Here you can find many event details for the virtual 2021 STRATUS Conference, including the event synopsis, schedule, program committee, keynote speakers, and virtual field trips.
About the Conference
The virtual 2021 STRATUS conference brings together academics, industry representatives, and domain specialists to share perspectives on this rapidly evolving field of a wide range of topics. Since its inception in 2016, STRATUS went from a one-day to a two-day and then to a three-day annual workshop and is now a three-day conference and includes previously recorded field trips. Based on the received request from attendees, we have expanded the workshops to reach entities beyond the original scope of a Western New York audience.
This conference is virtual only without in-person attendance.
What sets the non-profit virtual 2021 STRATUS Conference apart from other specialized or larger UAS meetings are the important interdisciplinary topics ranging from the latest challenges in UAV platform design and technology to sensor design, information gathering and processing, and modeling to produce data that support decision-making.
The virtual 2021 STRATUS Conference topics include:
- Remote Sensing
- 3D and Multi-view Imaging
- Environmental Monitoring and Modelling
- Platforms, Calibration, Sensor, and Imaging Systems
- Technologies and Applications
- Algorithm and Image Processing
- Photogrammetry
- Geohazards and Extreme Events
- Single Unit and Swarm Missions
The Special Focus of the 2021 STRATUS Conference is “Geohazards and other Extreme Events”. We invite participants who are interested in sharing their insight, latest research, and technical challenges to engage in scientific and practical conversations to identify collaborative partners for facing the complex challenges under extreme conditions with holistic approaches in designing and testing integrated UAV mission planning, information gathering and decision making for extreme conditions, rapid response or emergency management.
The conference has a two-track submission process for program consideration. You can either submit an abstract (plus presentation, i.e., track 1) or a 4-page paper (plus presentation i.e., track 2). The first track is for workshop participants who desire to share their work during the conference without submitting a full paper. This first track will require an abstract only for program consideration. The second track is for authors wishing to present a full paper to be published in the proceedings. A paper is required and will undergo a full peer-review process for those wishing to seek this option.
Our Program includes both oral paper and lightning talk sessions, student prizes for best paper/lightning talk, breaks for networking, browsing exhibits, live demonstrations, and previously recorded field trips. Thanks to our sponsors, we keep the conference fees affordable.
The virtual 2021 STRATUS Conference is a collaborative organizational effort including researchers from some of the region’s leading universities. The general organizing committee is made up of researchers working at the interface of universities, industries, government agencies, and other community stakeholders from these institutions:
• University at Buffalo (UB)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
• SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
We all hope to see you at the virtual 2021 STRATUS Conference.
#STRATUS2021
– the Conference Organization Team
If you have any questions about the conference, please contact STRATUS@buffalo.edu.
Event Schedule
Keynote Speakers
Peter Webley
Research Associate Professor of Remote Sensing at the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Dr. Peter Webley is a Research Associate Professor of Remote Sensing at the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks and is the Associate Director of Research at ACUASI. Peter has a BSc in Geophysics and an MSc in Atmospheric Sciences, both from the University of East Anglia, UK and a Ph.D. in Remote Sensing from the University of Reading, UK. His research focuses on natural hazards, especially volcanic eruptions, the application of unmanned aircraft systems to hazard mapping, and the use of remote sensing data from the ground to space and back to develop change detection algorithms.
Peter is a geoscientist, entrepreneur, and innovator. He was a 2017 inductee into the State of Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame, has patented his research on volcanic ash cloud modeling, and co-founded V-ADAPT, Inc. in 2013, the first start-up company developed from UAF intellectual property, that focuses providing real-time decision support tools for volcanic hazard mapping and ash dispersion.
Peter’s Keynote: ACUASI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Arctic Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site
Peter’s keynote introduces the various different systems developed in and for Alaska: small to large UAS, various sensors used (including onboard for flight and detect and avoid) as well as applications and missions to collect information on the dynamics of natural hazards and other extreme events.
David Benowitz
Head of Research, DroneAnalyst
David Benowitz is the Head of Research at DroneAnalyst, where he publishes exhaustive research about the state of the drone industry, industry trends and more. This includes a variety of publicly accessible information and private data for clients.
David joins the DroneAnalyst team from DJI, where he contributed as a founding member of its Enterprise business. During his 4-year tenure at the company, David most notably spearheaded the launch of a series of industry-first product lines and was key to the establishment and growth of AirWorks, DJI’s annual commercial drone conference.
In addition to bringing his past drone experience, David also brings his education background in econometrics to DroneAnalyst.
Ken Stewart
President and CEO of NUAIR
Ken Stewart serves as President and CEO of NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance Inc.) joining the organization in late 2020 where he is responsible for setting the overall vision and product strategy for the organization. Mr. Stewart is an experienced industry veteran in wireless telecommunications and cloud-based software market with a specialization in building Enterprise SaaS, Federated digital marketplaces and platforms. Prior to joining NUAIR Mr. Stewart served as the CEO of AiRXOS, a GE aviation company, where he led innovation, development and commercialization of Unmanned Traffic Management services. After beginning his career in engineering and management positions at IBM and GTE, Stewart served as an executive with several venture capital and private equity-backed companies commercializing and scaling pre-revenue start-ups and transforming organizations for growth.
Student Prizes
There will be prizes for best student presentation and best student poster! These awards not only include a cash prize to the winner(s), but also 2-year memberships to IEEE and the Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS)!
Fees, Dates, and Topics
Registration fees
Early registration (available until April 16): $50
Students are free.
Late registration (after April 16): $65
Students: $15
IEEE Members registration: $40
Important Dates
Conference: May 17-19, 2021 | Virtual event
Abstract submission deadline: extended to March 15, 2021
Notification of acceptance: extended to April 1, 2021
Early registration deadline: April 16, 2021
Full paper submission deadline: September 1, 2021
ReTopics (UAS-focused)
Remote Sensing
3D and Multi-view Imaging
Environmental Monitoring and Modelling
Platforms, Calibration, Sensor, and Imaging Systems
Technologies and Applications
Algorithm and Image Processing
Photogrammetry
Geohazards and Extreme Events
Single Unit and Swarm Missions
Program Committee
General Chairs
Chris Renschler, Department of Geography, University at Buffalo
View Chris’ professional webpage
Emmett Ientilucci, Digital Image and Remote Sensing Lab, Rochester Institute of Technology
View Emmett’s professional webpage
Technical Program & Publications Chair
Bahram Salehi, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY
View Bahram’s professional webpage
Financial Chair
Emmett Ientilucci
Sponsor and Exhibits Chair
Emmett Ientilucci
Field Trip Chairs
Souma Chowdhury, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo
View Souma’s professional webpage
Ingo Sonder, Department of Geology, University at Buffalo, Center for Geohazards Studies
View Ingo’s professional webpage
Local Arrangements Chair
Dr. Marianne Sullivan
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
University at Buffalo
Guiding Coalition
Erin Rowley, University Libraries-VPUL, University at Buffalo
Roberta “Robin” Sullivan, University Libraries-VPUL, University at Buffalo
Call for Abstracts
Overview
The emergence of low-cost and easy-to-use Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, has led to an explosion of their use for numerous applications. In particular, these new platforms have enabled new imaging and earth remote sensing technologies and applications previously unavailable due to the high cost of manned aircraft or satellites. This event is the 4th conference of STRATUS that will bring together academics, industry representatives, and domain specialists to share perspectives on this rapidly evolving topic.
Abstract Submission
Abstracts must be written in English and should not exceed 250 words. Abstracts should include title, authors’ contact information, and abstract body. The abstract can be presented either orally or as a poster. Please indicate in your submission for a poster or oral presentation.
Awards
The program will include student prizes for the best presentation and poster!
Full Paper Submission
A special issue of Remote Sensing-Open Access Journal (Impact Factor of 4.118) will be dedicated to selected full papers of this conference.
All full paper submissions will go through the normal peer-review process of RS-Open Access. Up to 5 high-quality submissions (based on the reviewers’ recommendation and guest editors’ decision) will be published free of charge (the article processing fee is 2400 CHF, equal to about 2400 USD for each paper).
Guest editors for the special issue are:
• Dr. Bahram Salehi (SUNY ESF)
• Dr. Emmett Ientilucci (RIT)
• Dr. Chris Renschler (UB)
• Dr. Peter Spacher (RIT)
A future notice regarding the special issue, including the website and submission link, will be available to the public.
For any questions regarding the abstract or full paper submission, please contact the Conference Technical and Publication Chair, Dr. Salehi, at bsalehi@esf.edu or by phone at +1 (315) 470-6550.
Virtual Field Trips
Virtual field trips will be pre-recorded without in-person attendance and are included in the registration fee.
Virtual Field Trip 1: Lava Pour – High-Temperature Reference Application
For the STRATUS 2021 focus on extreme events, we will conduct and record a pre-conference temperature reference experiment that allows us to observe and record the flow of a known, high-temperature melt (molten volcanic rock), and its subsequent cooling and solidification. The initial temperature and emissivity of the melt are known, which allows us to calibrate experimental sensors at these temperatures. A team of collaborators will report on testing ground-based and UAV-based multispectral sensors, including on-site temperature and radiation measurement equipment.
Virtual Field Trip 2: Robot Swarm Technology
Virtual Field Trip 3: Roof Inspections
Virtual Field Trip 4: Drone Cage
About the test site and location
The event/experiment will happen at the Geohazards Fieldstation, close to Springville, NY. At the site, we typically conduct experiments on hazardous volcanic processes, such as explosive crater formation, or intense magma-water interaction.
Location of the Fieldstation: https://goo.gl/maps/GuKyWkQv58FmwiST9
Directions from UB North: https://goo.gl/maps/w5nedWEt1NVoXm1BA
More information about the Fieldstation: https://geohazards.buffalo.edu/geohazards-field-station
Here is what the last two popular news outlets had to say about us: https://gizmodo.com/how-manmade-lava-explosions-could-save-lives-1839784687
Sponsors
