We discuss with Professor Thomas Blaschke the possibilities and challenges of processing Big Earth Data for addressing real world solutions. From predicting destructive landslides and urban traffic jams, to tracking illegal deforestation and human rights abuses, Dr. Blaschke’s decades of research work has contributed to a better understanding of humanity’s impact around the globe. Tune in to discover the latest advancements in building our Digital Earth and the potential for developing a new field of academic inquiry, Astroinformatics!

Dr. Thomas Blaschke is Deputy Chair of the Department of Geoinformatics at the University of Salzburg, Head of Research Studio iSPACE, and Director of the Doctoral College GIScience. He’s been a guest professor and visiting scientist in Germany and the US including a Fulbright professorship at California State University. His research interests include methodological issues of the integration of GIS, remote sensing and image processing to support systems that address human-ecological relationships and imbalances. His academic record yields 320+ scientific publications, and was awarded to the world’s top 2% of the most impactful researchers in his research field. He works closely with ESA’s Copernicus and Galileo program and as a business angel focused on Geoinformatics and Earth Observation science-based start-ups.