Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
I am an Associate Professor of geographic information systems (GIS) in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney. I have specialized in data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. My main research interest is to apply GIS to real-world problems and help decision-making in the fields of natural disaster/emergency management and public health research. My publications in the field of natural disasters include machine learning methods for bushfire susceptibility mapping, spatial clustering and modelling for landslides susceptibility mapping, city-scale evacuation management in flood scenarios, and social media-based natural disaster assessment. My publications around spatial epidemiology include identifications of geo-correlation between contributing factors and asthma occurrence, analysis of avian influenza outbreaks using cross-disciplinary and computational approaches, emerging hot spot analysis of COVID-19, and early detection of emerging infectious diseases. I am an Associate Editor of Geospatial Information Science, National Delegate of Commission 3 of International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), National Representative of the International Cartographic Association (ICA) Commission on Sensor-driven Mapping, and Senior Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
My Grants
Lim, S (2022), Prediction of adverse health effects using daily bushfire susceptibility mapping and air quality monitoring over NSW, Australia, Oracle for Research Cloud Grant
Lim, S (2022), Assessment of post-fire forested ecosystem by using space-borne lidar over south-eastern Australia, Natural Hazards Research Australia
MacIntyre, R, Heslop, D, Lim, S, Paik, H, Yao, L, Steinhofel, K, Moa, A, Paris, C, Sparks, R, Karimi, S (2021), EPIWATCH - artificial intelligence early-warning system for epidemics, Department of Health, Frontier Health and Medical Research
Scotch, M, MacIntyre, R, Steinhofel, K & Lim, S (2018), Enhancing global health security through avian influenza genomic models, PLuS Alliance Collaborative Research
Whitty, M, Homaira, N, Lim, S & Jaffe, A (2016), Identification of indoor localisation solutions for tracking patients in hospital environments to minimise cross-infection, CRCSI Project
O'Reilly, D., Shewan, L., Armstrong, R., Lim, S., Chang, N., Domett, K., Halcrow, S., Unraveling the Mystery of the Plain of the Jars, Lao PDR, ARC-DP150101164, 2015-2019.
Whitty, M., Lim, S., Improved yield prediction for the Australian wine industry, NSW Department of Primary Industries/GWRDC R&D Applications Shared Grant, 2014-2017.
Lim, S., Message Passing Method for N-screen Services, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, S. Korea, 2011-2012.
Zhang, K., Teunissen, P., Rizos, C., Lim, S., Marshall, J.L., Kuleshov, Y., Liou, Y., Platform Technologies for Space, Atmosphere and Climate, Australian Space Research Program (ASRP), 2010-2013.
Lim, S., Trinder, J.C. and Turner, R., Full-Waveform Lidar Remote Sensing for Forest Inventory, ARC, ARC-LP100100847, 2010-2013.
Rizos, C., Lim, S., and Roberts, C., The Feasibility and Design of an Operational Real-Time GNSS CORS Analysis Capability for the Australian Region, CRC-SI, Project 1.15, 2009.
Zhang, K., Wu, F., Rizos, C., Lim, S., Le Marshall, J., Rea, A., Kuleshov, Y., Satellite-Based Radio Occultation for Atmospheric Sounding, Weather Forecasting and Climate Monitoring in the Australian Region, ARC, ARC-Linkage, 2008-2011
Collier, P. and Lim, S., Quality Control Issues for Real-Time Positioning, CRC-SI, Project 1.12, 2008-2010.
Higgins, M., Feng, Y., Rizos, C. and Lim, S., Lorimer, R., Integrating Electricity, Telecommunications and Government Infrastructure to Deliver Precise Positioning Services in Regional Areas, CRC-SI, Project 1.04, 2007-2010.
Lim, S., Metadata Research on Spatial Data, Omnilink Ltd. Pty, 2005-2008.
My Qualifications
Ph.D. (Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics), University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
M.A. (Mathematics) Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
B.A. (Mathematics) Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
My Awards
Excellent Researcher Awards, Korean Ministry of Science and Technology (2017)
Outstanding Best Paper Awards, IEEE WA Section (2010)
NSW Awards for Excellence in Surveying & Spatial Information (2008)
Excellent Paper Awards, Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry & Cartography (2001)
My Research Activities
My main research interests are geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS):
Geographic Information System (GIS) GIS is now more than ever an enabling technology for utilities and communications, transportation, public safety, natural resources, health and human services, etc. My main research is to apply GIS to real-world problems and help decision-making in the fields of asset/utility management, natural resources exploration, intelligent transportation, natural disaster and emergency management, and public health research. My publications include spatial and temporal fire occurrence patterns using landscape attributes such as climate, terrain, land use, etc. to develop a better understanding of wildfire occurrence across Australia, identifying the most significant attributes linked to fire occurrence, effective flood emergency plans and response measures, integration of spatial analysis and an agent-based model for shelter assignment and routing in flood scenarios, and risk analysis methods to flag epidemics for urgent intervention.
Remote Sensing (RS) Traditional photogrammetry and hi-resolution optical and infrared imaging systems continue to be important geospatial data acquisition technologies. Digital image capture systems are mounted on different platforms, such as hi-resolution satellites, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, road vehicles, etc. Research areas include sensor calibration, direct georeferencing of sensors and automated feature extraction, as well as those related to a variety of mapping/imaging applications. My publications include deep learning from multispectral/hyperspectral images and data fusion of lidar point clouds and multispectral/hyperspectral images which are essential for the enhanced feature extraction from multi-layered datasets.
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
I am looking for students who are interested in 1) preparedness and prevention of natural disasters e.g. floods, bushfires, landslides, etc. and/or 2) geospatial risk modelling for epidemics.
My publications in the field of natural disasters include machine learning methods for bushfire susceptibility mapping, spatial clustering and modelling for landslides susceptibility mapping, city-scale evacuation management in flood scenarios, and social media-based natural disaster assessment.
My publications around spatial epidemiology include identifications of geo-correlation between contributing factors and asthma occurrence, analysis of avian influenza outbreaks using cross-disciplinary and computational approaches, emerging hot spot analysis of COVID-19, and early detection of emerging infectious diseases.
Students with prior education in GIS and remote sensing are encouraged to apply for admission and scholarships under my supervision.
Currently supervising
Current Student Thesis Projects:
Hashani Wijewantha-Abeygunasekarage (PhD candidate) GIS-based route solver analysis to assess the risk of landslide susceptibility
Manvi Kanwar (MPhil Candidate) Susceptibility mapping of rainfall-induced landslides
Atalay Muluneh (PhD Candidate, Kirby Institute) Advanced GIS methods for red-flagging epidemics
Zimu Song (PhD Candidate) Development of geospatial risk analysis techniques for epidemic diseases
Mehak Jindal (PhD Candidate) Geospatial predictive modelling of avian influenza outbreaks
Jiyu Liu (PhD Candidate) Assessment of a post-fire forested ecosystem by using spaceborne lidar over south-eastern Australia
Past Student Thesis Projects:
Maryamsadat Hosseini (PhD, 2024) Bushfire susceptibility mapping using gene expression programming and machine learning techniques
Badal Pokharel (PhD, 2023) Developing a physical model for establishment of early warning system of earthquake-induced landslides in the Central Nepal Himalayas
Sharareh Akbarian (PhD, 2023) A novel machine learning method for crop yield prediction using unmanned aerial vehicle-based multispectral images
Bingnan Li (PhD, 2022) Deep learning-based spatio-temporal data mining using multi-source geospatial data
Zi Chen (PhD, 2021) Emergency management based on volunteered geographic information
Yongzhi Xu (PhD, 2020) Automated and real-time scan-to-BIM through deep learning-based object detection
Jinda Qi (PhD, 2020) A decision-making framework to support urban heat mitigation by local governments
Li Liu (PhD, 2019) Aboveground biomass estimation of individual trees with airborne lidar data
Qishuo Gao (PhD, 2019) Spectral-spatial classification techniques for hyperspectral imagery
Siti Aisyah Binti Tumiran (PhD, 2019) An improved community structure method for catchment classification
Chau Minh Bui (PhD, 2019) Investigating the spread of emerging avian influenza viruses using cross-disciplinary and computational approaches
Zeyuan Qi (ME, 2018) Assessment of quality and equity of transportation services to central business district in Sydney, Australia
Yang Zhang (PhD, 2018) Understanding wildfire patterns in the south-eastern Australia
Xuefen Liu (PhD, 2018) City-scale evacuation management in flood scenarios, implementation and comparison of a multi-agent based approach and a traffic assignment approach
Hossein Asefi (PhD, 2017) Optimal site selection and location-routing for a sustainable integrated solid waste management system
Sara Shirowzhan (PhD, 2016) Spatial and temporal pattern analysis of 3D urban development using airborne lidar
Ligaya Leah Lara Figueroa (PhD, 2016) Spatial modelling for understanding the correlation between school facilities and academic performance in the Philippines
Nur Fadhillah Norzahari (ME, 2016) Stem classification and modelling from lidar for a semi-automated forest inventory
Hossein Aghighi (PhD, 2015) Markov random field models for classification of remote sensing data and super-resolution mapping
You Shao (ME, 2015) A fusion approach to building-boundary extraction using airborne lidar data and multi-spectral images
Li Liu (ME, 2015) Road extraction from airborne lidar data and integrated remote sensing data
Hong Joo Park (PhD, 2014) Analysis of full waveform airborne lidar remote sensing data for the individual tree inventory in Australian forestry
Vahideh Moghtadaiee (PhD, 2013) Design and performance of the fingerprinting technique for indoor location
Aulia Riza Farhan (PhD, 2013) Assessment of integrated coastal zone management: a case study in the Seribu Islands, Indonesia
Ali Mohammed Al-Shaery (PhD, 2013) Addressing some remaining challenges of integrated high precision GPS/GLONASS positioning
Sharon Kazemi (PhD, 2011) Cartographic knowledge-based generalisation of spatial features
Napat Jakrawatana (PhD, 2010) An integrated decision support tool for more sustainable management of biomass resources in agricultural regions
Muhammad Usman Iqbal (PhD, 2009) Location privacy in automotive telematics
Thomas Surya Sanjaya Yan (ME, 2009) Analysis on distribution of real-time GNSS data over IP networks
Tajul Ariffin Musa (PhD, 2008) Analysis of residual atmospheric delay in the low latitude regions using network-based GPS positioning
My Engagement
Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
National Delegate, Commission 3, International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)
National Representative, Commission on Sensor-driven Mapping, International Cartographic Association (ICA)
Working Group Member, WG I/6 Lidar for Airborne and Spaceborne Sensing, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS)
Working Group Member, WG 4.3.3. Numerical Weather Prediction for Positioning, International Association of Geodesy (IAG)
Professional Member, Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), Australia
Professional Member, American Geophysics Union (AGU), USA
Professional Member, Institute of Navigation (ION), USA
Associate Editor, Geo-Spatial Information Science
Editorial Board, International Journal on Civil Engineering and Urban Planning
Editorial Board, International Journal of Geoinformatics
Editorial Board, Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9838-8960