Dr. László Bertalan
Personal Website
Embedded Files
Biography
Biography
Dr. László Bertalan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physical Geography and Geoinformatics, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
I have received my PhD degree in Earth Sciences in 2020. My research activities are mainly focusing on fluvial geomorphology, river channel morphodynamics, bank erosion. Mainly, I use Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) - or with other words: drones - for high-resolution aerial mapping.
I use UAS technology for the better understanding of fluvial, environmental, agricultural or even urban processes.
See my profile also on the following Scientific Databases:
News and Important Updates
News and Important Updates
Hungarian Geographical Conference 2025
Hungarian Geographical Conference 2025
Our team from the Institute of Geosciences at the University if Debrecen provided the largest delegation at the conference.
EMCEI-2025
EMCEI-2025
During June 2025 we represented our department at the EMCEI 2025 (7th Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration) conference in Reggio di Calabria. In our presentation, we discussed the challenges of adapting the RESI (River Ecosystem Services Index) to Hungary, mainly from the perspective of earth sciences. The topic is being developed within the framework of the National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Safety (VVNL), and what makes it special is that the need for it arose primarily from practical considerations.
Remote Opponent from Italy
Remote Opponent from Italy
Due to time constraints I was able to join a PhD dissertation defense as an official opponent via online at the University of Pécs.
The dissertation submitted by Anjar Tri Laksono was entitled: "Hybrid Method Assesses Coastal Morphology Using Satellite Images and Fluid Dynamics"
Visit from Uzbekistan
Visit from Uzbekistan
It was great to welcome our colleagues: Prof. Dr. Shukhrat Shokirov (Vice Rector for Research and Innovation) and Dr. Ilhom Abdurahmanov, PhD (Head of International Ranking Department) from TIIAME National Research University Uzbekistan.
We explored the collaboration possibilities in remote sensing and UAS mapping technology. Looking forward to apply for joint proposals of bilateral research projects.
MOXXI meeting at EGU25
MOXXI meeting at EGU25
We had a fruitful meeting of MOXXI working group at EGU25. The working group has the task to “promote the advancement of novel observational techniques that leads to new sources of information to help better understand the hydrological cycle”.
Read about our activities below at the website of IAHS (International Association of Hydrological Sciences):
EGU25
EGU25
What a great day! The poster about bank erosion monitoring using our stationary camera system (in collaboration with Anette Eltner's team at TU Dresden) generated incredible interest. So many interactions and cool scientific discussions! That’s why I love #EGU25
Download our full-sized poster from ResearchGate below:
Collaborative paper with grassland ecologists
Collaborative paper with grassland ecologists
This research demonstrates the valuable role of UAS data in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of mapping microtopographic features within grassland ecosystems. Look at the details at Global Ecology and Conservation (Elsevier, Q1 - IF: 3.4):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425001970
Mapping soil properties using PlanetScope series in South Africa
Mapping soil properties using PlanetScope series in South Africa
Can multi-season imagery outperform single-season imagery for predicting the target soil properties? Find out in our new paper published in Earth Science Informatics (Springer, Q2 - IF: 2.7):
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12145-025-01748-6
Call for Abstracts!
EGU General Assembly 2025
Call for Abstracts!
EGU General Assembly 2025
How can drones help in estimating wind energy?
How can drones help in estimating wind energy?
Find out in our new paper published in Energy Conversion and Management: X (Elsevier, D1 - IF: 7.1):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174524002381?via%3Dihub
BIP on Advanced Hydrological Monitoring
BIP on Advanced Hydrological Monitoring
Lecture: "Planning Hydrological Surveys with Drones: Systems and Tools"
We are teaching students from several European countries on the Advanced Technologies for Hydrological Monitoring at the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme organized by the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II.
Are volcaniclastics bad enough to make badlands?
Are volcaniclastics bad enough to make badlands?
According to Wikipedia, "badland" is a landform of clay- and sand-rich areas in arid and semi-arid regions. But what about the ones on volcanic debris, also known as volcaniclastite?
Find out in our new article published in Catena (Elsevier, D1 - IF: 5.4):
EKÖP Prize 2024
EKÖP Prize 2024
I'm thrilled to receive this year's EKÖP (University Research Fellowship Programme) Prize from the University of Debrecen, Hungary.
This 1-year grant will support my upcoming research project on the applicability of time-laps camera systems for monitoring river bank erosion of meandering rivers.
Blended Intensive Programme for Hydrological Monitoring
Blended Intensive Programme for Hydrological Monitoring
As part of the Erasmus+ program, the University of Naples (UNINA), Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), University of Debrecen (UD), Politehnica University Timisoara (PUT), University of Twente (UT), and Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) are organizing a Blended Intensive Programme at the University of Naples from October 16 to 23, 2024.
The initiative aims to promote innovative monitoring strategies, leveraging the international experience gained from the HARMONIOUS project. This proposal serves as a natural extension of the training activities undertaken within HARMONIOUS, intending to establish harmonized monitoring practices and disseminate the latest advancements in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) methodologies.
More information can be found on our dedicated page: https://www.costharmonious.eu/2024/09/06/bip-advanced-technologies-for-hydrological-monitoring/
What influences the accuracy of drone surveys in urban areas?
What influences the accuracy of drone surveys in urban areas?
Find out in our new paper published in Journal of Geovisualization and Spatial Analysis (Springer, Q1 - IF: 5.0):
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41651-024-00179-z
IEEE symposium
IEEE symposium
The first joint symposium between International Society for Digital Earth- Young Scientists Innovation Network (ISDE-YSIN) and IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) (GRSS) Morocco Chapter will be organized at Université Chouaïb Doukkali El Jadida between 28 and 29 May 2024.
With my talk, I will represent the Young Scientist Innovation Network with 5 of my fellow members.
EGU2024
EGU2024
Drone mapping of aquatic vegetation
Drone mapping of aquatic vegetation
Parrot Sequoia was the first affordable multispectral UAS sensor at our Department. We combined these data and SfM-based DSM to classify aquatic plant species at an oxbow lake effectively.
See our new article for details (Ecological Informatics, Elsevier, Q1 - IF: 5.8):
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124001663
Drone mapping of fores fires
Drone mapping of fores fires
An intensive day of fieldwork for detailed drone mapping of post-fire effects on hillslope erosion at Los Guajares, Spain in collaboration with Dr. Jesús Rodrigo Comino (University of Granada).
Stay tuned for the first results! 🙂
Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility
Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility
Enjoyed my Erasmus+ teaching mobility at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain!
I held my lectures on UAS applications for mapping water resources to students of geospatial engineering.
Great to meet again with Director Jose Juan Arranz 🙂
Industrial collaborations
Industrial collaborations
In a press signing ceremony, we signed a cooperation agreement with Geolayer Kft and RoaData Kft, which will enable us to bring even more professional knowledge and innovation to our students and the clients of these companies. This partnership will foster scientific collaboration and create new opportunities for research and development.
In the local news
In the local news
Our team has received the Publication Prize – Awarded by Gróf Tisza István Foundation for University of Debrecen (GTIDEA) as a recognition of our recently published article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168169922005750
I have been interviewed by the University Press to talk about the project where we try to estimate soil moisture at ploughlands. Here is the article (Hungarian only)
https://hirek.unideb.hu/talajnedvesseg-terkep-dronok-es-mi-alkalmazasaval
Keynote talk in Beijing
Keynote talk in Beijing
I have received a very honorable invitation from Changlin Wang, Secretary General of the International Society for Digital Earth and Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to give a keynote talk about our drone mapping research at the 1st Youth Innovation Forum in Beijing, China.
Great hospitality, excellent young scientists, great food, an everlasting experience! 🙂
Summary of the event with photos:
http://www.digitalearth-isde.org/show-48-278-1.html
ISDE Symposium 2023
ISDE Symposium 2023
We are attending the 13rd International Symposium of International Society for Digital Earth in Athens, Greece. Exciting event to discuss the most novel Earth observation and data analytics methods (i.e. Big Earth Data) within this nice society to achieve SDGs.
The Young Scientist Innovation Network within the framework of International Society for Digital Earth has just been launched in May. Details: http://www.digitalearth-isde.org/show-48-265-1.html
It was great to meet with some of my fellow Committee Members in person at the symposium.
Exciting work is ahead within this initiative.
Annual field work
Annual field work
As part of the preparation for the exam period, we visited the Sajó River with foreign students of my Fluvial Geomorphology course, where we examined the landforms and floodplain structure typical of alluvial rivers. Due to the overpass of the recent flood peak of the Sajó River, we had the opportunity to observe bankfull channel conditions. As a particular interest, during our visit, we also observed the continuous collapse of the river banks on the outer banks of the meanders.
Meeting with colleagues from India
Meeting with colleagues from India
EGU General Assembly brings together scientists of common interest not just from Europe!
It was great to meet finally Professor Kamal Jain (IIT Roorkee) and his PhD student Vishal Mishra from India.
We will start new collaborations using drones in geomatics.
EGU 2023
EGU 2023
It is always the key event of the year to attend the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna.
We have organized the 'regular' Fluvial Systems session with great interest from attendees.
List of talks and posters:
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/session/47017#
International Geomorphology Week 2023
International Geomorphology Week 2023
I have participated at the International Geomorphology Week Webinar series (Eastern Europe) organized by the IAG (International Association of Geomorphologists).
My talk summarized our recent UAV-based methods for high-resolution hydromorphological mapping.
New role within ISDE
New role within ISDE
I am starting a new role as a Committee Member of the Young Scientist Innovation Network (YSIN) within the framework of International Society fo Digital Earth (ISDE).
Details soon...
Academy talks
Academy talks
I gave two talks about 1) novel hydromorphological mapping tools and 2) drone-based soil moisture estimation of agricultural parcels during the Celebration of Hungarian Science at the headquarters of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.
New book chapter published
New book chapter published
After five years of intense activities carried out within the HARMONIOUS COST Action, the book “Unmanned Aerial Systems for Monitoring Soil, Vegetation, and Riverine Environments” is published. The book aims to share the experience gained and to provide guidance for all those that are willing to approach the use of UAS-based environmental applications. We have dedicated one specific chapter for mapping river channel dynamics too.
Autumn of Experts vol.02.
Autumn of Experts vol.02.
Another great memory from this field season when we hosted Hervé Piégay and Joe Wheaton along the Sajó River in Hungary. Joint research paper is on the way! We also had a field trip organized by Miloš Rusnák (Slovak Academy of Sciences) along the Belá River too.
Radio Report on my research
Radio Report on my research
I have been invited to give an interview about my research on river hydromorphology at our university's radio channel, FM90 Campus Radio. It was fun! :)
Here is the recording (Hungarian only):
Abstract submission is now open for #EGU23
Abstract submission is now open for #EGU23
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU23/session/47017
We're leading our 'traditional' fluvial session to hear about your amazing researches about rivers, floodplains, sediments! :)
Autumn of Experts vol.01.
Autumn of Experts vol.01.
What an influencing fall during my fieldwork season! It was an absolute pleasure to host the legendary Prof. Gary Parker (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Dr. Jeffrey Nittrouer (Texas Tech University) from USA at Sajó River and discuss many things on my research and meandering channel morphodynamics. Thanks for the opportunity from Dr. Gergely Török (Budapest University of Technology and Economics).
Researchers' Night
Researchers' Night
My flume demonstration of river channel morphodynamics for elementary school students at the European Researchers' Night last week at University of Debrecen.
New paper published on drone-based flow velocity and discharge estimation
New paper published on drone-based flow velocity and discharge estimation
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021WR031821
Water Resources Research (Wiley): D1 - IF: 6.159
Special Issue Editor at Land
Special Issue Editor at Land
There is a new special issue in the Land journal hosted by me and my colleague, Prof. Szilárd Szabó.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/special_issues/98R73I4316
The call is open, feel free to submit a related topic:
#landscape #pattern #landscapepattern #land #satelltite #aerialimaging #UAV #landscapemetric #urbanplanning #agriculture #natureconservation
Visit at the Newe Ya'ar Model Farm
Visit at the Newe Ya'ar Model Farm
The Model Farm is currently being set up at the Newe Ya’ar Research Center, in order to examine, demonstrate and disseminate among farmers the principles of Sustainable Agriculture.
Workshop in Israel
Workshop in Israel
In September 2022 I have attended the AGRITASK Workshop at the Remote Sensing Laboratory of Tel Aviv University, Israel.
I have presented our recently published article on drone-based soil moisture mapping.
„László Bertalan et al., Combination of multispectral and thermal-infrared UAV imagery for improved estimation of soil moisture”
New paper published on drone-based soil moisture estimation
New paper published on drone-based soil moisture estimation
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168169922005750
Computers & Electronics in Agriculture (Elsevier): D1 - IF: 6.757
Award
Award
In July 2022 I have received the 'Outstanding Early Career Lecturer Award' given by the Faculty of Science & Technology at University of Debrecen.
New review paper published on 'Remote Sensing of Riparian Ecosystems'
New review paper published on 'Remote Sensing of Riparian Ecosystems'
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/11/2645
Remote Sensing (MDPI): Q1 - IF: 4.848
Semester closing Field trip with my foreign students as part of my Fluvial Geomorphology course
Semester closing Field trip with my foreign students as part of my Fluvial Geomorphology course
Special Issue Editor at Remote Sensing
Special Issue Editor at Remote Sensing
Recent advances in remote sensing methods enable effective mapping, monitoring, and improved understanding of riparian systems and management outcomes.
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/special_issues/rs_riparian_ecosystem
HARMONIOUS Video lectures (including my double on river monitoring with drones) are available online for free
HARMONIOUS Video lectures (including my double on river monitoring with drones) are available online for free
The full recording of the UAS workshop is available at our HARMONIOUS Youtube channel
The full recording of the UAS workshop is available at our HARMONIOUS Youtube channel
Report and photo gallery of the UAS workshop are available at our University website
Report and photo gallery of the UAS workshop are available at our University website
International UAS Workshop in Debrecen!
International UAS Workshop in Debrecen!
We organize again the 'traditional' Fluvial Systems session at EGU General Assembly 2022
We organize again the 'traditional' Fluvial Systems session at EGU General Assembly 2022
New paper published on the topic of UAS-based hydromorphological mapping
New paper published on the topic of UAS-based hydromorphological mapping
Honorable prize received
Honorable prize received
I have been awarded to the 'PhD Thesis of the year 2020 (in Natural Sciences)'
by University of Debrecen, Hungary
TV report on our DAAD-TKA project!
TV report on our DAAD-TKA project!
Plenary talk at the UASG-2021 conference
Plenary talk at the UASG-2021 conference
I have been invited to give an invited (online) keynote talk at the 2nd International Conference on Unmanned Aerial Systems in Geomatics (UASG-2021) organized by the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India.
Recording of the talk can be accessed in the following link:
Last page update: 27 November 2024
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse