Estimating Soil Moisture from Space
About
Soil moisture can be measured from space using satellite-based remote sensing techniques, primarily either passive microwave sensing, which detects natural microwave emissions from the Earth's surface, or active microwave sensing (radar), which emits and receives microwave signals to infer soil moisture. These methods offer global, consistent, regular measurements, though require careful interpretation to distinguish the soil signal from vegetation and other factors.
Joint with the IoP and IMechE, organised by the IoP.
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
14 Apr 2026
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Organiser
- Hereford and Worcester Local Network
Speakers
Dr John Beale
Lecturer in Applied Data Analytics - Cranfield University
Dr John Beale is a Lecturer in Applied Data Analytics at Cranfield University, with a specialist background in remote sensing, GIS, and applied physics. Following his graduation from Cambridge in 1989, he spent twenty years in defence research at the Admiralty Research Establishment and later the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (now QinetiQ), working on electro‑optics, infrared and hyperspectral sensing, and managing international collaborative programmes.
After completing an MSc in Geographical Information Management at Cranfield University in 2010, he worked as an innovation consultant supporting technology adoption across sectors including rail. John returned to Cranfield in 2017 to pursue a PhD on estimating soil moisture from C‑band SAR satellite data, gaining formal soil science training through the STARS CDT. Since 2023 he has been teaching degree apprenticeships at Cranfield University, and in 2025 he joined full‑time as a Lecturer in Applied Data Analytics.
Programme
Starts 19:00 (note earlier than usual)
Expected finish 20:30