SCHLERF Martin

About

I am interested in the measurement, processing, and analysis of spectral signatures and images of the Earth's surface, their use to derive relevant information, in particular plant functional traits, condition and stress of agricultural crops and forests, and their integration into ecosystem models. I contribute to Earth Observation Science by developing innovative retrieval algorithms and analyzing spatial-temporal patterns at various scales in connection with other geo-factors, with the aim to better understand ecosystem changes and to solve real world problems.

Mission

Estimation of nitrogen in crop, forest, mangrove, and grassland through imaging spectroscopy (various papers, e.g. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-022-09918-y) Co-developer of the Invertible Forest Reflectance Model (INFORM) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2005.10.006 Conceptualization of sensor synergy use in EO for crop stress detection (with K. Berger, M. Machwitz et al.) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113198 Operation of a hyperspectral thermal infrared airborne system, data processing and analysis for vegetation and defense applications (with M. Gerhards, F. Ronellenfitsch) https://doi.org/10.3390/rs4123995 Contribution to the development of the Digital Twin Component Agriculture to ESA (with M. Sulis et al.)

Skills and expertise

  • Hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal remote sensing at drone, airborne and satellite levels
  • Hybrid inversion of vegetation radiative transfer models
  • Retrieval of biochemcial and structural plant traits, condition, and stress across multiple scales

Key collaborations

  • European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Brussels. 2023 to date: National representative to COST Action CA22136 PANGEOS; 2018-2023: Action Chair of Action CA17134 SENSECO, 2017-2018: Nat. Repr. to OPTIMISE
  • European Space Agency, Paris. 2018 to present: CHIME Mission Advisory Group Member
  • Taylor & Francis, 2015 to present: Associate Editor European Journal of Remote Sensing

Latest Publications

Advancing optical earth observation for EU policies: needs, opportunities, recommendations

Berger K., Hostert P., Schlerf M., Immitzer M., Szantoi Z., Okujeni A., Foerster S., Colditz R., Giardino C., Machwitz M., Weiss M., Defourny P., Kutser T., Remeta P., Foerster M., Féret J.B., Asadzadeh S., Chabrillat S., Croft H., Stassin T., Schickling A., Vancutsem C., Celesti M., Proud S., Jonckheere I., Strobl P., Milewski R., Herold M.

Environmental Sciences Europe, vol. 38, n° 1, art. no. 52, 2026

An AI-ready remote sensing dataset for high-resolution forest disturbance mapping

Rodríguez-Paulino E., Stoffels J., Schlerf M., Röder A., Wagner A., Udelhoven T.

Scientific Data, vol. 13, n° 1, art. no. 490, 2026

High spatial resolution thermal infrared data from airborne acquisition reveal inconsistencies in evapotranspiration and crop water stress retrieval from different models

Corbari C., Hu T., Paciolla N., Schlerf M., Mallick K., Ronellenfitsch F.K., Ceppi A., Crisafulli V., Bossung C., Feki M., Llorens R., Skokovic D., Al Bitar A., Sobrino J., Mancini M.

Remote Sensing Applications Society and Environment, vol. 38, art. no. 101563, 2025

Optimizing hybrid models for canopy nitrogen mapping from Sentinel-2 in Google Earth Engine

De Clerck E., D.Kovács D., Berger K., Schlerf M., Verrelst J.

ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vol. 218, pp. 530-545, 2024

Crop stress detection from UAVs: best practices and lessons learned for exploiting sensor synergies

Chakhvashvili E., Machwitz M., Antala M., Rozenstein O., Prikaziuk E., Schlerf M., Naethe P., Wan Q., Komárek J., Klouek T., Wieneke S., Siegmann B., Kefauver S., Kycko M., Balde H., Paz V.S., Jimenez-Berni J.A., Buddenbaum H., Hänchen L., Wang N., Weinman A., Rastogi A., Malachy N., Buchaillot M.L., Bendig J., Rascher U.

Precision Agriculture, vol. 25, n° 5, pp. 2614-2642, 2024

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