On 16 October 2025, Associate Professor Ling Chang of the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, gave an online lecture entitled “Satellite Geodesy: Progress and Challenges in Satellite Radar Interferometry” to faculty and students of CIT.
Dr Chang is internationally recognised for her work on synthetic-aperture-radar interferometry (InSAR), especially long-term deformation monitoring. After earning a PhD in geoscience and remote sensing from Delft University of Technology, she spent three years as a post-doc in the Structural Engineering Section, leading satellite-radar-based automated-inspection projects for the Dutch rail network in partnership with Prorail and high-speed operator Infraspeed. Her “data–method–application–decision” framework is now used for infrastructure-health diagnosis, landslide early-warning and ground-subsidence monitoring. In 2022 she received the J. M. Tienstra Research Award, the highest honour in Dutch geodetic science, and has published more than 70 papers in leading journals. She currently heads two ESA projects, AlignSAR and Copphil.
During the lecture Dr Chang explained the principles of InSAR and its applications in topographic mapping, landslide forecasting and subsidence detection. She stressed that the technique can supply near-real-time surface-deformation data by analysing stacks of radar images, and introduced cutting-edge machine-learning models for landslide prediction.
In the Q&A she discussed data processing, implementation and future trends with staff and students, answering questions with clear, research-based insights. She also urged undergraduates to “build a solid foundation, stay curious and use your skills to advance geomatics and remote sensing and realize personal value”.
This online academic lecture provided the faculty and students of CIT with substantial intellectual inspiration. It not only broadened their academic horizons in the field of geomatics and remote sensing but also offered valuable learning experience and innovative research perspectives for students in related disciplines. Furthermore, it ignited their enthusiasm to pursue deeper exploration and breakthroughs in this field.
First review: Zhang Jian
Second review: Zhan Xia
Final review: Wang Rouhua
