kelly, D.J., Keogh, N.T., Heriyadi, D., Singer, H.A. and Blackburn, G.A. (2012) The avifauna of the Lambusango Forest Reserve, Buton Island, South-East Sulawesi (with additional sightings from Southern Buton). Forktail. 28, 107-112. download.pdf

Onojeghuo, A.O. and Blackburn, G.A. (2011) Mapping reedbed habitats using texture-based classification of QuickBird imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 32 (23), 8121-8138. download.pdf

Huang, J.F. and Blackburn, G.A. (2011) Optimising predictive models for leaf chlorophyll concentration based on continuous wavelet analysis of hyperspectral data. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 32 (24) 9375-9396. download.pdf

Abd Latif, Z. & Blackburn, G. A. (2011) Deriving spatial inputs for forest microclimate modelling using remote sensing techniques. International Journal of Electrical and Electronic Systems Research, 4, 13-20. download.pdf

Onojeghuo, A.O. and Blackburn, G.A. (2011) Optimizing the use of hyperspectral and LiDAR data for mapping reedbed habitats. Remote Sensing of Environment. 115, 2025-2034. download .pdf

Carmenta, R., Parry, L., Blackburn, G.A., Vermeylen, A. and Barlow, J. (2011) Understanding human-fire interactions in tropical forest regions: A case for interdisciplinary research across the natural and social sciences. Ecology and Society 16(1): 53. [online]

Onojeghuo, A.O. and Blackburn, G.A. (2011) Forest transition in an ecologically important region: patterns and causes for landscape dynamics in the Niger Delta. Ecological Indicators. 11, 1437-1446. download .pdf

Martin, T.E. and Blackburn, G.A. (2010) Impacts of tropical forest disturbance upon avifauna on a small island with high endemism: implications for conservation. Conservation and Society. 8(2), 127-139. download .pdf

Martin, T.E. and Blackburn, G.A. and Simcox, W. (2010) An assessment of the effectiveness of two methods in describing a neotropical cloud forest bird community. Ornitologia neotropical. 21, 131–147. download .pdf

Abd Latif, Z. & Blackburn, G. A. (2010) The effects of gap size on microclimate and soil water content in a temperate broadleaved deciduous forest. International Journal of Biometeorology. 54, 119–129. download .pdf

Martin, T.E. and Blackburn, G.A. (2009) How effective are ‘Paper parks’ at conserving Mesoamerican cloud forest avifauna? Biodiversity and Conservation. 18, 3841–3859. download .pdf

Joseph, S., Blackburn, G.A., Gharai, B., Sudhakar, S., Thomas, A.P. and Murthy, M.S.R. (2009) Monitoring conservation in a global biodiversity hotspot: the contribution of land cover change assessment. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 158, 169-179. download .pdf

Stewart, S. F., Pinkerton, H., Blackburn, G.A. and Gudmundsson, M.T. (2008) Monitoring active subglacial volcanoes: a case study using airborne remotely sensed imagery of Grímsvötn, Iceland. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 29(22), 6501–6514. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Ferwerda, J.G. (2008) Retrieval of chlorophyll concentration from leaf reflectance spectra using wavelet analysis. Remote Sensing of Environment. 112, 1614–1632. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. (2007) Wavelet decomposition of hyperspectral data: a novel approach to quantifying pigment concentrations in vegetation. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 28(12), 2831-2855. download .pdf

Stewart, S. F., Pinkerton, H. and Blackburn, G.A. (2007) Mapping thermal anomalies using Airborne Thematic Mapper imagery: Grímsvötn caldera, Vatnajökull, Iceland. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 283, 31-43.

Blackburn, G.A. (2006) Hyperspectral remote sensing of plant pigments. Journal of Experimental Botany. 58(4), 855-867. download .pdf

Koukoulas, S. and Blackburn, G.A. (2005) Spatial relationships between tree species and gap characteristics in broadleaved deciduous woodland. Journal of Vegetation Science. 16, 587-596. download .pdf

Koukoulas, S. and Blackburn, G.A. (2005) Mapping individual tree location, height and species in broadleaved deciduous forest using airborne LiDAR and multi-spectral remotely sensed data. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 26(3), 431-455. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A., Clark, G. and Pilgrim, D. (2005) The gap year for geographers: effects and paradoxes. Geography. 90(1), 32-41.

Koukoulas, S. and Blackburn, G.A. (2004) Quantifying the spatial properties of forest canopy gaps using LiDAR imagery and GIS. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 25(15), 3049-3071. download .pdf

Meza-Diaz, B. and Blackburn, G.A. (2003) Remote sensing of mangrove biophysical properties: evidence from a laboratory simulation of the possible effects of background variation on spectral vegetation indices. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 24(1), 53-73. download .pdf

Al-Sabhan, W., Mulligan, M. and Blackburn, G.A. (2002) A real-time hydrological model for flood prediction using GIS and the WWW. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems. 27(1), 5-28. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. (2002) Remote sensing of forest pigments using airborne imaging spectrometer and LIDAR imagery. Remote Sensing of Environment. 82, 311-321. download .pdf

Koukoulas, S. and Blackburn, G.A. (2001) Introducing new indices for accuracy evaluation of classified images representing semi-natural woodland environments. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 67(4), 499-510. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Steele, C.M. (1999) Towards the remote sensing of matorral vegetation physiology: relationships between spectral reflectance, pigment and biophysical characteristics of semi-arid bushland canopies. Remote Sensing of Environment, 70(3), 278-292. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. (1999) Relationships between spectral reflectance and pigment concentrations in stacks of deciduous broadleaves. Remote Sensing of Environment, 70(2), 224-237. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Pitman, J.I. (1999) Biophysical controls on the directional spectral reflectance properties of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) canopies: results of a field experiment. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 20(11), 2265-2282. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. (1998b) Quantifying chlorophylls and carotenoids from leaf to canopy scales: An evaluation of some hyper-spectral approaches. Remote Sensing of Environment, 66(3), 273-285. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. (1998a) Spectral indices for estimating photosynthetic pigment concentrations: a test using senescent tree leaves. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 19(4), 657-675. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Milton, E.J. (1997)  An ecological survey of deciduous woodlands using airborne remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS). International Journal of Remote Sensing, 18(9), 1919-1935. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Milton, E.J. (1996) Filling the Gaps: Remote Sensing Meets Woodland Ecology. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 5, 175-191. download .pdf

Blackburn, G.A. and Milton, E.J.(1995) Seasonal variations in the spectral reflectance of deciduous tree canopies. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 16(4),709-721.

Milton, E.J., Blackburn, G.A., Rollin, E.M. and Danson, F.M. (1994) Measurement of the spectral directional reflectance of forest canopies: a review of methods and a practical application. Remote Sensing Reviews, 10, 285-298.

Badaling, China

PhD students

Lisiane Zanella, in progress, “Landscape structure and its relationship with socioeconomic and geophysical variables in the Atlantic Rainforest of Minas Gerais, Brazil”. Brazilian Government Studentship.

Adam Kimberley, in progress, “Spatial aspects of landscape and vegetation change in Britain” NERC-CEH studentship.

Beth Brockett, in progress, “An interdisciplinary approach to the sustainable management of agricultural grasslands” NERC LWEC studentship.

Sek Aun Tan, in progress, “Characterizing and quantifying tropical rainforest structure through LiDAR technology”. Malaysian Government studentship.

Obinna Anejionu, in progress, “Modelling the impact of gas flaring and venting on the Niger Delta ecosystem using GIS and remote sensing techniques”.

Ahmed Nassar, in progress, “Spatial-temporal urban change analysis in Dubai city and its environmental impact using remote sensing and GIS”

Alison Birkett, in progress, “Dung beetles and ecosystem services in UK uplands: predicting responses to future changes in climate and land use.” NERC studentship.

Percival Cho, in progress, “Long-term effects of catastrophic hurricanes and consequences for species diversity, forest dynamics and carbon budget of human-impacted tropical forests.” LU Faculty of Science and technology studentship.

Alex Parker, in progress, “More ‘crop per drop’: Aerial remote sensing for precision irrigation management in UK potato production.” Perry Foundation Studentship.

Louisa Reynolds, in progress, “Measuring evapotranspiration at regional scales over forest canopies using satellite remotely-sensed data.” NERC studentship.

Rachel Carmenta, in progress, “From earth observation to ethnography: Investigating the relationship between land-tenure and Amazonian wildfires.” NERC-ESRC studentship.

Cecilia Chavana-Bryant, in progress (Oxford University), “Relationships between leaf life-cycle and Earth Observation-derived indices in Amazonian rainforests.”

Alex Onojeghuo, Ph.D. 2011, “Reedbed mapping using remotely-sensed data”. Petroleum Technology Development Fund Studentship.

Ebele Emengini, Ph.D. 2010, “Hyperspectral and thermal remote sensing of plant stress responses to oil pollution, waterlogging and water deficit.” Petroleum Technology Development Fund Studentship.

Zulkiflee Latif, Ph.D. 2010, “Modelling microclimates in broadleaved deciduous forests using remotely-sensed data.”. Malaysian Government studentship.

Tom Martin, Ph.D. 2010, “Avifauna and anthropogenic forest disturbance in two biodiversity hotspots.”, Faculty of Science and Technology Studentship

Uwem Ituen, Ph.D. 2007, “Land use inventory and change detection in a rural environment of northern Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.” British Council Studentship.

Kina Stewart, Ph.D. 2006 “Airborne remote sensing of Grímsvötn subglacial volcano, Vatnajökull, Iceland.” Self-funded.

Niels Nielsen, Ph.D. 2004 “Spatial metrics of structure and diversity: calculation from Earth Observation and map data, for use as indicators in environmental management.” EU & Danish Government funding.

Waleed Alsabhan, Ph.D. 2002 “A real-time hydrological model for flood prediction using GIS and the WWW.”, Saudi Arabian Government Studentship.

Sotirios Koukoulas, Ph.D. 2001 “Analysing the spatial structure of semi-natural deciduous woodlands through high-resolution airborne imagery and Geographic Information Systems.”, Self-funded.

Benito Meza-Diaz, Ph.D. 2000, “Remote sensing of the biophysical properties of mangroves: an evaluation of spectral vegetation indices.”, Departmental Studentship.

Caiti Steele, Ph.D. 2000, “Empirical evidence of the relationships between spectral reflectance and vegetation canopy physiology.”, KCLA Studentship.

Pollino National Park, Italy