Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie | Remote Sensing of Environment | Best Researcher Award
Professor | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Geography and Geoinformation Sciences, currently serving at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His career spans teaching, research, and leadership, with extensive contributions to environmental change modelling, climate risk analysis, and spatial epidemiology. He has held senior positions, including Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences, and worked as a scientist with the South Africa Medical Research Council. His expertise lies in applying remote sensing and GIS technologies to solve pressing challenges in environmental management, forestry, health, and sustainable development.
Professional Profile
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Education
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie completed his undergraduate studies in Geography at the University of Asmara, Eritrea. He earned his Master’s degree in Applied Environmental Science from the University of Natal, South Africa, focusing on environmental systems and geospatial applications. His academic journey culminated with a Doctorate in Geography at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where his thesis centered on estimating structural attributes of eucalyptus plantations using high-resolution satellite imagery. His educational background reflects a solid foundation in environmental sciences, remote sensing, and geospatial technologies, which continues to shape his interdisciplinary research and teaching pursuits.
Experience
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie career reflects diverse professional engagements across academic, governmental, and research institutions. He has served as a GIS data analyst and technician in Eritrea and South Africa, before joining academia as a lecturer, later becoming professor and department head at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research experience includes work as a senior scientist in malaria epidemiology at the South Africa Medical Research Council. Through these roles, he has led multiple funded projects on climate change, forestry, and health, while also mentoring postgraduate students, advancing geospatial methods, and contributing significantly to applied environmental science.
Research Interests
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie research interests bridge environmental management, geoinformation science, and public health. He explores how remote sensing and GIS can model climate change impacts, forest cover change, and carbon stock assessment. His interdisciplinary approach extends to spatial epidemiology, particularly malaria risk modeling and early warning systems. He is also engaged in studies on heat health warning systems, soil organic matter assessment, and human-wildlife conflicts under climate stress. With his strong focus on sustainability, his work provides actionable geospatial insights for policy makers, environmental managers, and healthcare practitioners in Africa and beyond.
Awards
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebreslasie has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to geospatial and environmental research through awards, invited conference presentations, and competitive funding projects. His leadership in projects such as MALAREO, SASAC, and WEATHER has earned him recognition within global scientific communities. Beyond research excellence, he contributes as a reviewer for leading international journals in remote sensing, forestry, and environmental health. His achievements highlight his ability to integrate research and practice, fostering impactful collaborations across institutions, disciplines, and international boundaries. These honors affirm his reputation as a leading scholar and innovator in environmental geoinformatics.
Top Noted Publications
Title: Modelling the spatial and seasonal distribution of suitable habitats of schistosomiasis intermediate host snails using Maxent in Ndumo area, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Year: 2016
Cited by: 83
Title: Forest structural assessment using remote sensing technologies: an overview of the current state of the art
Year: 2007
Cited by: 71
Title: Knowledge, attitudes and practices in the control and prevention of malaria in four endemic provinces of Zambia
Year: 2017
Cited by: 69
Title: Individual tree detection based on variable and fixed window size local maxima filtering applied to IKONOS imagery for even-aged Eucalyptus plantation forests
Year: 2011
Cited by: 60
Title: Drought influence on forest plantations in Zululand, South Africa, using MODIS time series and climate data
Year: 2018
Cited by: 57
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