Sansar Raj Meena

I am a researcher and educator in the field of geoinformatics, specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and natural hazard assessment. Currently, I am a Researcher at OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale) in Trieste, where I serve as the Principal Investigator for the NATURA project. This research is funded by the prestigious Italian Science Fund (FIS), which serves as the Italian equivalent to the highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) grants. Through this work, I investigate the complex natural and anthropogenic drivers of landslide risk to improve risk modeling in fragile mountain ecosystems.

My career is driven by a commitment to using GIS, satellite imagery, and machine learning to address urgent environmental and social challenges. Prior to OGS, I conducted research at the University of Padua and served as a visiting scientist at Boston University. Academic Background: PhD in Applied Geoinformatics (University of Salzburg, Austria): Developed an advanced framework for landslide mapping utilizing deep learning and Earth observation data. MSc in Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC, University of Twente, Netherlands): Specialized in natural hazard risk and engineering.

Honors & Scientific Contribution: My research impact has been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the Taylor & Francis Remote Sensing Letters Award, the National Overseas Scholarship (Government of India), and the University of Twente-ITC Excellence Fellowship. I am also an active, dedicated member of the scientific community, serving as a review editor and editorial board member for several leading geosciences journals. Specialties: Deep Learning, GIS, Remote Sensing, Landslide Risk Modeling, Natural Hazards, Earth Observation.