Luisa Pflumm, an alumna of the EAGLE MSc program, is now pursuing her PhD at our EORC, focusing on innovative applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in ecological monitoring.
Her current research uses UAS to map the effects of fire and drought on vegetation in Kruger National Park, providing high-resolution datasets that support conservation efforts and improve our understanding of ecosystem responses to climate stressors. By integrating advanced remote sensing techniques with field data, Luisa’s work aims to enhance predictive models of vegetation health and resilience under environmental pressures.
Prior to her PhD, Luisa contributed to multiple UAS-based environmental monitoring projects during her MSc at EAGLE, including mapping snow depth and vegetation structure in alpine regions. She also collaborated with the Zentrum für Tier- und Wildtierkunde (IZW) under Andreas Wilting, applying remote sensing and spatial ecology techniques to study wildlife distribution and habitat use, bridging vegetation mapping with biodiversity insights.
Luisa’s work exemplifies the power of combining cutting-edge technology, field research, and ecological expertise to inform conservation and management of vulnerable ecosystems.
