Vern Singhroy - Remote Sensing for geohazard monitoring, geological mapping and exploration.

Name: Vern Singhroy
Field of Expertise: Remote Sensing for geohazard monitoring, geological mapping and exploration.
Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Resources Engineering, State University of New York
Works at: Natural Resources Canada’s Canada Centre for Remote Sensing in Ottawa, Ontario. 

What he studies

Dr. Singhroy develops and interprets satellite image maps used to monitor landslides affecting Canada’s strategic energy and transportation corridors. These interferometric radar imaging techniques (InSAR) are also used to monitor the mining practices of the Alberta Oil Sands. He also integrates the Canadian RADARSAT images with other optical satellite images to map the surficial geology and rock types in northern Canada.

What is the importance of his research?

Land motion related to subsurface fluid injection for oil and gas exploration needs to be carefully monitored by the regulators and exploration companies. Land uplift ranging from a few millimetres to tens of centimetres over a time period of a few months to several years can occur when steam is injected to extract the oil. Working with the Alberta regulators, Dr. Singhroy is using satellite radar interferometric technique (InSAR) to monitor heaving (uplift) to maximize the oil recovery process and ensure safe steam injection technology. The InSAR techniques are also used to monitor small land motion on landslides next to highways, railways and pipelines for safety purposes.

Interesting fact

Canada is a world leader in earth observation (EO) technologies and applications. RADARSAT-1 and RADARSAT-2 are two sophisticated EO satellites used to monitor environmental changes and the planet's natural resources. The new RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) consisting of three smaller satellites will be launched in 2018. Dr. Singhroy is the principal scientist of the RCM and is currently developing image interpretation techniques for RADARSAT rapid revisit monitoring for resource extraction and geohazards.

Current research projects

InSAR monitoring techniques for oil sands mining activities.
InSAR landslide monitoring along Canada’s strategic energy and transportation corridors.
Principal Scientist Canada’s Radarsat Constellation Mission to be launched 2018.

Key publications

Njoku, E.G., Abrams, M.J., Asrar, G., Marzano, F.S., Minnett, P., Salomonson, V.V., Singhroy, V., Turk, J. (Eds.) (2012). Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing 1000, p. 350 illus., 50 in color, Springer.

Singhroy, V. (2009). Remote Sensing Techniques for Geological Mapping and Exploration (Chapter 15) pp 333-349 in Geoinformatics for Natural Resource Management. Eds Joshi, Pani, Mohapatra and Singh. (634 pages) Nova Science Publishers, Inc, NY.

Singhroy, V. (2008) Satellite remote sensing applications for landslide detection and monitoring (Chapter 7) pp 143-158 in Book Landslide Disaster Risk Reduction Ed Kioji Sassa and Paolo Canuti. (633 pages) Springer, Berlin.

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