<<< back to Research Infrastructure

The Laboratory (GEM-RSLab) operates as a dynamic hub at the intersection of advanced spatial technology and environmental science, structured seamlessly around a dual framework of academic research and hands-on teaching. Within its Academic Research Framework, the laboratory functions as a high-level scientific institution dedicated to addressing critical environmental challenges through data-driven innovation. Researchers in the lab secure grants, collaborate with global scientific bodies, and publish peer-reviewed studies that push the boundaries of geosciences. Concurrently, its Teaching and Training Framework transforms the lab into an educational incubator. Here, undergraduate and postgraduate students bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, mastering industry-standard software like ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and ENVI, while gaining mentorship for advanced theses. The true strength of the GEMRS Lab lies in the synergy between these two pillars, as live data from active research projects is directly integrated into the classroom to create a modern, immersive learning environment.
At the core of this dual framework is a suite of specialized technical activities that translate raw geographic data into predictive environmental intelligence. The workflow begins with geospatial data generation, where the lab collects primary field data using GNSS receivers and deploys Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to capture high-resolution imagery. This raw data undergoes rigorous geospatial data analysis within Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to uncover hidden spatial patterns, track geographic trends, and perform complex spatial statistics. For broader environmental monitoring, the lab utilizes multispectral analysis, leveraging satellite and airborne sensor data across wavelengths beyond human vision to calculate vegetation health indices (such as NDVI), evaluate water quality.

Services

Environmental Risk and Natural Hazard Modeling

Utilizing predictive environmental parameters modeling, the lab simulates natural disasters to assist in risk management. Services include mapping floodplains, assessing wildfire susceptibility, modeling landslide vulnerability, and simulating soil erosion rates for territorial planning.

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change Detection

Combining historical photointerpretation with modern satellite imagery classification (using machine learning algorithms), the lab provides temporal analysis of land surfaces. This service tracks urban sprawl, deforestation rates, wetland degradation, and coastal erosion over specific timeframes.

Satellite Remote Sensing

Acting as a technical intermediary and processing center, the lab procures, pre-processes (atmospheric and geometric corrections), and analyzes medium-to-high-resolution satellite data (e.g., radar/SAR, thermal imagery) for large-scale regional monitoring.

Equipment

DJI Phantom 4 pro v2.0 -  Quantity:  1

The UAV is a prosumer drone engineered for high-end aerial imaging and mapping. Weighing 1375{ g} and delivering a maximum flight time of approximately 30 minutes, it balances robust power with reliable flight performance.  The centerpiece of the aircraft is its stabilized camera, featuring a 1-inch, 20-megapixel CMOS sensor paired with a mechanical shutter. This hardware allows it to capture sharp stills and record professional-grade 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps) with a maximum bitrate of 100 { Mbps}. Supported formats include JPEG and RAW (DNG) for photos, alongside MP4 and MOV utilizing both H.264 and H.265 video codecs.  serves as an essential tool for high-precision data acquisition, effectively bridging the scale gap between localized ground surveys and coarse satellite imagery. Its 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor and mechanical shutter are critical for photogrammetry, as they eliminate rolling shutter distortion to produce highly accurate, geotagged aerial imagery. Geographers deploy this drone to generate ultra-high-resolution orthomosaics. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and 3D terrain reconstructions. These outputs are used across various subfields to monitor coastal erosion, track urban sprawl, map micro-topography, and perform high-frequency land cover change detection. By providing on-demand, cost-effective aerial surveying, the platform allows researchers to capture rapid environmental changes, such as landslide impacts or river channel migration, with centimeter-level spatial detail that traditional remote sensing assets cannot match.

Mirror Stereoscope with Stereometric tracer Carl Zeiss Jena, 14-G 351 b -  Quantity:  9

Is a precision optomechanical instrument manufactured by the legendary German optics company Carl Zeiss Jena. Historically utilized for military reconnaissance and cartography, it remains a highly valuable asset in academic laboratories for teaching the foundational mechanics of photointerpretation and photogrammetry.  The instrument consists of a rigid, collapsible metal frame housing a precise optical bridge designed to allow a user to view two offset images simultaneously, forcing the human brain to merge them into a single 3D scene. The addition of the Stereometric Tracer (or parallax bar/tracing bar attachment) elevates this from a simple viewing tool into a precise measuring device. There is no better way to teach students the core mechanics of human stereoscopic vision and geometric parallax than through an analog mirror stereoscope. By physically manipulating the stereometric tracer, students gain an intuitive, spatial understanding of how X, Y, Z coordinates are extracted from 2D remote sensing imagery before they move on to automated digital photogrammetry software. When conducting historical land-use change detection or geomorphological studies spanning back to the mid-20th century, archives often only possess hard-copy, historical aerial photograph prints. This equipment allows researchers to analyze, interpret, and manually trace analog archival imagery with high optical accuracy, bridging past environmental baselines with today's digital models.

Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a_Pro, working station All in One V1  - Quantity:  15

Is a premium, compact desktop workstation that integrates powerful computing components. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro All-in-One is a space-saving, high-performance workstation featuring a spacious 27-inch display, an efficient Intel Core Ultra 5 225 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a fast 1 TB SSD. Designed to minimize clutter, it integrates computing power directly into its monitor, making it an ideal, streamlined solution for modern laboratory environments. This system serves as a versatile workstation for both teaching and research. Its large screen is perfect for photointerpretation and navigating complex GIS interfaces, while the robust processor and SSD ensure quick loading of high-resolution imagery and spatial datasets. It is an excellent node for student learning and the day-to-day execution of geospatial data analysis, cartographic design, and environmental modeling workflows.

Original Prusa XL 5-toolhead 3D Printer  - Quantity:  1

The Original Prusa XL 5-toolhead is a professional-grade, large-format 3D printer featuring a unique tool-changer system that allows for up to five simultaneous material extrusions without the waste typical of single-nozzle multi-material systems. Its technical foundation includes a large 360x360x360 {mm} build volume, a segmented heatbed for superior thermal stability, and advanced "Nextruder" technology with a loadcell sensor for perfect first-layer calibration. With high-speed Input Shaper capabilities and support for diverse technical materials like carbon-filled composites and flexible filaments, it offers high-precision printing with 0.2 {mm} accuracy and reliable power-loss recovery.In geomatic research and laboratory applications, this printer is a powerful tool for physicalizing complex spatial data. Researchers can utilize its multi-material capabilities to create highly detailed, tactile physical models of terrain, geomorphological features, or urban environments, using different materials to distinguish between topographic layers, infrastructure, and vegetative cover. By combining rigid materials with flexible filaments, the lab can produce functional, multi-component models, such as orthographic map reliefs or specialized brackets for UAV field equipment, directly from GIS and CAD software, providing tangible assets for environmental modeling, structural geology studies, and educational demonstration.

ArcGIS Pro GIS Software -  Quantity:  10

ArcGIS Pro is Esri’s professional desktop GIS software, engineered as a 64-bit, multi-threaded application that fully integrates 2D and 3D data visualization and analysis. Technically, it supports high-performance rendering of massive spatial datasets, utilizes a modern ribbon-based interface, and offers deep integration with Python via the ArcPy library for task automation. It provides robust tools for managing complex relational geodatabases, performing advanced spatial statistics, and executing high-resolution image processing, while maintaining seamless connectivity to ArcGIS Online and Enterprise for cloud-based collaboration and real-time data sharing. In geographic and geomatic research, ArcGIS Pro serves as the primary analytical engine for transforming raw environmental data into actionable spatial intelligence. Researchers utilize its advanced modeling capabilities to perform tasks such as high-precision photogrammetry, hydrological surface analysis, and predictive environmental modeling. By consolidating vector analysis, multispectral remote sensing, and 3D terrain reconstruction within a single environment, the software allows for the efficient synthesis of multi-source data. It is indispensable for creating complex, multi-layered cartographic outputs and executing reproducible scientific workflows, making it the central hub for spatial decision-making and environmental impact studies within academic and professional labs.

Manager/coordinator
Associate Professor PhD Cristian Constantin Stoleriu

Members:
Associate Professor PhD Adrian Ursu , Lecturer PhD CS dr. Andrei ENEA

Direct link to EERTIS page 
https://eertis.eu/erlb-2631-323t-77257