Prof. Anette Eltner has been  the Junior Professor for Geosensor Systems at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences since the 2021/22 winter semester. To satisfy our curiosity, she answered a few short questions for us. In the following interview, Prof. Eltner offers some insight into her  research and teaching.

• What are the focal areas of your research?

There are actually several focal areas. Basically, it's about using methods, in my case geosensors, to observe the earth's surface. Afterwards, the collected data is processed and interpreted. Different perspectives are taken, for example hydrological measurements. These aspects can ultimately be summarized as environmental monitoring. This allows a better and more accurate description of the processes that take place on the earth's surface.

• What is your vision for the chair? (for research and teaching)

It is my goal that the junior professorship will be part of the Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing in the long run. As part of teaching, I would like to teach the current developments in measurement methods, such as the use of UAVs. The automated extraction of data, which requires machine learning, shall also be intensively taught and further developed.

• Where did you last teach, research, and live?

Even before my junior professorship, I was already at TU Dresden and consequently already on site in Dresden. I previously taught and conducted research at the Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Primarily, I conducted research at the Chair of Photogrammetry. I have been at TU Dresden ever since I was a student.

• What was your PhD topic?

I'll have to think about that for a moment to see what the correct title was. It was “Photogrammetric techniques for across-scale soil erosion assessment  Developing methods to integrate multi-temporal high resolution topography data at field plots”. It was about photogrammetric methods for cross-scale detection of soil erosion. More specifically, this means that I looked into the use of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). At that time, these were new sensor available for collecting data. I investigated how to use them for soil erosion research. There were already many other methods, however, this was a cross-scale survey.

• What was the best experience during your studies?

I remember several beautiful moments. During my geography studies, we as students were also out in the field. These field days gave us the opportunity to examine and apply in practice the theoretical knowledge we had previously acquired. This helped me to understand the overall correlation of my degree program. You could describe these days as "eureka moments".

• When did you decide: "I want to become a professor!"?

There was no specific moment in my case when this desire arose in me. As a PhD student, I knew very early on that I wanted to work in academia afterwards, as research fulfills me professionally. My desire for a professorship grew with the increasing number of duties I had to perform.

• What do you always have on your desk?

Personal items are rather uncommon on my desk. What must not be missing is the laptop and my notebook for handwritten notes. Throughout the working day, I like to drink coffee, therefore you will also find some cups on my desk.

• What was a pleasant surprise to you on the TUD campus?

What fascinates me relates less to the campus than to the structure, for example at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. The broad spectrum of departments, focus areas and projects in one location - that's what fascinates me. This gave me many opportunities for professional development at TU Dresden.

• What are your favourits?

The longer you stay in one place, the more you become blind to many of its peculiarities. I always enjoy the meadows on the river Elbe in the summer. And Dresden's surrounding countryside with Saxon Switzerland is a wonderful option and a contrast to the city, which is also easy to reach by public transport. In other words, the classics of the neighborhood.

Thank you to Prof. Eltner for the insights. We can look forward to her inaugural lecture, which is scheduled for the 2022 summer semester.

Contact:
Anette Eltner, Juniorprofessor Dr. Ing.

Falkenbrunnen • room 213, 2nd floor
Würzburgerstr. 35
D-01069 Dresden