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Dr Emiliano Cimoli
Marine & Polar Scientist · Hyperspectral Imaging · Remote Sensing
13Publications
234+Citations
h=8h-index
10+Field campaigns
Hyperspectral Imaging Sea Ice Optics Polar Oceanography UAV / ROV Systems Radiative Transfer Machine Learning Terrestrial Ecology
Profile

Building upon a solid foundation in civil and environmental engineering, I have specialised in optical sensing and geomatics. Over the past decade, my research has focused on advancing hyperspectral imaging methods to map biological, physical, and chemical attributes of aquatic and terrestrial biophysical systems.

My expertise spans the entire research spectrum — from technical payload design, data acquisition, and processing to academic dissemination. I am highly proficient in multidimensional data analysis, image processing, and the development of bio-optical models to retrieve biochemical features through statistical learning and radiative transfer modelling.

I have participated in and led fieldwork campaigns in the Arctic (6×), Antarctic (4×), and other remote locations. I have resided in Italy, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Denmark, Australia, and currently Japan.

ECR Positions
2024
— now
JSPS Post-doctoral Fellow
Field Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Japan
Developing innovative SWIR imaging solutions (800–2200 nm) to quantify cryogenic gypsum formation and distribution within sea ice — a key ballasting agent for organic carbon sequestration in polar oceans. Collaboration with Dr. Daiki Nomura, Dr. Atsushi Ooki, and Associate Professors Toyota & Iizuka (ILTS).
2022
— now
Research Associate in Under-Ice Mapping
ACEAS / IMAS, University of Tasmania, Australia
Designed the acoustically aided under-ice ROV 'HICYBOT' for hyperspectral imaging of Antarctic marine environments, integrated with USBL positioning, GNSS, and INS. Demonstrated system capabilities for mapping under-ice ecosystems (biomass, photophysiology) and Antarctic seafloor classification.
2020
— 2022
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Remote Sensing
TerraLuma Research, School of Geography, University of Tasmania, Australia
ARC Discovery project — investigated drone-based VNIR/SWIR hyperspectral imaging to derive plant physiological functional traits and spatially explicit optical metrics of forest functional diversity. Conducted surveys over Australian Eucalypt vegetation, Tasmanian rainforests, and Antarctic moss beds. Oversaw ARC Linkage-funded sensor calibration facility.
Education
2016
— 2020
PhD — Physical and Natural Sciences
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, Australia
Thesis: "Development of hyperspectral and RGB imaging systems for under-ice mapping of fine-scale sea-ice biophysical properties."
2013
— 2015
MSc — Civil and Environmental Engineering
Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
Thesis: "High-resolution snow depth mapping in the Arctic using UAVs and Digital Photogrammetry." — Funded by Arctic Field Grant (RCN), GrønlandsBANKEN & SAFT.
2008
— 2013
BSc — Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Padua, Italy
Thesis: "Vortex-Induced Cross Flow Seiching: Experiments on an open channel flow."
Peer-Reviewed Publications
13 publications · 6 as first author · 234 citations · h-index 8 · Google Scholar ↗ · ResearchGate ↗
Mapping functional diversity of canopy physiological traits using UAS imaging spectroscopy
Cimoli E, Lucieer A, Malenovský Z, Woodgate W, Janoutová R, Turner D, Haynes RS, Phinn S · Remote Sensing of Environment · 2024DOI ↗
Mapping water content in drying Antarctic moss communities using UAS-borne SWIR imaging spectroscopy
Turner D, Cimoli E, Lucieer A, Haynes RS, Randall K, Waterman MJ, Lucieer V, Robinson SA · Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation · 2023DOI ↗
Mapping the in situ microspatial distribution of ice algal biomass through hyperspectral imaging of sea-ice cores
Cimoli E, Lucieer V, Meiners KM, Chennu A, Castrisios K, Ryan KG, Lund-Hansen LC, Martin A, Kennedy F, Lucieer A · Scientific Reports · 2020DOI ↗
Rapid Manipulation in Irradiance Induces Oxidative Free-Radical Release in a Fast-Ice Algal Community
Kennedy F, Martin A, Castrisios K, Cimoli E, McMinn A, Ryan KG · Frontiers in Plant Science · 2020DOI ↗
An Under-Ice Hyperspectral and RGB Imaging System to Capture Fine-Scale Biophysical Properties of Sea Ice
Cimoli E, Meiners KM, Lucieer A, Lucieer V · Remote Sensing · 2019DOI ↗
Underwater Hyperspectral Imaging (UHI): A Review of Systems and Applications for Proximal Seafloor Ecosystem Studies
Montes-Herrera JC, Cimoli E, Cummings V, Hill N, Lucieer A, Lucieer V · Remote Sensing · 2021DOI ↗
Life beneath the ice: jellyfish and ctenophores from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, with an image-based training set for machine learning
Verhaegen G, Cimoli E, Lindsay D · Biodiversity Data Journal · 2021DOI ↗
Towards improved estimates of sea-ice algal biomass: experimental assessment of hyperspectral imaging cameras for under-ice studies
Cimoli E, Lucieer A, Meiners KM, Lund-Hansen LC, Kennedy F, Martin A, McMinn A, Lucieer V · Annals of Glaciology · 2017DOI ↗
Application of Low-Cost UASs and Digital Photogrammetry for High-Resolution Snow Depth Mapping in the Arctic
Cimoli E, Marcer M, Vandecrux B, Bøggild CE, Williams G, Simonsen SB · Remote Sensing · 2017DOI ↗
Spatial variability in sea-ice algal biomass: an under-ice remote sensing perspective
Cimoli E, Meiners KM, Lund-Hansen LC, Lucieer V · Advances in Polar Science · 2017DOI ↗
Three Decades of Volume Change of a Small Greenlandic Glacier Using Ground Penetrating Radar, Structure from Motion, and Aerial Photogrammetry
Marcer M, Stentoft PA, Bjerre E, Cimoli E, Bjørk A, Stenseng L, Machguth H · Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research · 2017DOI ↗
Grants & Awards
2024
Nature's Working Scientist Photo Competition — Winner
2021
Most Inspiring PhD Thesis
University of Tasmania Alumni Awards
2021
Marine Science in Action Film Festival — 2nd place
Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA)
2020
Write-up Scholarship
Australian Research Council (ARC) / Antarctic Gateway Partnership
2018
Selection & Travel Grant — World-Class PhD School in Baffin Bay
Sentinel North, Université Laval
2018
Postgraduate Travel & Research Abroad Grant
University of Tasmania
2017
Best Poster — Symposium on the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
International Glaciological Society (IGS)
2016
ARC Top-up Scholarship
Australian Research Council
2016
Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship
University of Tasmania
2015
Commitment Scholarship for Arctic Fieldwork
Society for Arctic Research and Technology (SAFT)
2015
Research Funding — Greenland
GrønlandsBANKEN
2014
Arctic Field Grant (AFG)
Norwegian Research Council
Selected Conferences
2024
AMSA & NZMSS ConferenceTalk
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2024
XI SCAR Open Science ConferencePoster
Pucón, Chile
2023
Gordon Research Conference — Polar Marine ScienceInvited
Ventura, CA, USA
2022
Advancing Earth Observation (AEO) ForumTalk
Brisbane, Australia
2021
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Technology Forum — IEEETalk
Online
2019
Gordon Research Conference — Polar Marine SciencePoster
Barga, Italy
2018
IGS Symposium on the Cryosphere and BiosphereTalk
Kyoto, Japan
2017
New Zealand Antarctic Science ConferenceTalk
Dunedin, New Zealand
2017
IGS Symposium on the Cryosphere in a Changing ClimatePoster ★ Best
Wellington, New Zealand
2015
Nordic International Glaciological Society MeetingPoster
Copenhagen, Denmark
Supervision & Teaching
PhD
Juan Carlos Montes-Herrera
Completed
"Proximal Remote Sensing of Seafloor Communities with Underwater Imaging Techniques"
PhD
Ryan S. Haynes
Ongoing
"Advancing multi-scale imaging spectroscopy from airborne platforms for ecosystem monitoring"
Hons
Sabrina Eliatamby & Ryan S. Haynes
Completed
Undergraduate honours projects in Antarctic sea-ice ecology and hyperspectral water-stress analysis.
Units
Lecturer & Unit Redesign
GPSS / IMAS, University of Tasmania
Restructured KGG213 (Remote Sensing: From Data to Information) and KGG543 (Advanced Earth Observation). Regular lecturer in QMS515 (Techniques in Remote Sensing) and KSA324 (Oceanographic Methods). Supervising research group for KGA704 (Professional Research Practice).
Media & Outreach
That's What I Call Science — Podcast, Episode 201: Insights from Drone Flights (2023)
Listen ↗
Beaker Street Science Photography — Finalist, featured on BBC UK (2020)
BBC article ↗
Voices from Antarctica 8: Under the Ice — RNZ Podcast
Listen ↗
CORE Education LEARNZ Virtual Field Trip — Featured in documentary on sea-ice organisms
Watch ↗
Light and Life Beneath the Ice — IMAS / UTAS Newsletter
Read ↗
Festival of Bright Ideas — Public seminar: "Mapping Meadows"
Australian Antarctic Festival (2016) — Public talk: Mantis Shrimp Vision Under the Ice
Field & Professional Experiences
Oct–Nov
2023
NIWA Benthic Sentinel Sites — ROV Campaign
Antarctica
Led a one-month campaign testing 'HICYBOT' as part of NIWA's benthic monitoring program. Obtained the first hyperspectral images of the Antarctic seafloor for non-invasive photosynthetic pigment assessment and seafloor species classification. Collected coralline algae for in-situ validation and DNA identification.
Aug–Sep
2023
Icebreaker Polarstern PS138 — ArcWatch1 Voyage
Arctic Ocean Eurasian Basin & North Pole
Two-month voyage conducting under-ice ROV operations as part of the sea-ice physics team of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). Responsible for acquisition and analysis of data from the 'BEAST' ROV Ecotone Underwater Hyperspectral Imager, alongside multibeam sonar, CTD and pH sensors. Goal: evaluating current Arctic ecosystem state and enabling decade-scale comparative studies.
Jan–Feb
2022
Antarctic Moss Beds Mapping — Drone & Hyperspectral Campaign
Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs)
Organised and led a field campaign to map Antarctic moss communities with heavy-lifting drones and VNIR/SWIR imaging spectroscopy payloads. Derived moss physiological traits including pigmentation and water content. Produced fine-scale topographic models with RGB imagery. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Wollongong and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).
Jul
2018
International PhD School — Shedding Light on Arctic Marine Ecosystem Services
CCGS Amundsen, Baffin Bay (Sentinel North, Université Laval)
Transdisciplinary hands-on PhD school aboard Canadian research icebreaker. Operated CTD rosette, optical instruments, gliders, BioArgo Floats, and seawater productivity techniques across optics, Arctic biology, marine physics, and biochemistry.
Jun–Jul
2015
Glacier Tracking via Oblique Time-lapse Photography
GEUS / DTU Space, North-West Greenland
Determined glacier velocities from automated oblique terrestrial photography over a major calving glacier front using the ImGRAFT MATLAB toolbox for image georectification and feature tracking.
Feb
2015
European Snow Science Winter School (ESSWS)
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sodankylä, Finland
Week-long workshop on state-of-the-art snow science measurement methods. Fieldwork in Arctic Tundra and Taiga environments covering snow pits, SWE methods, Snow Micro Pen, NIR photography and IceCube optical sensors for snow grain size.
Jul–Aug
2014
Glacier Mass Balance & DEM Reconstruction
Aqqutikitsoq Area, West Greenland (Arctic Technology Course)
Reconstructed a DEM of a 5 km² glacier using land-based Structure from Motion (SfM) and high-precision post-processed GPS. Operated automated weather stations, pyranometers, precipitation gauges, and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
Apr–Jul
2013
Hydraulics Laboratory Internship
University of Padua, Italy
Three-month internship in hydraulics modelling and laboratory practice, completing experimental BSc thesis on vortex-induced cross-flow seiching in open channel flow with vertical cylinder arrays.
Full CV available on request · [email protected]