Inaugural Lecture Explores Optical and Thermal Remote Sensing for Sustainability

UKZN’s Professor John Odindi offered a comprehensive exploration of his research in optical and thermal remote sensing while delivering his inaugural lecture as a full professor of the University.

Odindi’s presentation highlighted how remote sensing technologies are transforming the study of ecological systems and agricultural landscapes, and how these insights can inform policies that support sustainability and resilience in a changing world.

Odindi – based on the Pietermaritzburg campus in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science – has spent over two decades refining his expertise in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). His research has focused on urban green ecology, cropping systems, invasive alien species and ecosystem services.

In his inaugural lecture, he presented a compelling case for the application of remotely sensed datasets – particularly optical and thermal imaging – in understanding both natural and human-influenced landscapes.

‘Imaging and non-imaging remotely sensed datasets, in concert with novel geo-spatial analytical approaches, offer great potential for enhancing our understanding of temporal and multi-temporal landscape characteristics,’ he said.

Odindi demonstrated how such datasets can be applied to landscape transformation, species identification, urban greenery, carbon mapping, microclimate regulation and smart agriculture. He emphasised the growing value of integrating these technologies into both local and broader-scale environmental and agricultural management systems.

His talk underscored the need to bridge scientific innovation with practical decision-making. ‘Ultimately, we need to assimilate geo-spatial approaches into micro- and macro-scale management and policy formulation to enhance landscape sustainability and productivity,’ he said.

Odindi’s academic journey has focused on research excellence and knowledge dissemination. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Kenyatta University in 1999, he pursued further studies at the University of Fort Hare where he obtained an Honours degree in GIS and Applied Remote Sensing, followed by an MPhil in Environmental Studies. In 2005, Odindi was awarded a National Research Foundation (NRF) grant-holders scholarship to pursue his PhD at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, which he completed in 2009.

Following his doctoral studies, Odindi joined the University of Fort Hare as a lecturer before moving to UKZN in 2011, where he progressed through the academic ranks, becoming a senior lecturer in 2016, associate professor in 2019 and full professor in 2022.

Odindi is widely published with over 180 academic outputs including journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings. His extensive supervisory record includes 12 completed doctoral and 27 master’s students as well as mentorship of 10 postdoctoral fellows. He is currently supervising eight doctoral and five master’s students and mentoring four postdoctoral researchers.

His influence extends beyond UKZN, having examined over 100 postgraduate theses across the continent and holding membership of several international scholarly organisations, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society and the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment. He also serves as a council member of the Society of South African Geographers, where he is responsible for academic writing.

Odindi’s work has attracted numerous prestigious grants from agencies such as the Wellcome Trust, National Institutes of Health (NIH), South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the NRF. His expertise has been recognised by his NRF C2 rating and his selection among Africa’s top researchers in Geo-information and Earth Observation. In 2022, he was listed among the top 30 most published researchers at UKZN.

‘An inaugural lecture is a rare opportunity in somebody’s life to address such a mixed forum of family and colleagues,’ said Odindi, going on to express his heartfelt appreciation for the mentors, collaborators, students and family members who have supported his career.

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Supplied