Accessibility Skip to Global Navigation Skip to Local Navigation Skip to Content Skip to Search Skip to Site Map Menu

Dr Pascal Sirguey

Staff_PascalSirguey

MSc (École Centrale De Lyon) PhD (Otago)

Email: pascal.sirguey@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0)3 479 7698
Room: Surveying building, 1st floor, Room 115

Profile

Senior Lecturer

I teach and conduct research in areas of remote sensing, photogrammetry, and spatial analysis. In graduated with a diploma of multidisciplinary engineering majoring in mechanical engineering and structure dynamics from the École Centrale de Lyon in France. I started my career as a research engineer with a manufacturer of aircraft engines, then as a chief project manager for a famous watch manufacturer in Switzerland. I discovered geospatial sciences, and in particular remote sensing and photogrammetry during a one-year experience in New Zealand and decided to complete a PhD at the School of Surveying. I joined the School's academic team in 2008.

Teaching

Research interests

My research interests are in remote sensing, photogrammetry, and geospatial analytics, with an emphasis on the development of methods and techniques to map complex topography and characterise our dynamic landscape. My primary focus has been on detecting and understanding changes affecting mountains, glaciers, and snow. I have expertise in and develop a range of photogrammetric and image processing tools to monitor the variability of seasonal snow, map glacier surface albedo from satellites, characterise glacier mass balance and landslides. I am also applying my geospatial expertise to support research on geophysics, vegetation dynamics and zoology.

Research Themes (Disciplines)

Projects

Some current projects

Some completed projects

Postgraduate supervision

Current postgraduate supervision

  • Aubrey Miller, PhD, “Snow avalanche hazards in Aotearoa New Zealand: Using extreme events from the past to plan for the future.” (primary supervisor)
  • Katie Jones, PhD (VUW), “Modelling the regional-scale geomorphic sediment cascade following a large earthquake.” (supervisor)
  • Ellorine Carle, MSc, “3D change detection of alpine erosion and riverbed processes in the Cook River.”
  • Clare Lewis, MSc, “Spatio-temporal distribution of landslides in the Aoraki/Mt Cook region.” (primary supervisor)

Completed postgraduate supervision

  • Todd Redpath (2020), PhD, “A multi-scale approach to assess the four-dimensional (4D) distribution of snow water equivalent (SWE) in complex terrain in New Zealand.” (primary supervisor)
  • Xiaobin Hua (2020), PhD, “Changing functional landscapes: Phenological and compositional shifts in New Zealand’s natural and production ecosystems.” (supervisor)
  • Ernesto Dos Santos (2020), MAppSc, “3D Change Detection: A Case Study of Maitland’s Stream.” (primary supervisor)
  • Craig MacDonell (2020), MSc, “An eye on coastal change: Characterising spatio-temporal coastal sensitivity at high-resolution - Okia Reserve, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand.” (primary supervisor)
  • Lucy Just (2019), MSc, “Snow distribution and melt of a seasonal snowpack, Central Otago, New Zealand.” (supervisor)
  • Sam West (2019), MSc, “High resolution remote sensing techniques to assess tall tussock grassland distribution and density.” (supervisor)
  • Angus Dowson (2018), MSc, “Glacier surface albedo from MODIS data and links to annual mass balance for the Gardens of Eden and Allah, New Zealand.” (primary supervisor)
  • Kerryn Little (2018), MSc, “Climate controls on the mass balance of Brewster Glacier, Southern Alps.” (supervisor)
  • Chris Page (2017), MSurv, “The role of control network in the accuracy of underground laser scanning surveys.” (primary supervisor)
  • Julia Moloney (2017), MSc, “Quantifying morphologic changes of a coastal foredune using a low-cost remotely piloted aerial system (RPAS).” (supervisor)
  • Kambiz Borma (2017), PhD, “Geographic Vector Agents from Pixels to Intelligent Processing Units.” (supervisor)
  • Cliff Patterson (2016), PhD, “Deforestation, agricultural intensification, and farm resilience in Northern Belize: 1980-2010.” (supervisor)
  • Mike McConachie (2016), MAppSc, “Random forest learning-based classification of ultra-high resolution imagery of coastal dunes at Mason Bay, Stewart Island.” (primary supervisor)
  • Alec Geddes (2015), MSc, “An investigation of dynamic surface elevation and volume changes of Tasman Glacier using multi-temporal ASTER derived digital elevation models.” (primary supervisor)
  • Amanda Goh (2014), BScHons, “Using MODIS satellite images to characterize snow and cloud cover over Kilimanjaro.” (supervisor)
  • Rosie Wood (2013), PGDipSc, “Modeling Ice Retreat on Kilimanjaro Using GIS.” (primary supervisor)
  • Sebastian Vivero (2013), MSc, “Recent Ice Wastage on the Tasman Glacier, Southern Alps, New Zealand, Obtained from Geodetic Elevation Changes.” (primary supervisor)
  • Todd Redpath (2011), MSc, “Utilising optical satellite imagery to derive multi-temporal flow-fields for the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand.” (supervisor)
  • Joshua Columbus (2011), BSurv Hons, “An assessment of fractal interpolation for deriving Digital Elevation Models.” (primary supervisor)
  • Neil Bates (2011), BSurv Hons, “A quantitative comparison of terrestrial laser scanning and the Areoscan photogrammetry system.” (primary supervisor)
  • Abraham Growcott (2010), MSc, “Measuring Sperm whales via Acoustics and Photogrammetry.” (supervisor)
  • Delia Strong (2008), MSc, “Patterns and processes of ice loss at Tasman Glacier: an evaluation using historic data sources and remotely sensed imagery.” (supervisor)

Professional activities

Awards and achievements

  • Excellence Award in Health and Safety, University of Otago, 2018
  • Charles Fleming Senior Scientist Award, Royal Society of New Zealand, 2017
  • INVITES2015-2016 visiting scholarship, University Grenoble Alpes and Grenoble Institute of Technology, 2015
  • Asia-Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards (APSEA), Finalist “Education & Professional Development”, 2015
  • New Zealand Spatial Excellence Awards (NZSEA), Winner “Education & Professional Development”, 2014
  • Young Mountain Cartographer Award, International Cartographic Association, 2014
  • Exceptional Thesis Award, University of Otago, 2010
  • IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Travel Grant, 2009
  • Charles Fleming Fund Travel Award, Royal Society of New Zealand, 2009
  • New Zealand Postgraduate Study Abroad Award, Education New Zealand (NZPSAA), 2007
  • Best postgraduate presentation, Otago Energy Research Centre, 2007

Memberships

^ Top of page

Publications

Cox, S., Sirguey, P., & Lewis, C. (2021). Accelerated slope response in a destabilized alpine landscape. Proceedings of the 18th Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop: Understanding Mountain Climate II. (pp. 24). Retrieved from https://www.sirg.org.nz

Miller, A., Sirguey, P., Cullen, N., & Bühler, Y. (2021). Snow avalanche hazards in Aotearoa New Zealand: Using extreme events from the past to plan for the future. Proceedings of the 18th Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop: Understanding Mountain Climate II. (pp. 23). Retrieved from https://www.sirg.org.nz

Redpath, T., & Sirguey, P. (2021). Monitoring the presence and persistence of particulate impurities on New Zealand Glaciers using VENμS satellite imagery. Proceedings of the 18th Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop: Understanding Mountain Climate II. (pp. 18). Retrieved from https://www.sirg.org.nz

Abrahim, N., Cullen, N., Conway, J., & Sirguey, P. (2021). An examination of the surface energetics controlling the recent and dramatic loss of ice on Brewster Glacier. Proceedings of the 18th Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop: Understanding Mountain Climate II. (pp. 15). Retrieved from https://www.sirg.org.nz

Sirguey, P., Brunk, T., Cullen, N. J., & Miller, A. (2021). Going, going, gone! Reconstructing the reconstruction of Brewster Glacier mass balance record 1977-2018. Proceedings of the 18th Snow & Ice Research Group (SIRG) Annual Workshop: Understanding Mountain Climate II. (pp. 13). Retrieved from https://www.sirg.org.nz

Sirguey, P. (2013). Photogrammetry and remote sensing: 'Non tanquam pictor, sed tanquam mathematicus'. In M. Strack (Ed.), Survey marks. (pp. 135-144). Dunedin, New Zealand: School of Surveying, University of Otago & the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors.

Chapter in Book - Research

Eberhard, L. A., Sirguey, P., Miller, A., Marty, M., Schindler, K., Stoffel, A., & Bühler, Y. (2021). Intercomparison of photogrammetric platforms for spatially continuous snow depth mapping. Cryosphere, 15, 69-94. doi: 10.5194/tc-15-69-2021

Journal - Research Article

Dowson, A. J., Sirguey, P., & Cullen, N. J. (2020). Variability in glacier albedo and links to annual mass balance for the gardens of Eden and Allah, Southern Alps, New Zealand. Cryosphere, 14, 3425-3448. doi: 10.5194/tc-14-3425-2020

Journal - Research Article

Cullen, N. J., Gibson, P. B., Mölg, T., Conway, J. P., Sirguey, P., & Kingston, D. G. (2019). The influence of weather systems in controlling mass balance in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 124, 4514-4529. doi: 10.1029/2018JD030052

Journal - Research Article

Redpath, T. A. N., Sirguey, P., & Cullen, N. J. (2019). Characterising spatio-temporal variability in seasonal snow cover at a regional scale from MODIS data: The Clutha Catchment, New Zealand. Hydrology & Earth System Sciences, 23, 3189-3217. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-3189-2019

Journal - Research Article

Salinger, M. J., Renwick, J., Behrens, E., Mullan, A. B., Diamond, H. J., Sirguey, P., Smith, R. O., … Cullen, N. J., Fitzharris, B. B., Hepburn, C. D., … Sutton, P. J. (2019). The unprecedented coupled ocean-atmosphere summer heatwave in the New Zealand region 2017/18: Drivers, mechanisms and impacts. Environmental Research Letters, 14(4). doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab012a

Journal - Research Article

Basantes-Serrano, R., Rabatel, A., Vincent, C., & Sirguey, P. (2018). An optimized method to calculate the geodetic mass balance of mountain glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 64(248), 917-931. doi: 10.1017/jog.2018.79

Journal - Research Article

Davaze, L., Rabatel, A., Arnaud, Y., Sirguey, P., Six, D., Letreguilly, A., & Dumont, M. (2018). Monitoring glacier albedo as a proxy to derive summer and annual surface mass balances from optical remote-sensing data. Cryosphere, 12(1), 271-286. doi: 10.5194/tc-12-271-2018

Journal - Research Article

Masson, T., Dumont, M., Dalla Mura, M., Sirguey, P., Gascoine, S., Dedieu, J.-P., & Chanussot, J. (2018). An assessment of existing methodologies to retrieve snow cover fraction from MODIS data. Remote Sensing, 10(4), 619. doi: 10.3390/rs10040619

Journal - Research Article

Moloney, J. G., Hilton, M. J., Sirguey, P., & Simons-Smith, T. (2018). Coastal dune surveying using a low-cost remotely piloted aerial system (RPAS). Journal of Coastal Research, 34(5), 1244-1255. doi: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-17-00076.1

Journal - Research Article

Redpath, T. A. N., Sirguey, P., & Cullen, N. J. (2018). Repeat mapping of snow depth across an alpine catchment with RPAS photogrammetry. Cryosphere, 12, 3477-3497. doi: 10.5194/tc-12-3477-2018

Journal - Research Article

Revuelto, J., Lecourt, G., Lafaysse, M., Zin, I., Charrois, L., Vionnet, V., … Sirguey, P. (2018). Multi-criteria evaluation of snowpack simulations in complex alpine terrain using satellite and in situ observations. Remote Sensing, 10(8), 1171. doi: 10.3390/rs10081171

Journal - Research Article

Bohleber, P., Sold, L., Hardy, D. R., Schwikowski, M., Klenk, P., Fischer, A., Sirguey, P., Cullen, N. J., … Mayewski, P. (2017). Ground-penetrating radar reveals ice thickness and undisturbed englacial layers at Kilimanjaro's Northern Ice Field. Cryosphere, 11, 469-482. doi: 10.5194/tc-11-469-2017

Journal - Research Article

Cullen, N. J., Anderson, B., Sirguey, P., Stumm, D., Mackintosh, A., Conway, J. P., … Fitzsimons, S. J., & Lorrey, A. (2017). An 11-year record of mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, determined using a geostatistical approach. Journal of Glaciology, 63(238), 199-217. doi: 10.1017/jog.2016.128

Journal - Research Article

Dawson, S. M., Bowman, M. H., Leunissen, E., & Sirguey, P. (2017). Inexpensive aerial photogrammetry for studies of whales and large marine animals. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4, 366. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00366

Journal - Research Article

Jobst, A. M., Kingston, D. G., Cullen, N. J., & Sirguey, P. (2017). Combining thin-plate spline interpolation with a lapse rate model to produce daily air temperature estimates in a data-sparse alpine catchment. International Journal of Climatology, 37(1), 214-229. doi: 10.1002/joc.4699

Journal - Research Article

Rabatel, A., Berthier, E., Arnaud, Y., Dedieu, J.-P., Dumont, M., Gascoine, S., … Sirguey, P., … Zakharova, E. (2017). Télédétection satellitaire des surfaces enneigées et englacées. La Météorologie, 97, 78-85. doi: 10.4267/2042/62170

Journal - Research Article

Rabatel, A., Sirguey, P., Drolon, V., Maisongrande, P., Arnaud, Y., Berthier, E., … Dumont, M. (2017). Annual and seasonal glacier-wide surface mass balance quantified from changes in glacier surface state: A review on existing methods using optical satellite imagery. Remote Sensing, 9(5), 507. doi: 10.3390/rs9050507

Journal - Research Article

Borna, K., Moore, A. B., & Sirguey, P. (2016). An intelligent geospatial processing unit for image classification based on geographic vector agents (GVAs). Transactions in GIS, 20(3), 368-381. doi: 10.1111/tgis.12226

Journal - Research Article

Dedieu, J.-P., Carlson, B. Z., Bigot, S., Sirguey, P., Vionnet, V., & Choler, P. (2016). On the importance of high-resolution time series of optical imagery for quantifying the effects of snow cover duration on alpine plant habitat. Remote Sensing, 8(6), 481. doi: 10.3390/rs8060481

Journal - Research Article

Kingston, D. G., Webster, C. S., & Sirguey, P. (2016). Atmospheric circulation drivers of lake inflow for the Waitaki River, New Zealand. International Journal of Climatology, 36(3), 1102-1113. doi: 10.1002/joc.4405

Journal - Research Article

Sirguey, P., Still, H., Cullen, N. J., Dumont, M., Arnaud, Y., & Conway, J. P. (2016). Reconstructing the mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, using MODIS-derived glacier-wide albedo. Cryosphere, 10, 2465-2484. doi: 10.5194/tc-2016-98

Journal - Research Article

Brun, F., Dumont, M., Wagnon, P., Berthier, E., Azam, M. F., Shea, J. M., Sirguey, P., … Ramanathan, A. (2015). Seasonal changes in surface albedo of Himalayan glaciers from MODIS data and links with the annual mass balance. Cryosphere, 9, 341-355. doi: 10.5194/tc-9-341-2015

Journal - Research Article

Cox, S. C., McSaveney, M. J., Spencer, J., Allen, S. K., Ashraf, S., Hancox, G. T., Sirguey, P., … Ferris, B. G. (2015). Rock avalanche on 14 July 2014 from Hillary Ridge, Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand. Landslides, 12(2), 395-402. doi: 10.1007/s10346-015-0556-7

Journal - Research Article

Forin-Wiart, M.-A., Hubert, P., Sirguey, P., & Poulle, M.-L. (2015). Performance and accuracy of lightweight and low-cost GPS data loggers according to antenna positions, fix intervals, habitats and animal movements. PLoS ONE, 10(6), e0129271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129271

Journal - Research Article

Borna, K., Moore, A. B., & Sirguey, P. (2014). Towards a vector agent modelling approach for remote sensing image classification. Journal of Spatial Science, 59(2), 283-296. doi: 10.1080/14498596.2014.915588

Journal - Research Article

Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., … The Randolph Consortium, including Cullen, N. J., & Sirguey, P. (2014). The Randolph Glacier Inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537-552. doi: 10.3189/2014joG13J176

Journal - Research Article

Sirguey, P. (2014). Photogrammetry, remote sensing and the surveying discipline. New Zealand Surveyor, 303, 32-38.

Journal - Research Article

Sirguey, P., & Cullen, N. J. (2014). A very high resolution DEM of Kilimanjaro via photogrammetry of Geoeye-1 images (Kilisosdem2012). New Zealand Surveyor, 303, 19-25.

Journal - Research Article

Cullen, N. J., Sirguey, P., Mölg, T., Kaser, G., Winkler, M., & Fitzsimons, S. J. (2013). A century of ice retreat on Kilimanjaro: The mapping reloaded. Cryosphere, 7(2), 419-431. doi: 10.5194/tc-7-419-2013

Journal - Research Article

Mary, A., Dumont, M., Dedieu, J.-P., Durand, Y., Sirguey, P., Milhem, H., … Morin, S. (2013). Intercomparison of retrieval algorithms for the specific surface area of snow from near-infrared satellite data in mountainous terrain, and comparison with the output of a semi-distributed snowpack model. Cryosphere, 7, 741-761. doi: 10.5194/tc-7-741-2013

Journal - Research Article

Redpath, T. A. N., Sirguey, P., Fitzsimons, S. J., & Kääb, A. (2013). Accuracy assessment for mapping glacier flow velocity and detecting flow dynamics from ASTER satellite imagery: Tasman Glacier, New Zealand. Remote Sensing of Environment, 133, 90-101. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2013.02.008

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, C. L., Sirguey, P., Leonard, G. H., & Haskell, T. G. (2013). The 2013 Erebus Glacier tongue calving event. Cryosphere, 7, 1333-1337. doi: 10.5194/tcd-7-1749-2013

Journal - Research Article

Dumont, M., Gardelle, J., Sirguey, P., Guillot, A., Six, D., Rabatel, A., & Arnaud, Y. (2012). Linking glacier annual mass balance and glacier albedo retrieved from MODIS data. Cryosphere, 6(6), 1527-1539. doi: 10.5194/tc-6-1527-2012

Journal - Research Article

Growcott, A., Sirguey, P., & Dawson, S. M. (2012). Development and assessment of a digital stereo photogrammetric system to measure cetaceans at sea. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 78(3), 237-246.

Journal - Research Article

Dumont, M., Sirguey, P., Arnaud, Y., & Six, D. (2011). Monitoring spatial and temporal variations of surface albedo on Saint Sorlin Glacier (French Alps) using terrestrial photography. Cryosphere, 5(3), 759-771. doi: 10.5194/tc-5-759-2011

Journal - Research Article

Growcott, A., Miller, B., Sirguey, P., Slooten, E., & Dawson, S. (2011). Measuring body length of male sperm whales from their clicks: The relationship between inter-pulse intervals and photogrammetrically measured lengths. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 130(1), 568-573. doi: 10.1121/1.3578455

Journal - Research Article

Recio, M. R., Mathieu, R., Denys, P., Sirguey, P., & Seddon, P. J. (2011). Lightweight GPS-tags, one giant leap for wildlife tracking? An assessment approach. PLoS ONE, 6(12), e28225. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028225

Journal - Research Article

Tenzer, R., Sirguey, P., Rattenbury, M., & Nicolson, J. (2011). A digital rock density map of New Zealand. Computers & Geosciences, 37(8), 1181-1191. doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2010.07.010

Journal - Research Article

Tenzer, R., Mikuška, J., Marušiak, I., Pašteka, R., Karcol, R., Vajda, P., & Sirguey, P. (2010). Computation of the atmospheric gravity correction in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 53(4), 333-340. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2010.510171

Journal - Research Article

Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., & Arnaud, Y. (2009). Subpixel monitoring of the seasonal snow cover with MODIS at 250 m spatial resolution in the Southern Alps of New Zealand: Methodology and accuracy assessment. Remote Sensing of Environment, 113(1), 160-181. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2008.09.008

Journal - Research Article

Allen, S., Owens, I., & Sirguey, P. (2008). Satellite remote sensing procedures for glacial terrain analyses and hazard assessment in the Aoraki Mount Cook region, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 51(1), 73-87. doi: 10.1080/00288300809509851

Journal - Research Article

Lopez, P., Sirguey, P., Arnaud, Y., Pouyaud, B., & Chevallier, P. (2008). Snow cover monitoring in the Northern Patagonia Icefield using MODIS satellite images (2000-2006). Global & Planetary Change, 61(3-4), 103-116. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.07.005

Journal - Research Article

Sirguey, P., Mathieu, R., Arnaud, Y., Khan, M. M., & Chanussot, J. (2008). Improving MODIS spatial resolution for snow mapping using wavelet fusion and ARSIS concept. Geoscience & Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE, 5(1), 78-82. doi: 10.1109/LGRS.2007.908884

Journal - Research Article

Dumont, M., Sirguey, P., Arnaud, Y., & Six, D. (2011). Monitoring spatial and temporal variations of surface albedo on Saint Sorlin Glacier (French Alps) using terrestrial photography. Cryosphere Discussions, 5(1), 271-305. doi: 10.5194/tcd-5-271-2011

Journal - Research Other

Sirguey, P. (2009). Simple correction of multiple reflection effects in rugged terrain [Letter]. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 30(4), 1075-1081. doi: 10.1080/01431160802348101

Journal - Research Other

Hager, T., Sirguey, P., Bazsika, J., & Goodwin, D. (2014). Surveying an icon: The trigonometric survey of Aoraki/Mt Cook. Survey Quarterly, 78, 5-11.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Page, C., Radley, K., & Sirguey, P. (2014). Caught on camera: An assessment of the Trimble V10 Imaging Rover. Surveying+Spatial, 80, 20-26.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Sirguey, P. (2014). The recent survey of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Consulting Surveyor, (March), 6-7.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Sirguey, P., & Cullen, N. J. (2013). Surveying from outer space: KILISoSDEM2012: A very high resolution DEM of Kilimanjaro. Survey Quarterly, 76, 5-7.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

More publications...