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Paul Aplin

Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences

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Research Summary

My central research theme is remote sensing of environmental distributions, with particular focus on spatial and temporal scales of observation, methods of land cover characterisation, and… read more

Selected Publications

  • ALTAMIRANO, A., FIELD, R., CAYUELA, L., APLIN, P., LARA, A. and REY-BENAYAS, J. M., 2010. Woody species diversity in temperate Andean forests: The need for new conservation strategies Biological Conservation. VOL 143, 2080-2091
  • APLIN, P. AND SMITH, G.M., 2011. Introduction to object-based landscape analysis International Journal of Geographical Information Science. 25, 869-875
  • TEEUW, R, APLIN, P, MCWILLIAM, N, WICKS, T and KERVYN, M. AND ERNST, G., 2009. Hazard assessment and disaster management using remote sensing. In: WARNER, T and NELLIS, M.D. AND FOODY, G.M., eds., The SAGE Handbook of Remote Sensing London: SAGE. 446-458
  • HARVEY, G, MOUNT, N and APLIN, P. AND PRIESTNALL, G., 2009. Introduction to representing, modeling and visualizing the natural environment. In: MOUNT, N, HARVEY, G and APLIN, P. AND PRIESTNALL, G., eds., Representing, Modeling and Visualizing the Natural Environment Boca Raton: CRC Press. 1-8

Current Research

My central research theme is remote sensing of environmental distributions, with particular focus on spatial and temporal scales of observation, methods of land cover characterisation, and application to ecological problems.

I am interested in variation in the natural environment, and how this variation over space and time can be represented using image data and analysis (Scales and dynamics in observing the environment 2006). Land cover information, especially with its implications for human land use, is of critical importance for both understanding and managing the global environment and how it changes over time (Remote sensing land cover 2004). Detailed land cover classification has been routinely achievable for over a decade with the current generation of very high resolution sensors (Fine spatial resolution satellite sensors 1997). Nonetheless image data can be too coarse to identify target features; though here contemporary super-resolution analysis enables mapping at the sub-pixel scale (Super-resolution bracken mapping 2012). Alternatively where traditional pixel-based approaches over-sample the landscape, object-based image analysis can provide an accurate representation (Object-based landscape analysis 2011). Image classification, and indeed remote sensing as a whole, has often been under-exploited in ecological investigation (Remote sensing ecology 2005). Applied appropriately, remote sensing offers considerable benefit for analysing ecological distributions and ultimately informing conservation practices (Woody species conservation strategies 2010).

In addition to direct research activity, I engage widely in broader academic service. I recently completed a term as Chairman of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc); I am one of the founding members, and the only independent member, of the UK Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) Earth Observation Forum; and I am currently engaged as Book Series Editor for the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS). I am also an editorial board member or guest editor for the International Journal of Geographical Information Science, International Journal of Remote Sensing, ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, and Land. I am committed to knowledge exchange, currently leading NERC's major Earth Observation Technology Cluster initiative, and editing a special issue of Remote Sensing (call for papers: Earth Observation technology).

  • APLIN, P. AND SMITH, G.M., 2011. Introduction to object-based landscape analysis International Journal of Geographical Information Science. 25, 869-875
  • ALTAMIRANO, A., FIELD, R., CAYUELA, L., APLIN, P., LARA, A. and REY-BENAYAS, J. M., 2010. Woody species diversity in temperate Andean forests: The need for new conservation strategies Biological Conservation. VOL 143, 2080-2091
  • APLIN, P. AND HOLLAND, J., 2010. Investigating super-resolution analysis and scale and time of observation for characterising bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) distributions In: ISPRS TCVII Symposium Proceedings. CD
  • WILLIAMS, M, SANCHEZ-HERNANDEZ, C and TEEUW, R. AND APLIN, P., eds., 2010. Remote Sensing and the Carbon Cycle Abstracts Nottingham: Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society.
  • APLIN, P, DONOGHUE, D, TATE, N, FERRIER, G and BOYD, D. AND POPE, A., 2010. The NERC Earth Observation Technology Cluster In: RSPSoc2010 Proceedings. CD
  • HOLLAND, J. AND APLIN, P., 2010. Super-resolution mapping of bracken in the Lake District National Park, UK In: RSPSoc2010 Proceedings. CD (In Press.)
  • APLIN, P., 2010. Using remotely sensed imagery. In: CLIFFORD, N and FRENCH, S. AND VALENTINE, G., eds., Key Methods in Geography 2nd edition. London: SAGE. 299-313
  • APLIN, P. AND SMITH, G.M., ed., 2009. Object-Based Landscape Analysis Abstracts Nottingham: Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. (In Press.)
  • NEWBY, P.R.T, APLIN, P, BUCKLEY, S.J, CHANDLER, J.H, DRUMMOND, J.E, HOLLAND, D.A, LAVENDER, S.J, MILLER, P.E, MILLS, J.P, MILLS, H and WALKER, S. A. AND WOODSFORD, P.A., 2009. XXIst International Congress of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Photogrammetric Record. 24, 66-102
  • APLIN, P., 2009. Review of Aspinall, R.J. and Hill, M.J. (editors) 2008, Land Use Change: Science, Policy and Management, Boca Raton, CRC Press, 185 pp International Journal of Remote Sensing. 30, 6611-6612
  • TEEUW, R, APLIN, P, MCWILLIAM, N, WICKS, T and KERVYN, M. AND ERNST, G., 2009. Hazard assessment and disaster management using remote sensing. In: WARNER, T and NELLIS, M.D. AND FOODY, G.M., eds., The SAGE Handbook of Remote Sensing London: SAGE. 446-458
  • HARVEY, G, MOUNT, N and APLIN, P. AND PRIESTNALL, G., 2009. Introduction to representing, modeling and visualizing the natural environment. In: MOUNT, N, HARVEY, G and APLIN, P. AND PRIESTNALL, G., eds., Representing, Modeling and Visualizing the Natural Environment Boca Raton: CRC Press. 1-8
  • DU, P and APLIN, P. AND JACKSON, M., 2008. Remote sensing education in China and the UK: synergy and opportunities International Archives in the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. 37(B6a), 1-4
  • DU, P, LI, G and YUAN, L. AND APLIN, P., 2008. Consistency analysis of multi-source remotely sensed images for land cover classification In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Spatial Accuracy Assessment in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. CD
  • APLIN, P., 2008. Remote sensing, RSPSoc and Rolf Harris - a research student experience: Keynote Address In: Proceedings of the RSPSoc Annual Student Meeting. 9
  • APLIN, P and AND SMITH, G.M., 2008. Advances in object-based image classification International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. 37(Part B7), 725-728
  • PRIESTNALL, G. and APLIN, P., 2006. Cover: Spatial and temporal remote sensing requirements for river monitoring International Journal of Remote Sensing. 27(11), 2111-2120
  • APLIN, P., 2006. On scales and dynamics in observing the environment International Journal of Remote Sensing. 27(11), 2123-2140
  • APLIN, P., PRIESTNALL, G., AGARWAL, P. and HAMRE, T., 2006. The role of user testing in developing a European web-based marine pollution GIS In: Proceedings of the 14th GIScience Research UK Annual Conference (GISRUK 2006). 341-345
  • APLIN, P., 2006. Preface (Special Issue: Scales and Dynamics in Observing the Environment) International Journal of Remote Sensing. 27, 2121
  • PRIESTNALL, G. AND APLIN, P., ed., 2006. Proceedings of the 14th GIScience Research UK Annual Conference (GISRUK 2006) University of Nottingham.
  • BARTELS, M. AND APLIN, P., 2006. [Conference Review] ISPRS Commission VII Symposium: Remote sensing: from pixels to processes The Photogrammetric Record. 21(116), 407-410
  • APLIN , P., 2006. Environmental processes and management practices in Kruger National Park In: Proceedings of the ISPRS TCVII Mid-term Symposium. CD
  • AGARWAL, P., TANTRAM, D., APLIN, P. and HAINES-YOUNG, R., 2005. Establishing good practice guidelines for the deployment of GIS in AONB management In: Proceedings of the 13th GIScience Research UK Annual Conference (GISRUK 2005). 456-461
  • APLIN, P., 2005. Remote sensing: ecology Progress in Physical Geography. VOL 29(ISSU 1), 104-113
  • MATHEW, T.R and APLIN, P. AND FIELD, R., 2005. A multiscale approach to analyze vegetation dynamics in KNP In: Proceedings of the 3rd Kruger National Park Science Meeting. 60
  • LLOYD, C., ATKINSON, P. and APLIN, P., 2005. Characterising spatial variation in land cover imagery using geostatistical functions and the discrete wavelet transform. In: Geostatistics for Environmental Applications Springer, New York, USA. 391-402
  • MATHEW, T.R and APLIN, P. AND FIELD, R., 2005. A multiscale remote sensing approach to analyse the spatial dynamics of savnna in Kruger National Park, South Africa In: Proceedings of the 31st International Symposium of Remote Sensing of Environment. CD
  • APLIN, P. and ATKINSON, P. M., 2004. Predicting Missing Field Boundaries to Increase Per-Field Classification Accuracy Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 70(1), 141-149
  • ATKINSON, P. M. and APLIN, P., 2004. Spatial variation in land cover and choice of spatial resolution for remote sensing International Journal of Remote Sensing. 25(18), 3687-3702
  • VIEIRA, C.A., MATHER, P.M. and APLIN, P., 2004. Assessing the positional and thematic accuracy of remotely sensed data In: Proceedings XXth Congress of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS): Geo-imagery Bridging Continents.
  • LE, T.K.T, ABRAHART, R.J and PRIESTNALL, G. AND APLIN, P., 2004. First steps towards a weighted town centre index model for Nottingham In: UDMS 2004. CD
  • HUMPHRIES, C.E., APLIN, P., WILKINSON, A., MASON, J.E. and SMITHERS, R.J., 2004. Calculating potential increase in cumulative core area (CCA) of ancient woodland through land cover conversion In: Proceedings of the 12th GIScience Research UK Conference (GISRUK 2004), UK. 399-402
  • VIEIRA, C.A.O and MATHER, P.M. AND APLIN, P., 2004. Improving artificial neural network performance for crop classification In: 17th Brazilian Symposium on Artificial Intelligence. CD
  • APLIN, P, 2004. [Book Review] Geoinformation: Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry and Geographic Information Systems. By Gottfried Konecny. London: Taylor & Francis, 2003 The Geographical Journal. 170(2), 171-172
  • NEWBY, P.R.T, WOODSFORD, P.A, MILLS, J.P, HOLLAND, D.A, TOMPKINSON, W, HOLMES, A.J, ROBSON, S, APLIN, P and BUCKLEY, S.J. AND MEHNER, H., 2004. [Conference Review] XXth International Congress of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing The Photogrammetric Record. 19(108), 375-402
  • APLIN, P., 2004. Remote sensing as a means of ecological investigation In: Proceedings, XXth Congress of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS): Geo-imagery Bridging Continents.
  • APLIN, P., 2004. Remote sensing: land cover Progress in Physical Geography. VOL 28(PART 2), 283-293
  • APLIN, P., 2003. Comparison of simulated IKONOS and SPOT HRV imagery for classifying urban areas. In: Remotely-Sensed Cities 23-45
  • APLIN, P., 2003. A cautionary note on per-parcel classification accuracy assessment In: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. CD
  • APLIN, P., 2003. Remote sensing: base mapping Progress in Physical Geography. VOL 27(PART 2), 275-283
  • GUY, M and HAINES-YOUNG, R. AND APLIN, P., 2003. The use of a cellular automata based technique to model woodland change in south-west England In: Proceedings of the 11th GIScience Research UK Annual Conference (GISRUK 2003). 256-259
  • APLIN, P., 2003. Vegetation monitoring in southern Africa: a consideration of natural and anthropogenic factors In: Proceedings, 30th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment: Information for Risk Management and Sustainable Development. CD
  • APLIN, P., 2003. [Book Review] Geoinformation: Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry and Geographic Information Systems. By Gottfried Konecny. London: Taylor & Francis, 2003 Geographical Journal. 170(171-172),
  • APLIN, P., 2003. Using remotely sensed data. In: Key Methods in Physical Geography 291-308
  • TANTRAM, D, HAINES-YOUNG, R and AGARWAL, P. AND APLIN, P., 2003. GIS in AONB Management. In: , ed., AONB Management Handbook The Countryside Agency. 36
  • APLIN, P. and ATKINSON, P. M., 2001. Sub-pixel land cover mapping for per-field classification International Journal of Remote Sensing. 22(14), 2853-2858
  • VIEIRA, C.A., MATHER, P.M. and APLIN, P., 2001. Constructing spectral-temporal response surfaces (STRS) for crop and forest classification In: RSPSoc 2001 - Geomatics, Earth Observation and the Information Society.
  • APLIN, P., 2000. [Book Review] Lillesand, T.M. and Kiefer, R.W. 2000: Remote sensing and image interpretation, fourth edition. New York: John Wiley Progress in Physical Geography. 24(4), 621-622 (In Press.)
  • APLIN, P., 2000. Detecting change at the urban-rural fringe in a Mediterranean environment In: RSS2000 - Adding Value to Remotely Sensed Data.
  • APLIN, P., 2000. Comparison of simulated IKONOS and SPOT HRV imagery for land cover classification In: RSS2000: Adding Value to Remotely Sensed Data.
  • APLIN, P., PRIVETTE, J.L., MORISETTE, J.T., SWAP, R.J., DAWSON, T.P., RINGROSE, S., ROBERTS, G. and FRANCIS, P.N., 2000. The remote sensing component of the Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) In: RSS2000 - Adding Value to Remotely Sensed Data.
  • APLIN, P., 2000. Fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery for national land cover mapping In: 8th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment: Information for Sustainable Development.
  • APLIN, P., 1999. Per-field classification of land use using the forthcoming very fine spatial resolution satellite sensors: problems and potential solutions. In: Advances in Remote Sensing and GIS Analysis John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. 219-239
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P.M. and CURRAN, P.J., 1999. Fine Spatial Resolution Simulated Satellite Sensor Imagery for Land Cover Mapping in the United Kingdom - an example using SPOT HRV imagery Remote Sensing of Environment. VOL 68(NUMBER 3), 206-216
  • ATKINSON, P. and APLIN, P., 1999. An empirical analysis of spatial scale using airborne imagery of Arundel, Sussex In: RSS '99: From Data to Information.
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P. and CURRAN, P., 1998. Identifying missing field boundaries to increase the accuracy of per-field classification of fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery In: 27th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment: Information for Sustainability. 399-402
  • CURRAN, P.J., ATKINSON, P.M. and APLIN, P., 1998. A clean sweep of the skies 2(4), 12-15
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P. and CURRAN, P., 1998. Combining fuzzy and per-parcel classification techniques to map urban land cover from fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery In: RSS '98. 561-567
  • RIDLEY, H.M., ATKINSON, P.M., APLIN, P., MULLER, J.P. and DOWMAN, I., 1997. Evaluating the potential of the forthcoming commercial US high-resolution satellite sensor imagery at the Ordnance Survey Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 63, 997-1005
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P. and CURRAN, P., 1997. Using the spectral properties of fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery for national land cover and land use mapping In: Remote Sensing Society Annual Student Meeting '97.
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P. and CURRAN, P., 1997. Integrating fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery and digital vector data for per-field land cover mapping In: RSS '97: Observations and Interactions. 193-198
  • APLIN, P and ATKINSON, P.M. AND CURRAN, P.J., 1997. Using the spectral properties of fine spatial resolution satellite sensor imagery for national land cover and land use mapping. In: GUYOT, G. AND PHULPIN, T., ed., Physical Measurements and Signatures in Remote Sensing 1. Balkema. 661-668
  • APLIN, P., ATKINSON, P. M. and CURRAN, P. J., 1997. Fine spatial resolution satellite sensors for the next decade International Journal of Remote Sensing. VOL 18(NUMBER 18), 3873-3881
  • APLIN, P. and ATKINSON, P., 1996. High spatial resolution satellite sensors for the next decade In: RSS '96: Remote Sensing Science and Industry. 521-528

School of Geography

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