TIRLab - Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing

The TIRLab of the Department of Geography at the University of Zurich is engaged in research and teaching in the field of thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing. Our research is tailored to different spheres and scales, and is based on a diverse approach of experimental, field, and modelling studies using a wide range of tools and datasets. Our teaching ranges from the physical fundamentals to applications of pressing environmental and societal issues arising from global atmospheric change. In addition to lectures, we promote understanding of TIR data through hands-on exercises and student projects, and are open to theses that exploit the potential of TIR remote sensing across scales and spheres.

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News

10 Oct 2025

Nils Rietze PhD Thesis Defense

In Late September, our Nils Rietze successfully defended his PhD Thesis entitled "Taking the Pulse of Tundra Disturbances: Fine-Scale Drought and Wildfire Connections in the Siberian Tundra". Nils is now taking his wildfire and remote sensing expertise into his new position at Swiss Re as a Natural Catastrophe Specialist. Many congratulations and best of luck!

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23 Jul 2025

TIRLab at ESA's Living Planet Symposium

During a week of record-breaking temperatures across Europe, the TIRLab team presented in multiple sessions at ESA’s Living Planet Symposium (LPS) in Vienna on 23-27th June, on the importance and applications of Land Surface Temperature (LST) monitoring! We presented posters and gave talks on the work we do using LST and emissivity products from different data sources (from field and lab measurements, to UAV, airborne and satellite-based observations) and across multiple ecosystems (hydrosphere, cryosphere, forests and urban environments)

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20 May 2025

New paper published!

Jennifer Susan Adams and Kathrin Naegeli's paper on "Across-scale thermal infrared anisotropy in forests: Insights from a multi-angular laboratory-based approach" was just published in Remote Sensing of Environment. The study investigated thermal infrared angular effects in forests using a novel method of contructing mini-canopies in the footprint of a laboratory goniometer. The publication is available at this link

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