Research Profile

Fiona Cawkwell

Biography

For many years Fiona has been interested in the use of satellite imagery for monitoring short and long term changes on planet Earth. This interest has led her to undertake fieldwork in places as diverse as Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, the Chilean Andes, and English saltmarshes. She has looked at clouds, at ice and snow, at habitats and biodiversity and at volcanic ash... the linking factor being that all are elements of the Earth System and all are either vulnerable to environmental change and/or are drivers of such change. When not getting cold and dirty in the field, she can be found sitting at her desk looking at satellite images of these phenomena and many others besides, and in recent years her interest has turned more towards changing vegetation patterns in Ireland. In this context Fiona has been Principal Investigator on several EPA funded projects, most recently FLARES, which explored the number and size of wildfires in Ireland from 2015-2021 with burn scars mapped using satellite images acquired by Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2. A follow-on project has been awarded funding from the EPA and will begin in March 2023, exploring the longer history of wildfires from the 1990s to the present day and their relationship to land use policy and/or climate changes. Previous land cover mapping projects such as TaLAM, which explored methods for integrating different satellite and vector datasets for national landcover mapping, have been instrumental in informing the ongoing EPA/OSi national Land Cover and Habitat Map. The EU-INTRREG funded ECHOES project has involved working with a team of remote sensors, ecologists, ornithologists and geospatial scientists to generate online land management tools for practitioners working in habitats affected by coastal squeeze, whilst also learning more about the habits of the Eurasian Curlew and Greenland White-fronted Goose. Fiona also has a passion for sharing her interest with others and, as Senior Lecturer, is heavily involved in teaching remote sensing at undergraduate and postgraduate level at UCC, she convened an international conference on the subject at UCC in September 2010, and has organised four national meetings of the Irish Earth Observation Symposium (of which she was one of the founding members). Fiona was on the Council of the UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, has sat on several international funding application review panels, including being Vice-Chair for the Agence Nationale Recherche (France). Fiona has ongoing co-supervision of several PhD students and early career researchers, as well as taught undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Research Interests

Fiona has had a long interest in all aspects of Geoinformatics and their application to environmental issues. Her PhD studies focused on the role of clouds in controlling the radiation balance of the Greenland ice sheet, and how changes in cloud cover with changes in climate may result in variations in melt and runoff. The glaciological theme was continued into postdoctoral studies based in Canada, using imagery to map and monitor the changing ice extent in the Canadian High Arctic. Fieldwork in the Arctic was undertaken in support of the CryoSat calibration and validation project. Upon accepting a lectureship in Remote Sensing at University College Cork, her environmental applications of satellite imagery have moved towards a vegetation and coastal theme, although 5 months spent as a visiting scientist in Chile in 2009 allowed her to re-engage with glaciological and climate related issues.
Fiona's long term aim is to develop a Centre of Excellence in Earth Observation and Visualisation at UCC, promoting research and education in this field. Fiona is the leader of the Geoinformatics Research Cluster in the School of the Human Environment, a group that comprises staff members and postgraduate students from across the Departments of Geography and Archaeology, as well as researchers from MaREI with whom the research cluster has very strong links. Recent research projects within the Remote Sensing cohort of the group have included mapping Irish agricultural regions, notably grassland areas, and upland regions, using a variety of spectral and spatial resolutions; using microwave sensing for forestry applications; the potential offered by unmanned aerial vehicles; terrestrial laser scanning of coastal processes; atmospheric phenomena from imagery; tree phenology from satellites and phenocams; marine frontal detection; mapping burn scars from wildfire events... and more! Current projects include investigation of grassland functional traits and biodiversity from field, UAV and satellite imagery; habitat mapping of Irish Sea coastlines at risk of coastal squeeze; coastal vulnerability from satellite and other geospatial datasets; longer term trends in wildfire events in Ireland.

Fiona was one of the founders of the Irish Earth Observation Symposium series, a forum for those across the island of Ireland to meet and share developments in the discipline, which has met annually since 2007 (except the Covid years) and also convened the 2010 Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society annual conference in Cork.

Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Fire, Land and Atmospheric Remote Sensing of EmissionS-Projections, Policy and Land use and cover SynthesisEnvironment Protection Agency (EPA)01-MAR-2328-FEB-25€121,459.00
Fire, Land and Atmospheric Remote sensing of EmissionsEnvironment Protection Agency (EPA)02-MAR-2002-JUL-22€165,377.00
SMART AgricultureTeagasc01-OCT-1628-FEB-21€88,000.00
Environment Protection Agency (EPA)01-OCT-1631-OCT-16€2,000.00
Irish Earth Symposium.Marine Institute (MI)01-OCT-1628-NOV-16€2,000.00
Cullen Fellowship - "Remote Sensing: Ocean Colour and dynamics in the Eastern Atlantic from Satellite Observations (OCEANS)"Marine Institute (MI)01-JAN-1628-FEB-19€66,000.00
Biomass Retrieval in Ireland using Active Remote Sensing.Environment Protection Agency (EPA)01-MAR-1501-MAY-17€81,267.00
EPA"2014-RTSG-30" Travel Suppport.Environment Protection Agency (EPA)20-MAY-1422-MAY-14€700.00
Toward Landcover Accounting and Monitoring.Environment Protection Agency (EPA)01-MAY-1431-DEC-15€167,801.00
DAFF 11/C/205 ; Additions and refinements to the Irish Forest carbon accounting and reporting tool.Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF)01-DEC-1230-SEP-19€177,716.00
Development of a satellite driven grass growth index to inform national monthly grassland production maps for IrelandTeagasc01-OCT-1230-SEP-15€65,500.00
The Irish Land Mapping Observatory (ILMO_ - Mapping and Monitoring Land Cover, use and change.Environment Protection Agency (EPA)01-NOV-1131-JUL-14€201,745.00
Friends of the Irish Environment"Industrial Peat Extraction Scoping Project"Irish Funded Research Non Exchequer01-SEP-0931-OCT-10€14,758.00
EPA - Can Geoinformatics be used to predict the Coastal Response to 21st Century Climate change?Environment Protection Agency (EPA)01-OCT-0830-JUL-09€95,000.00
EPA 'Cloud Cover & Radiation Balance Changes Over Ireland Due to Aircraft Induced Contrails'Environment Protection Agency (EPA)07-JAN-0807-JAN-12€79,750.00
Earth Observation for Saltmarsh MonitoringForeign Research Institute01-DEC-0631-MAR-09€83,235.00

Contract Researchers

 Researcher NameProjectRoleFunding Body
Sam HayesCOASTResearch AssistantINTERREG
Walther Garcia CamaroECHOESPostdoctoral ResearcherINTERREG
Parvez RanaCForRepPostdoctoral ResearcherDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)
Ingmar NitzeILMOResearch AssistantEnvironmental Protection Agency
Emma ChalenconFLARESResearch AssistantEnvironmental Protection Agency
Christoph RaabTaLAMResearch AssistantEnvironmental Protection Agency
Saeid GharechelouBRIARPostdoctoral ResearcherEnvironmental Protection Agency
Brian BarrettILMO and TaLAMPostdoctoral ResearcherEnvironmental Protection Agency

Publications

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2014)'Recent glacier changes in the Canadian Arctic'
Sharp, M., Burgess, D.O., Cawkwell, F., Copland, L., Davis, J.A., Dowdeswell, E.K., Dowdeswell, J.A., Gardner, A.S., Mair, D., Wang, L., Williamson, S.N., Wolken, G. J. and Wyatt, F. (2014) 'Recent glacier changes in the Canadian Arctic' In: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space: Satellite Multispectral Imaging of Glaciers. USA: Praxis-Springer. [Details]
(2014)'First glacier inventory of Isla de Tierra del Fuego and adjacent islands in Southern Chile, and recent glacier variations'
Bown, F., Rivera, A., Zenteno, P., Bravo, C. and Cawkwell, F. (2014) 'First glacier inventory of Isla de Tierra del Fuego and adjacent islands in Southern Chile, and recent glacier variations' In: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space: Satellite Multispectral Imaging of Glaciers. USA: Praxis-Springer. [Details]
(2014)'Quality in the GLIMS Database'
Raup, B.H., Khalsa, S.J.S., Armstrong, R., Sneed, W.A., Hamilton, G.S., Paul, F., Cawkwell, F., Beedle, M.J., Menounos, B., Wheate, R., Rott, H., Liu, S., Li, X., Shangguan, D., Cheng, G., Kargel, J.S., Larsen, C.F., Molnia, B.F., Kincaid, J.L., Klein, A., and Konovalov V. (2014) 'Quality in the GLIMS Database' In: Satellite Multispectral Imaging of Glaciers. USA: Praxis-Springer. [Details]
(2014)'Mapping Blue Ice Areas and Crevasses in West Antarctica using ASTER images, GPS and Radar Measurements'
Rivera, A., Cawkwell, F., Wendt, A. and Zamora, P. (2014) 'Mapping Blue Ice Areas and Crevasses in West Antarctica using ASTER images, GPS and Radar Measurements' In: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space: Satellite Multispectral Imaging of Glaciers. USA: Praxis-Spinger. [Details]
(2011)'Hypsometry'
Rivera, A., Cawkwell, F., Rada, C. and Bravo, C. (2011) 'Hypsometry' In: Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers. The Netherlands: Springer-Verlag. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2022)'City Living: Nest-Site Selection Preferences in Urban Herring Gulls, Larus argentatus'
Dalla Pria, C., Cawkwell, F., Newton, S., and Holloway, P. (2022) 'City Living: Nest-Site Selection Preferences in Urban Herring Gulls, Larus argentatus'. Geographies, 2 (2):161-172 [DOI] [Details]
(2022)'A comparison of obfuscation methods used for privacy protection: Exploring the challenges of polygon data in agricultural research'
Nowbakht, P., O'Sullivan, L., Cawkwell, F., Wall, D.P., & Holloway, P (2022) 'A comparison of obfuscation methods used for privacy protection: Exploring the challenges of polygon data in agricultural research'. Transactions In Gis, [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'The Importance of Connected and Interspersed Urban Green and Blue Space for Biodiversity: A Case Study in Cork City, Ireland'
Lambert, L., Cawkwell, F., & Holloway, P. (2021) 'The Importance of Connected and Interspersed Urban Green and Blue Space for Biodiversity: A Case Study in Cork City, Ireland'. Geographies, 1 :217-237 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Ocean-surface Heterogeneity MApping (OHMA) to identify regions of change'
Scarrott, R.G., Cawkwell, F., Jessopp, M., Cusack, C., O'Rourke, E., de Bie, C.A.J.M. (2021) 'Ocean-surface Heterogeneity MApping (OHMA) to identify regions of change'. Remote Sensing, 13 (7) [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Status of phenological research using sentinel-2 data: A review'
Misra G.;Cawkwell F.;Wingler A. (2020) 'Status of phenological research using sentinel-2 data: A review'. Remote Sensing, 12 (17) [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'The Potential of Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) 12.5 km Coastal Observations for Offshore Wind Farm Site Selection in Irish Waters'
Remmers, T;Cawkwell, F;Desmond, C;Murphy, J;Politi, E (2019) 'The Potential of Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) 12.5 km Coastal Observations for Offshore Wind Farm Site Selection in Irish Waters'. Energies, 12 [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'From Land to Sea, a Review of Hypertemporal Remote Sensing Advances to Support Ocean Surface Science'
Scarrott, R.G., Cawkwell, F., Jessopp, M., O'Rourke, E., Cusack, C., de Bie, K. (2019) 'From Land to Sea, a Review of Hypertemporal Remote Sensing Advances to Support Ocean Surface Science'. Water, 11 (11):1-28   [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'How current environmental and weather conditions affect time critical decision making on Irish dairy farms'
Green S.;Cawkwell F.;Dwyer E. (2018) 'How current environmental and weather conditions affect time critical decision making on Irish dairy farms'. International Journal Of Agricultural Management, 7 (1):50-58 [DOI] [Details]
(2018)'A time-domain NDVI anomaly service for intensively managed grassland agriculture'
Green S.;Cawkwell F.;Dwyer E. (2018) 'A time-domain NDVI anomaly service for intensively managed grassland agriculture'. Remote Sensing Applications: Society And Environment, 11 :282-290 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Modeling Managed Grassland Biomass Estimation by Using Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data—A Machine Learning Approach'
Ali, Iftikhar; Cawkwell, Fiona; Dwyer, Edward; Green, Stuart (2017) 'Modeling Managed Grassland Biomass Estimation by Using Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data—A Machine Learning Approach'. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 10 (7):3254-3264 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2017)'Large tree diameter distribution modelling using sparse airborne laser scanning data in a subtropical forest in Nepal'
Rana, P;Vauhkonen, J;Junttila, V;Hou, Z;Gautam, B;Cawkwell, F;Tokola, T (2017) 'Large tree diameter distribution modelling using sparse airborne laser scanning data in a subtropical forest in Nepal'. Isprs Journal Of Photogrammetry And Remote Sensing : Official Publication Of The International Society For Photogrammetry And Remote Sensing (Isprs), 134 :86-95 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Application of Repeat-Pass TerraSAR-X Staring Spotlight Interferometric Coherence to Monitor Pasture Biophysical Parameters: Limitations and Sensitivity Analysis'
Ali I.;Barrett B.;Cawkwell F.;Green S.;Dwyer E.;Neumann M. (2017) 'Application of Repeat-Pass TerraSAR-X Staring Spotlight Interferometric Coherence to Monitor Pasture Biophysical Parameters: Limitations and Sensitivity Analysis'. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 10 (7):3225-3231 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Characterizing near-surface firn using the scattered signal component of the glacier surface return from airborne radio-echo sounding'
Rutishauser, Anja; Grima, Cyril; Sharp, Martin; Blankenship, Donald D.; Young, Duncan A.; Cawkwell, Fiona; Dowdeswell, Julian A. (2016) 'Characterizing near-surface firn using the scattered signal component of the glacier surface return from airborne radio-echo sounding'. Geophysical Research Letters, 43 (24):12,502-12,510 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2016)'Upland vegetation mapping using Random Forests with optical and radar satellite data'
Barrett, B;Raab, C;Cawkwell, F;Green, S (2016) 'Upland vegetation mapping using Random Forests with optical and radar satellite data'. Remote Sensing In Ecology And Conservation, 2 :212-231 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Cattle stocking rates estimated in temperate intensive grasslands with a spring growth model derived from MODIS NDVI time-series'
Green, S;Cawkwell, F;Dwyer, E (2016) 'Cattle stocking rates estimated in temperate intensive grasslands with a spring growth model derived from MODIS NDVI time-series'. International Journal Of Applied Earth Observation And Geoinformation, 52 :166-174 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Satellite remote sensing of grasslands: from observation to management'
Ali, I;Cawkwell, F;Dwyer, E;Barrett, B;Green, S (2016) 'Satellite remote sensing of grasslands: from observation to management'. Plant Ecology, 9 :649-671 [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Temporal optimisation of image acquisition for land cover classification with Random Forest and MODIS time-series'
Nitze, I., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F. (2015) 'Temporal optimisation of image acquisition for land cover classification with Random Forest and MODIS time-series'. International Journal Of Applied Earth Observation And Geoinformation, 34 :136-146 [DOI] [Details]
(2015)'Evaluation of multi-temporal and multi-sensor atmospheric correction strategies for land-cover accounting and monitoring in Ireland'
Raab, C;Barrett, B;Cawkwell, F;Green, S (2015) 'Evaluation of multi-temporal and multi-sensor atmospheric correction strategies for land-cover accounting and monitoring in Ireland'. Remote Sensing Letters, 6 :784-793 [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'The Randolph Glacier Inventory: a globally complete inventory of glaciers'
Pfeffer, WT,Arendt, AA,Bliss, A,Bolch, T,Cogley, JG,Gardner, AS,Hagen, JO,Hock, R,Kaser, G,Kienholz, C,Miles, ES,Moholdt, G,Molg, N,Paul, F,Radic, V,Rastner, P,Raup, BH,Rich, J,Sharp, MJ,Andeassen, LM,Bajracharya, S,Barrand, NE,Beedle, MJ,Berthier, E,Bhambri, R,Brown, I,Burgess, DO,Burgess, EW,Cawkwell, F,Chinn, T,Copland, L,Cullen, NJ,Davies, B,De Angelis, H,Fountain, AG,Frey, H,Giffen, BA,Glasser, NF,Gurney, SD,Hagg, W,Hall, DK,Haritashya, UK,Hartmann, G,Herreid, S,Howat, I,Jiskoot, H,Khromova, TE,Klein, A,Kohler, J,Konig, M,Kriegel, D,Kutuzov, S,Lavrentiev, I,Le Bris, R,Li, X,Manley, WF,Mayer, C,Menounos, B,Mercer, A,Mool, P,Negrete, A,Nosenko, G,Nuth, C,Osmonov, A,Pettersson, R,Racoviteanu, A,Ranzi, R,Sarikaya, MA,Schneider, C,Sigurdsson, O,Sirguey, P,Stokes, CR,Wheate, R,Wolken, GJ,W (2014) 'The Randolph Glacier Inventory: a globally complete inventory of glaciers'. Journal of Glaciology, 60 :537-552 [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'Assessment of multi-temporal, multi-sensor radar and ancillary spatial data for grasslands monitoring in Ireland using machine learning approaches'
Barrett, B., Nitze., I., Green, S., Cawkwell, F. (2014) 'Assessment of multi-temporal, multi-sensor radar and ancillary spatial data for grasslands monitoring in Ireland using machine learning approaches'. Remote Sensing of Environment, 152 :109-124 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)'The implications of cloud cover for vegetation seasonality monitoring across the island of Ireland using the MERIS Global Vegetation Index (MGVI)'
O’Connor, B. Dwyer, E, Cawkwell, F. (2013) 'The implications of cloud cover for vegetation seasonality monitoring across the island of Ireland using the MERIS Global Vegetation Index (MGVI)'. Irish Geography, 46 (1-2):25-49 [DOI] [Details]
(2012)'Spatio-temporal patterns in vegetation start of season across the island of Ireland using the MERIS Global Vegetation Index'
O'Connor, B,Dwyer, E,Cawkwell, F,Eklundh, L (2012) 'Spatio-temporal patterns in vegetation start of season across the island of Ireland using the MERIS Global Vegetation Index'. Isprs Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 68 :79-94 [DOI] [Details]
(2009)'Mass balance of the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada'
Mair, D;Burgess, D;Sharp, M;Dowdeswell, JA;Benham, T;Marshall, S;Cawkwell, F (2009) 'Mass balance of the Prince of Wales Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada'. Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, 114 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Spatial and temporal variability in the snowpack of a High Arctic ice cap: implications for mass change measurements;'
Bell , C., Mair, D., Burgess, D., Sharp, M., Demuth, M., Cawkwell, F., Bingham, R. and Wadham, J.; (2008) 'Spatial and temporal variability in the snowpack of a High Arctic ice cap: implications for mass change measurements;'. Annals of Glaciology, [Details]
(2007)'On the glaciers of Bylot Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada'
Dowdeswell E.;Dowdeswell J.;Cawkwell F. (2007) 'On the glaciers of Bylot Island, Nunavut, Arctic Canada'. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 39 (3):402-411 [DOI] [Details]
(2002)'The impact of cloud cover on the net radiation budget of the Greenland ice sheet'
Cawkwell, F.G.L. and Bamber, J.L.; (2002) 'The impact of cloud cover on the net radiation budget of the Greenland ice sheet'. Annals of Glaciology, 34 (*):141-149 [Details]
(2001)'Determination of cloud top amount and altitude at high latitudes'
Cawkwell, F.G.L., Bamber, J.L. and Muller, J-P.; (2001) 'Determination of cloud top amount and altitude at high latitudes'. Geophysical Research Letters, 28 (9):1675-1678 [Details]

Other Journals

 YearPublication
(2009)'Five Minutes to Midnight? Ireland and Climate Change, K. Hickey; Irish Geography (in press)'
Cawkwell, F; (2009) 'Five Minutes to Midnight? Ireland and Climate Change, K. Hickey; Irish Geography (in press)' . [Details]
(2008)'The state of Remote Sensing in Ireland'
Cawkwell F. (2008) 'The state of Remote Sensing in Ireland' GEO: connexion, 7 (2) :34-35. [Details]
(2007)'The disappearing snows of Kilimanjaro: Crossing the border of irreversible environmental change?'
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2007) 'The disappearing snows of Kilimanjaro: Crossing the border of irreversible environmental change?' Chimera, 22 :125-139. [Details]
(2004)'Book Review – Variability of Air Temperature and Atmospheric Precipitation in the Arctic'
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) 'Book Review – Variability of Air Temperature and Atmospheric Precipitation in the Arctic' The Holocene, 14 :316-*. [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2021)GISRUK 2021
Nowbakht, P., O’Sullivan, L., Cawkwell, F., Wall, D.P., & Holloway, P. (2021) A comparison of obfuscation methods for privacy protection: A case study using agri-environmental data in the Republic of Ireland GISRUK 2021 [Details]
(2019)Precision Livestock Farming 2019 - Papers Presented at the 9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019
Marwaha R.;Cawkwell F.;Hennessy D.;Green S. (2019) Improved estimation of grassland biomass using machine learning and satellite data Precision Livestock Farming 2019 - Papers Presented at the 9th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, ECPLF 2019 , pp.174-179 [Details]
(2017)IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING
Ali, I;Cawkwell, F;Dwyer, E;Green, S (2017) Modeling Managed Grassland Biomass Estimation by Using Multitemporal Remote Sensing Data-A Machine Learning Approach IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING , pp.3254-3264 [DOI] [Details]
(2014)European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 for Science Workshop
Cawkwell, F., Nitze, B. and Barrett, B. (2014) On lessons learned from Remote Sensing of Irish grasslands, and potential for Sentinel-2 data European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 for Science Workshop [Details]
(2014)International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Ali I.;Cawkwell F.;Green S.;Dwyer N. (2014) Application of statistical and machine learning models for grassland yield estimation based on a hypertemporal satellite remote sensing time series International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) , pp.5060-5063 [DOI] [Details]
(2013)European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium
Nitze, I., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2013) Inventory assessment of grasslands in Ireland using hyper-temporal optical data European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium [Details]
(2013)European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium
Barrett, B., Nitze, I., Green, S., Cawkwell, F. (2013) Improving grassland inventories in Ireland - the contribution of multi-temporal radar data European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium [Details]
(2011)Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series
Rivera A.;Cawkwell F.;Rada C.;Bravo C. (2011) Hypsometry Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series , pp.551-554 [DOI] [Details]
(2010)European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium
Whelan, G., Cawkwell, F., Mannstein, H. and Minnis, P. (2010) Contrails and climate change: an investigation of the role of aviation-induced-cloudiness on the Irish climate using AATSR imagery European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium [Details]
(2010)European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium
O’Connor, B., Dwyer, N. and Cawkwell, F. (2010) On a methodology to extract a start of season metric from time series of reduced resolution MERIS global vegetation index data European Space Agency Living Planet Symposium [Details]
(2008)Annals of Glaciology
Bell C.;Mair D.;Burgess D.;Sharp M.;Demuth M.;Cawkwell F.;Bingham R.;Wadham J. (2008) Spatial and temporal variability in the snowpack of a High Arctic ice cap: Implications for mass-change measurements Annals of Glaciology , pp.159-170 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Whelan G.;Cawkwell F. (2008) A review of satellite remote sensing of aircraft-induced contrails and investigation of their potential role in regional climate change Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering [DOI] [Details]
(2008)SPIE Europe Remote Sensing
O’Connor, B. A., Dwyer, N. and Cawkwell, F. (2008) Satellite remote sensing as a tool for monitoring vegetation seasonality SPIE Europe Remote Sensing [Details]
(2007)3rd EARSeL Workshop on the Coastal Zone
Cawkwell, F., Dwyer, N., Bartlett, D., Ameztoy, I. and O'Connor, B. (presented by N. Dwyer); (2007) Saltmarsh Habitat Classification from Satellite Imagery . In: * eds. 3rd EARSeL Workshop on the Coastal Zone Bolzano, Italy, , 07-JUN-07 - 30-DEC-99 , pp.*-* [Details]
(2003)IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings
Cawkwell, F.G.L . and Bamber, J.L.; (2003) Evaluation of a stereo-derived cloud cover record for the Greenland ice sheet IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2022)PhenoClimate: Impact of Climate Change on Phenology in Ireland. Project report 2018-CCRP-MS.54.
Wingler, A., Cawkwell, F., Holloway, P., Misra, G., de la Torre Cerro, R., and Sweeney C. (2022) PhenoClimate: Impact of Climate Change on Phenology in Ireland. Project report 2018-CCRP-MS.54. Environmental Protection Agency, Dublin. [Details]
(2018)TaLAM: mapping land cover in lowlands and uplands with satellite imagery.
Cawkwell, Fiona; Raab, Christoph; Barrett, Brian; Green, Stuart; Finn, John (2018) TaLAM: mapping land cover in lowlands and uplands with satellite imagery. Environmental Protection Agency, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland. [Full Text] [Details]
(2015)Evaluation of multi-temporal and multi-sensor atmospheric correction strategies for land cover accounting and monitoring in Ireland.
Raab, C., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Evaluation of multi-temporal and multi-sensor atmospheric correction strategies for land cover accounting and monitoring in Ireland. Remote Sensing Letters, . [DOI] [Details]
(2010)Industrialised Peat Extraction Scoping Project: Final report on the Use of Remote Sensing to Evaluate the Potential of Identifying Exposed and Vegetated Peatlands in the Republic of Ireland.
Fiona Cawkwell, Ned Dwyer and Rory Scarrott (2010) Industrialised Peat Extraction Scoping Project: Final report on the Use of Remote Sensing to Evaluate the Potential of Identifying Exposed and Vegetated Peatlands in the Republic of Ireland. Friends of the Irish Environment, Online.   [Details]

Reviews

 YearPublication
(2020)Status of Phenological Research Using Sentinel-2 Data: A Review.
Misra, G;Cawkwell, F;Wingler, A (2020) Status of Phenological Research Using Sentinel-2 Data: A Review. BASEL: Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2019)From Land to Sea, a Review of Hypertemporal Remote Sensing Advances to Support Ocean Surface Science.
Scarrott, RG;Cawkwell, F;Jessopp, M;O'Rourke, E;Cusack, C;de Bie, K (2019) From Land to Sea, a Review of Hypertemporal Remote Sensing Advances to Support Ocean Surface Science. BASEL: Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Professional Activities

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2019)ESA Living Planet Symposium,
Scarrot, R.G., Cawkwell, F., Jessopp, M., O’Rourke, E., Cusack, C., & Holloway, P. (2019) Opportunities for multi-variate perspectives in characterising hyper-temporal ocean-surface heterogeneity. [Poster Presentation], ESA Living Planet Symposium, Milan, Italy . [Details]
(2018)Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Lambert, L., Cawkwell, F.C., Holloway, P. (2018) Urban Green & Blue Spaces in Cork City and their Contribution to Biodiversity. [Poster Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Dublin . [Details]
(2017)Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Scarrott, R., Cawkwell, F., O’ Rourke, E., Jessopp, M., Politi, E., Grosso, N., Terra-Homen, M (2017) Hyper-temporal advances: Methodology progress and recommendations for ocean data opportunities. [Oral Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Maynooth , 02-NOV-17 - 03-NOV-17. [Details]
(2015)9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Cawkwell, F., Raab, C., Barrett, B., Green, S. (2015) Towards a National Land cover Accounting and Monitoring – TaLAM. [Oral Presentation], 9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway , 20-OCT-15 - 21-OCT-15. [Details]
(2015)Uplands Workshop,
Barrett, B., Raab, C., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Upland vegetation mapping in Ireland using optical and radar satellite data. [Oral Presentation], Uplands Workshop, Trinity College Dublin , 15-APR-15 - 15-APR-15. [Details]
(2015)Uplands Workshop 2015,
Barrett, B., Raab, C., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Upland vegetation mapping in Ireland using optical and radar satellite data. [Oral Presentation], Uplands Workshop 2015, Trinity College Dublin , 15-APR-15 - 15-APR-15. [Details]
(2015)TaLAM Workshop and stakeholder consultation,
Raab, C., Barrett, B, Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Development of National Landcover Mapping System. [Oral Presentation], TaLAM Workshop and stakeholder consultation, Teagasc School of Horticulture, Botanic Gardens, Dublin , 30-APR-15 - 30-APR-15. [Details]
(2015)9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Raab, C., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Multi-annual MODIS time series for a simple non-seasonal land cover change analysis at national scale. [Oral Presentation], 9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway , 20-OCT-15 - 21-OCT-15. [Details]
(2015)35th EARSeL Symposium – European Remote Sensing: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities,
Raab, C., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Evaluation of multi-temporal and multi-sensor atmospheric correction strategies for land cover accounting and monitoring in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], 35th EARSeL Symposium – European Remote Sensing: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden , 15-JUN-15 - 18-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015)9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Barrett, B., Raab, C., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2015) Upland vegetation mapping from space – current and future perspectives. [Oral Presentation], 9th Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Ryan Institute at the National University of Ireland Galway , 20-OCT-15 - 21-OCT-15. [Details]
(2014)Frontiers in Earth Observation for Land System Science (A joint workshop of the EARSeL SIG LULC and the NASA LCLUC Science Team),
Nitze, I., Barrett, B., Green, S., Cawkwell, F. (2014) Inventory assessment of grassland in Ireland using hyper-temporal optical data. [Poster Presentation], Frontiers in Earth Observation for Land System Science (A joint workshop of the EARSeL SIG LULC and the NASA LCLUC Science Team), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany , 17-MAR-14 - 18-MAR-14. [Details]
(2014)Frontiers in Earth Observation for Land System Science (A joint workshop of the EARSeL SIG LULC and the NASA LCLUC Science Team),
Barrett, B., Nitze, I., Cawkwell, F., Green, S. (2014) Assessment of multi-temporal, multi-frequency radar and ancillary spatial data for routine grassland monitoring. [Poster Presentation], Frontiers in Earth Observation for Land System Science (A joint workshop of the EARSeL SIG LULC and the NASA LCLUC Science Team), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany , 17-MAR-14 - 18-MAR-14. [Details]
(2013)ESA Living Planet Symposium 2013,
Nitze, I., Barrett, B., Cawkwell, F., Green, S., Hallahan, P. (2013) Inventory assessment of Grasslands in Ireland using hyper-temporal optical data. [Poster Presentation], ESA Living Planet Symposium 2013, Edinburgh, United Kingdom , 09-SEP-13 - 13-SEP-13. [Details]
(2012)Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Barrett, B. W., Nitze, I., Cawkwell, F. (2012) Land cover mapping in Ireland using multi-temporal SAR data. [Oral Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Dublin Institute of Technology , 01-NOV-12 - 02-NOV-12. [Details]
(2012)Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc),
Cawkwell, F., Barrett, B., Nitze, I., Green, S., Dwyer, N. (2012) Irish Land Mapping Observatory (ILMO). [Poster Presentation], Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc), University of Greenwich, London, UK , 12-SEP-12 - 14-SEP-12. [Details]
(2011)Irish Earth Observation Sympoisum,
Fiona Cawkwell, Alan Royston (2011) Land cover mapping with open source machine learning classifiers. [Oral Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Sympoisum, Wexford, Ireland , 17-NOV-11 - 18-NOV-11. [Details]
(2011)ENVIRON 2011 - Towards 2020: Environmental challenges and opportunities for the next decade,
Scarrott, R.G., O' Connor, B., Dwyer, N., Cawkwell, F. (2011) Characterising landcover using vegetation seasonality profiles determined from satellite imagery. [Oral Presentation], ENVIRON 2011 - Towards 2020: Environmental challenges and opportunities for the next decade, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland , 06-APR-12 - 08-APR-12. [Details]
(2011)European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2011,
O' Connor, B., Scarrott, R., Dwyer, N., Cawkwell, F. (2011) Land Surface Phenology in Ireland: a multi-sensor perspective. [Poster Presentation], European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2011, Vienna, Austria , 03-APR-12 - 08-APR-12. [Details]
(2011)Irish Earth Observation Symposium 2011,
Scarrott, R.G., O' Connor, B., Dwyer, N., Cawkwell, F. (2011) Characterising landcover using vegetation seasonality profiles determined from satellite imagery. [Oral Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Symposium 2011, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Republic of Ireland , 17-NOV-11 - 18-NOV-11. [Details]
(2010)UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society Cork,
Cawkwell, F., Dwyer, N., Scarrott, R. (2010) Mapping and monitoring Irish peatlands using satellite imagery. [Oral Presentation], UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society Cork, Cork . [Details]
(2010)ESA Living Planet Symposium,
Whelan, G., Cawkwell, F.; (2010) Contrails and climate change: an investigation of the role of aviation-induced-cloudiness on the Irish climate using AATSR imagery. [Oral Presentation], ESA Living Planet Symposium, Bergen , 28-JUN-10 - 02-JUL-10. [Details]
(2010)ESA Living Planet Symposium,
O'Connor, B., Dwyer, N., Cawkwell, F.; (2010) On a methodology to extract a start of season metric from time series of reduced resolution MERIS global vegetation index data. [Oral Presentation], ESA Living Planet Symposium, Bergen , 28-JUN-10 - 02-JUL-10. [Details]
(2010)UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society,
Cawkwell, F., Dwyer, N., Scarrott, R.; (2010) Mapping and monitoring Irish peatlands using satellite imagery. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, Cork , 01-SEP-10 - 03-SEP-10. [Details]
(2009)UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society,
Cawkwell, F., ; (2009) An evaluation of snow cover mapping in Central Chile from multiple image sources. [Oral Presentation], UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, Leicester , 09-SEP-09 - 11-SEP-09. [Details]
(2008)UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society,
O'Connor, B., Dwyer, N., Cawkwell, F.; (2008) Satellite remote sensing as a tool for monitoring vegetation seasonality. [Oral Presentation], UK Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society, Falmouth , 10-SEP-08 - 12-SEP-08. [Details]
(2007)Irish Earth Observation Symposium,
Cawkwell, F., Dwyer, N., Bartlett, D., O'Connor, B.; (2007) Mapping and monitoring the saltmarsh habitats of Morecambe Bay, North-West England. [Oral Presentation], Irish Earth Observation Symposium, Dublin , 14-NOV-07 - 14-NOV-07. [Details]
(2007)CoastGIS'07,
Cawkwell, F., Bartlett, D., Dwyer, N., Ameztoy, I. and O'Connor, B. (presented by D. Bartlett); (2007) A Geoinformatics Approach to Mapping and Monitoring Saltmarsh Vegetation in North-West England. [Oral Presentation], CoastGIS'07, Santander, Spain , 08-OCT-07 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2006)CRYSYS annual meeting,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2006) The contribution of the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) program to mapping changes in glacier area and volume in the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Canada. [Oral Presentation], CRYSYS annual meeting, Toronto, Canada , 06-FEB-06 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2006)GLIMS Workshop,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2006) The contribution of the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) program to mapping changes in glacier area and volume in the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Canada. [Oral Presentation], GLIMS Workshop, Cambridge, UK , 17-AUG-06 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2006)International Glaciological Society conference on the Cryosphere as an Indicator of Climate Change,
Cawkwell, F.G.L., Sharp, M.J. and Copland, L.; (2006) Shrinkage of Small Ice Masses in the Canadian High Arctic, 1960-2000. [Oral Presentation], International Glaciological Society conference on the Cryosphere as an Indicator of Climate Change, Cambridge, UK , 21-AUG-06 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2005)CRYSYS annual meeting,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2005) GLIMS contributions to understanding changes in the ice masses of the Canadian Arctic. [Oral Presentation], CRYSYS annual meeting, Kananaskis, Canada , 10-MAR-05 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2005)35th International Arctic Workshop,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2005) A tale of two ice caps; environmental drivers of glaciological changes on the Manson and Agassiz Ice Caps in Arctic Canada. [Oral Presentation], 35th International Arctic Workshop, Edmonton, Canada , 15-MAR-05 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)AGU Fall Meeting,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) Variability of Decimetre and Centimetre Scale Ice Surface Roughness and the Potential Consequences on the CryoSat Radar Altimeter Signal. [Oral Presentation], AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA , 10-DEC-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)34th Annual International Arctic Workshop,
Sharp, M.J. and Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) Recent changes in the ice caps and glaciers of Canada’s Arctic islands. [Oral Presentation], 34th Annual International Arctic Workshop, Boulder, USA , 26-MAR-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)International Glaciological Society conference on Arctic Glaciology,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) Calibration and validation of the CryoSat radar altimeter: field studies on the Devon Ice Cap, 2004. [Poster Presentation], International Glaciological Society conference on Arctic Glaciology, Geilo, Norway , 24-AUG-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)GLIMS workshop,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) Comparing two Canadian Arctic ice caps. [Oral Presentation], GLIMS workshop, San Francisco, USA , 08-DEC-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2004)International Glaciological Society conference on Arctic Glaciology,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2004) Environmental drivers of glaciological change on the Manson Icefield, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. [Oral Presentation], International Glaciological Society conference on Arctic Glaciology, Geilo, Norway , 24-AUG-04 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2003)EGS-AGU-EUG,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2003) A comparison of modelled Arctic surface fluxes from different cloud datasets. [Poster Presentation], EGS-AGU-EUG, Nice, France , 28-MAR-03 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2003)IEEE IGARSS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2003) Evaluation of a stereo-derived cloud cover record for the Greenland ice sheet. [Oral Presentation], IEEE IGARSS, Toulouse, France , 25-JUL-03 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2002)BB-IGS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2002) The implications for mass balance modelling of incorrectly parameterising cloud cover. [Oral Presentation], BB-IGS, Glasgow, UK , 02-SEP-02 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2001)International Glaciological Society conference on Remote Sensing for Polar Regions,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2001) The impact of cloud cover on the net radiation budget of the Greenland ice sheet. [Oral Presentation], International Glaciological Society conference on Remote Sensing for Polar Regions, Washington D.C., USA , 02-JUN-01 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2000)EGS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2000) The sensitivity of a radiation balance model to cloud cover over the Greenland ice sheet. [Poster Presentation], EGS, Nice, France , 25-MAR-00 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(2000)BB-IGS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (2000) Contribution of cloud cover to radiation fluxes over the Greenland ice sheet. [Oral Presentation], BB-IGS, Southampton, UK , 15-SEP-00 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)EGS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (1999) Cloud top extent and height over the Greenland ice sheet using ATSR-2 data. [Poster Presentation], EGS, The Hague, Netherlands , 27-MAR-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]
(1999)BB-IGS,
Cawkwell, F.G.L.; (1999) Towards the mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet from satellite remote sensing. [Oral Presentation], BB-IGS, Aberystwyth, UK , 25-SEP-99 - 30-DEC-99. [Details]

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
Royal Geographical Society Fellow/
Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society Council Member and Chair of Membership Committee02-SEP-10 /

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
Bristol University Lecturer01-JAN-01 / 01-JAN-03
Edmonton, western Canada postdoctoral research01-JAN-03 / 01-JAN-05
UCC Geography Department Lecturer01-JAN-06 / 01-JUN-10

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
1997Edinburgh University BSCBSc in Geography
1998University College London MScMSc in Remote Sensing
2003Bristol University, England PHDcontribution of cloud cover to the radiation budget of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Fiona is a Senior Lecturer whose main teaching interests are in remote sensing and the use of satellite imagery for different environmental applications. She also teaches quantitative research methods, physical geography and contemporary geographical issues in environmental geography. 

Fiona is the co-ordinator for the BSc Geography degree, and in alternate years the co-ordinator for the BSc Earth Science degree (shared with Geology). Fiona was one of the co-ordinators of the MSc Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing when it was operational, and currently helps support the co-ordination of the MSc in Applied Coastal and Marine Management 

Recent Postgraduates

 Graduation YearStudent NameInstitutionDegree TypeThesis Title
2022Richa Marwaha University College CorkPHDNational farm scale estimates of grass yield from satellite remote sensing
2022Rory Scarrott University College CorkPHDOcean-surface heterogeneity mapping: exploiting hypertemporal datasets in support of seascape ecology research
2021Ruben de la Torre Cello University College CorkMaster of ResearchIncorporating biotic interactions in phenology
2020Preethi Malur Balaji University College CorkPHDCharacterisation and monitoring of forest disturbances in Ireland using active microwave satellite platforms
2019Stuart Green University College CorkPHDInvestigation into the bio-physical constraints on farmer turn-out-date decisions using remote sensing and meteorological data
2019Luke Lambert University College CorkMaster of ResearchUrban green and blue space in Cork city and its importance to bird diversity
2017Sarah Kandrot University College CorkPHDThe monitoring and modelling of the impacts of storms under sea-level rise on a breached coastal dune-barrier system
2016Iftikhar Ali University College CorkPHDRetrieval of Grassland Biophysical Parameters using Multitemporal Optical and Radar Satellite Data
2011Brian O'Connor University College CorkPHDMonitoring the vegetation start of season (SOS) across the island of Ireland using the MERIS global vegetation index

Current Postgraduate Students

 StudentDegree Type
Chalencon Emma Doctoral Degree
Mealy Hannah Doctoral Degree
Nowbakht Parvaneh Doctoral Degree

Contact details

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University College Cork

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