RSAC Consultants
RSAC has a dynamic team composed of:
- Four staff located at our main office in Alresford;
- Three staff working on extended secondment at ESA-ESRIN in Italy;
- Additional staff on short-term, project-specific contracts.
All core staff have a higher education background in Remote Sensing applications or geography and considerable experience in all aspects of geo-spatial information and interpretation. As the company's work is mainly project based, a skills database of remote sensing scientists and land applications specialists is maintained and short-term contracts regularly offered.
Mike Wooding - Managing Director
Mike has over 30 years' experience of agricultural and land use mapping applications of optical and radar remote sensing, including early research into the potential of SAR data derived from airborne systems and development of image analysis and GIS techniques. Work over the last 24 years as Principal Consultant of RSAC includes the application of both optical and SAR remote sensing for discrimination of agricultural crops and soil condition. Mike is well known at ESTEC, providing scientific, technical support and coordination to European Earth Observation Programmes.
Mike has over 30 years' experience of agricultural and land use mapping applications of optical and radar remote sensing, including early research into the potential of SAR data derived from airborne systems and development of image analysis and GIS techniques. Work over the last 24 years as Principal Consultant of RSAC includes the application of both optical and SAR remote sensing for discrimination of agricultural crops and soil condition. Mike is well known at ESTEC, providing scientific, technical support and coordination to European Earth Observation Programmes.
Andrew Batts - Director
Andrew's experience of image processing, GIS and management of remote sensing activity started in 1985. He has set up and now maintains RSAC's growing network of computing facilities. In addition he has developed several customised GIS applications including an "Air Photo Retrieval, Catalogue and Geometric Correction System" and a module for the Quality Control checking of both satellite imagery and air photos. Most recently he has ported CROPINS to ArcView on PC which has been used for intensive operational agricultural monitoring in the UK. This system includes modules for extraction of multi-temporal SAR backscatter statistics and classification of land parcels.
Andrew's experience of image processing, GIS and management of remote sensing activity started in 1985. He has set up and now maintains RSAC's growing network of computing facilities. In addition he has developed several customised GIS applications including an "Air Photo Retrieval, Catalogue and Geometric Correction System" and a module for the Quality Control checking of both satellite imagery and air photos. Most recently he has ported CROPINS to ArcView on PC which has been used for intensive operational agricultural monitoring in the UK. This system includes modules for extraction of multi-temporal SAR backscatter statistics and classification of land parcels.
Tim Pearson - Senior Consultant
Tim has over 11 years’ experience working on the exploitation of SAR and optical data for land applications and providing technical and scientific support within the European Space Agency (ESA). He spent five years working in the Exploitation and Services Division of the Science, Applications and Future Technologies Department of ESA in ESRIN, Italy, supporting EO R&D and market development activities, and is well known to ESA staff and the wider EO community. He also worked closely with Chinese investigators on the ESA-MOST (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology) Co-operation Project. Now back in the UK, Tim continues to work for ESA, contributing to the planning, organisation and execution of international campaigns in support of GMES and Earth Explorer satellite missions. He is also involved in the company’s Agricultural Subsidy Control with Remote Sensing work, in analytical, validation and quality control roles. Tim has recently been appointed Project Manager of the EC Framework 7 Space Project, REDD-FLAME.
Tim has over 11 years’ experience working on the exploitation of SAR and optical data for land applications and providing technical and scientific support within the European Space Agency (ESA). He spent five years working in the Exploitation and Services Division of the Science, Applications and Future Technologies Department of ESA in ESRIN, Italy, supporting EO R&D and market development activities, and is well known to ESA staff and the wider EO community. He also worked closely with Chinese investigators on the ESA-MOST (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology) Co-operation Project. Now back in the UK, Tim continues to work for ESA, contributing to the planning, organisation and execution of international campaigns in support of GMES and Earth Explorer satellite missions. He is also involved in the company’s Agricultural Subsidy Control with Remote Sensing work, in analytical, validation and quality control roles. Tim has recently been appointed Project Manager of the EC Framework 7 Space Project, REDD-FLAME.
Chris Stephens - Scientific Consultant
Chris Stephens has four years’ experience of image processing and image ortho-correction. He has also worked extensively with ancillary datasets, including aerial photographs, digital mapping and DEM data. Chris is also a very experienced image interpreter, having been involved in the Agricultural Subsidy Control with Remote Sensing work for the last four years.
Chris Stephens has four years’ experience of image processing and image ortho-correction. He has also worked extensively with ancillary datasets, including aerial photographs, digital mapping and DEM data. Chris is also a very experienced image interpreter, having been involved in the Agricultural Subsidy Control with Remote Sensing work for the last four years.
Chris Stewart - ESRIN Scientific Support
Chris began his career in remote sensing after completing an MSc degree in Remote Sensing and Image Processing at Edinburgh University. In 2005 he began work at RSAC, where one of his main tasks was image processing, including, on several occasions, as part of the Remote Sensing Control of Area-based Subsidies work. In 2007, Chris moved to Italy to work on secondment at ESA-ESRIN, within the Science, Applications and Future Technologies Department of ESA’s Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. Since working at ESRIN, Chris has been involved in a number of ESA projects. He has provided support to ESA Earth Observation training activities, and to the capacity building component of the ESA TIGER Initiative. Chris has been Project Manager for several activations of the International Charter for “Space and Major Disasters” and has recently been supporting the GMES Service Element project, Global Monitoring for Food Security.
Chris began his career in remote sensing after completing an MSc degree in Remote Sensing and Image Processing at Edinburgh University. In 2005 he began work at RSAC, where one of his main tasks was image processing, including, on several occasions, as part of the Remote Sensing Control of Area-based Subsidies work. In 2007, Chris moved to Italy to work on secondment at ESA-ESRIN, within the Science, Applications and Future Technologies Department of ESA’s Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. Since working at ESRIN, Chris has been involved in a number of ESA projects. He has provided support to ESA Earth Observation training activities, and to the capacity building component of the ESA TIGER Initiative. Chris has been Project Manager for several activations of the International Charter for “Space and Major Disasters” and has recently been supporting the GMES Service Element project, Global Monitoring for Food Security.
Andrea Minchella - ESRIN Scientific Support
Andrea received both his MSc degree in Electronic Engineering and a PhD in Geo-Information from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. For two years during his doctoral studies, he was a research consultant and visiting scientist at ESA-ESRIN, where he also contributed to educational and training activities. His research was focused on the processing and exploitation of SAR data for the retrieval of bio-physical parameters, and InSAR-DInSAR techniques. He also has experience in optical-Xs medium and hi-re data processing, Geographical Information Systems and 3D GIS Virtual Reality. Since December 2006, Andrea has been working for RSAC at ESA-ESRIN, providing technical and scientific support for the development of ESA SAR toolboxes, SAR R&D projects and the organisation of ESA EO Advanced Training Courses and International Workshops.
Andrea received both his MSc degree in Electronic Engineering and a PhD in Geo-Information from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. For two years during his doctoral studies, he was a research consultant and visiting scientist at ESA-ESRIN, where he also contributed to educational and training activities. His research was focused on the processing and exploitation of SAR data for the retrieval of bio-physical parameters, and InSAR-DInSAR techniques. He also has experience in optical-Xs medium and hi-re data processing, Geographical Information Systems and 3D GIS Virtual Reality. Since December 2006, Andrea has been working for RSAC at ESA-ESRIN, providing technical and scientific support for the development of ESA SAR toolboxes, SAR R&D projects and the organisation of ESA EO Advanced Training Courses and International Workshops.
Vasileios Kalogirou - ESRIN Scientific Support
Vasilis received his BSc degree in Forestry & Natural Environment from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and his MSc degree in Remote Sensing from University College London. Vasilis’ interests include land applications of remote sensing, such as land cover mapping and retrieval of biophysical parameters. He has worked with a wide range of remote sensing data types, from multi-spectral images to LiDAR and SAR data. In May 2008, he joined the RSAC team at ESA-ESRIN, providing support to various Data User Element projects, including GlobCover, GlobCorine, TropForest, GlobCarbon and Culture-MERIS. Vasilis also acts as an ESA-delegated Project Manager for the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.
Vasilis received his BSc degree in Forestry & Natural Environment from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and his MSc degree in Remote Sensing from University College London. Vasilis’ interests include land applications of remote sensing, such as land cover mapping and retrieval of biophysical parameters. He has worked with a wide range of remote sensing data types, from multi-spectral images to LiDAR and SAR data. In May 2008, he joined the RSAC team at ESA-ESRIN, providing support to various Data User Element projects, including GlobCover, GlobCorine, TropForest, GlobCarbon and Culture-MERIS. Vasilis also acts as an ESA-delegated Project Manager for the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.