MANTIS Students Showcase Research at IGARSS 2025 in Brisbane, Australia

MANTIS students Benjamin Ghansah and José Pilartes-Congo recently attended and presented their research at the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) held in Brisbane, Australia, between August 3 and August 8. 2025.

Benjamin Ghansah, PhD student in Geospatial Computer Science, presented his research titled "Predicting Canopy Height of Crops Using ICESat-2 Photons, SkySat Images and ResUNet Deep Learning Model." His work demonstrated innovative integration of satellite and deep learning technologies for precision agriculture.

José Pilartes-Congo, also a PhD student in the Geospatial Computer Science program, presented his research titled “UAS Surveying of Wetlands: Comparing SfM and Lidar for 3D Reconstruction and DTM Generation," which compared the performance of specific UAS-SfM and UAS-Lidar sensors for wetland mapping. José also presented (on behalf of recent MANTIS graduate Sabin J. Pandey) a piece of research titled “Evaluation of SfM-MVS Apple Lidar Data for Coastal Monitoring."

The symposium provided valuable exposure and feedback, further enriching the students' academic trajectories.

Isabel A. Garcia-Williams Graduates

MANTIS Ph.D. student Isabel A. Garcia-Williams has recently graduated from the Coastal and Marine System Science doctoral program at TAMUCC. During her time with MANTIS, Dr. Garcia-Williams was engaged research involving mobile lidar deployment for monitoring coastal environments and surrounding habitats. Her work has led to several peer-reviewed journal/conference publications and conference presentations. Dr. Garcia-Williams went on to pursue a career in research and development in California.

Mohammad Sohail Presents Research at the 2025 CIG Community Workshop in Denver, Colorado

MANTIS and Computer Science PhD student Mohammad Sohail recently attended and presented his research at the 2025 Computational Infrastructure for Geodynamics (CIG) Community Workshop, held in Denver, Colorado, between August 3 and August 8, 2025. His research titled “Monitoring Flood-Induced Land Surface Deformation Using Sentinel SAR Interferometry and Optical Remote Sensing” explored the integration of advanced computer techniques and remote sensing to evaluate the impact of flood events on land surface characteristics.

Sabin J. Pandey Graduates

MANTIS master’s student Sabin J. Pandey has recently graduated from the Geospatial Systems Engineering program at TAMUCC. During his time with MANTIS, Sabin was engaged research involving close-range remote sensing techniques for monitoring campus facilities, particularly the use of UAS, lidar, and digital twins for as-built utility inventory. Sabin went on to work for an surveying firm in Florida as he continues to pursue a career as an RPLS. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Sabin Pandey Defends Thesis

Congratulations to MANTIS and GSEN master student Sabin J. Pandey for successfully defending his dissertation, titled “Evaluating the Performance of Apple Pocket Lidar: Case Studies in Natural and Built Environments”.

As a GSEN student, Sabin worked under the advisement of Dr. Michael Starek. His research has focused on evaluating the capabilities and limitations of Apple pocket lidar (PL) sensor through case studies in both natural and built environments. Before his journey at MANTIS, Sabin received a B.E. in Geomatics Engineering from Purbanchal University in Nepal and worked as an academic for a brief period. Following graduation, he plans to relocate to Tampa, Florida, to join Element Engineering LLC and continue his career in the field of Geomatics. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT

Developments in light detection and ranging (lidar) systems have enabled integration of lidar sensors into consumer-grade Apple devices, opening new possibilities for low-cost, rapid, and accessible 3D data acquisition. This study evaluates the performance and practicality of the Apple pocket lidar (PL) sensor, using the iPad Pro with Pix4Dcatch and 3D Scanner apps, in both natural and built environments on the Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) campus. High-accuracy geomatics techniques, including real-time kinematic-global navigation satellite system (RTK-GNSS), terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), and total station (TS), were employed to acquire reference datasets. Uncrewed aircraft system (UAS)-based structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry was utilized to explore data integration with PL-derived SfM/multi-view stereo (SfM-MVS) data. Lidar-only data from the 3D Scanner app produced smoother but less detailed surfaces, while photogrammetry-only scans offered richer texture but struggled in low-texture or homogenous areas, suggesting that a hybrid approach yields more complete data. Multiple scanning strategies (straight-line, loop, zigzag) were tested to examine data quality and algorithm behavior. Loop scans achieved the highest slope distance accuracy (2.7 cm root mean square error (RMSE)), with progressively decreasing errors in straight-line and loop scans, indicating the use of a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)-like algorithm. Zigzag scans exhibited greater drift due to frequent directional changes.

 In coastal applications, PL-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) of University Beach, a restored beach on the TAMUCC campus, achieved a vertical RMSE of approximately 10 cm relative to TLS reference DEMs, though targeting larger areas led to surface inconsistencies. For utility mapping, PL captured dense, high-resolution point clouds, with cloud-to-cloud (C2C) differences within 1.4 cm of TLS data. Data from Pix4Dcatch, outperformed raw PL scans from the 3D Scanner app in slope and width measurements. The integration of PL and UAS-SfM data within Pix4Dmatic provided improved geometric alignment compared to manual co-registration methods. Overall, the results demonstrate that PL is a practical tool for high-resolution, small to medium-scale localized 3D mapping, with strong potential in data fusion workflows and digital twin initiatives.

Isabel Garcia-Williams Defends Dissertation

Congratulations to MANTIS and CMSS Ph.D. student Isabel Garcia-Williams for successfully defending her dissertation, titled “Evaluation and Application of Mapping-Grade Mobile Lidar Scanning (MLS) for Coastal Zone Monitoring” on June 26, 2025.

While at MANTIS, Isabel’s research focused on assessing and utilizing a mapping-grade Mobile Lidar Scanning (MLS) system for monitoring sandy beach coastal corridor environments. Before her doctoral journey, Isabel received a Bachelor’s degree in Surveying Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from New Mexico State University and a Master’s degree in Geospatial Surveying Engineering from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. We wish her well in her future endeavors.

PRESENTATION ABSTRACT

Vehicle-based mapping-grade mobile lidar scanning (MLS) systems collect high-resolution, three-dimensional point cloud data and allow for rapid deployment and flexible operation. They typically integrate a lidar scanner, mobile platform, position and orientation system (POS), camera, control system, and rigid mount. Unlike survey-grade MLS systems, which prioritize high precision, accuracy, and long-range scanning, mapping-grade systems generally integrate less capable lidar sensors and lower-grade POS components, resulting in relatively lower cost and a smaller form factor. These characteristics make mapping-grade MLS particularly useful for rapid deployment in coastal mapping and monitoring applications, where ease of use and mobility are important, and conditions are conducive to vehicle-based scanning. However, these benefits come with potential limitations, including reduced scanning range and lower positional accuracy and precision. Despite these limitations, mapping-grade MLS systems can provide accurate, detailed point cloud data of the beach and lower foredune, enabling the generation of high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) to support analysis of beach geomorphology, shoreline dynamics, sediment transport, coastal engineering projects, and post-storm impacts.

This study evaluates the application of a mapping-grade MLS system in sandy beach environments to support mapping and monitoring aimed at informing coastal management decisions. It is structured around three core objectives: (1) development of an optimized survey workflow for MLS system data collection and processing tailored to sandy beach corridors; (2) application of the workflow to assess shoreline position and geomorphic changes on a seawall-adjacent beach at North Padre Island, Texas, to guide bollard placement for vehicle access control and evaluate nourishment performance, including a comparative analysis of MLS and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) photogrammetry for beach monitoring; (3) application of the workflow to assess seasonal vulnerability of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) nesting beaches along Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) using an adapted Coastal Engineering Resiliency Index (CERI), supplemented by airborne lidar scanning (ALS) datasets for historical analysis. Overall, this work demonstrates the practical utility of mapping-grade MLS scanning in capturing coastal change and highlights its advantages, limitations, and potential for supporting coastal policy, resiliency planning, and resource management.

Dr. Tianxing Chu promoted to Associate Professor of Computer Science

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has announced the approval of Dr. Tianxing Chu’s promotion to Associate Professor of Computer Science. Promotion to the rank of Associate Professor is a recognition of the maturity and experience of a faculty member’s professional success as they increase their leadership within the academic profession. Dr. Chu is both a professor in TAMU-CC's College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Associate Director of CBI's Measurement Analytics (MANTIS) Lab. We congratulate Dr. Chu on his esteemed achievements!

TxDOT Highlights MANTIS Research

The Measurement Analytics (MANTIS) Lab at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was recently recognized by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for its pioneering research on unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) for geospatial data acquisition. The research, funded and supported by TxDOT, was featured at the 2025 ASCE Texas Section Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (TxUESI) Conference, underscoring the lab’s role in advancing innovation in transportation infrastructure through cutting-edge remote sensing technologies.

The study, formally titled Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Land Surveying: A Comparative Study of LiDAR and Photogrammetry, investigated the capabilities of UAS platforms equipped with digital cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors for surveying and mapping applications. The research focused on evaluating the accuracy, repeatability, and cost-effectiveness of UAS-based structure-from-motion / multi-view stereo (SfM/MVS) photogrammetry (or UAS-SfM) and UAS-LiDAR under varied field conditions. Comprehensive field campaigns were conducted across multiple geographic regions in Texas, assessing the performance of both technologies in diverse terrain types and environmental settings. These trials examined 3D data fidelity, explored different configurations of ground control, and analyzed data processing and post-processing workflows. The study also identified operational strengths and limitations inherent to each approach, providing actionable guidance for the integration of UAS technologies into transportation survey workflows.

During the conference presentation, Ronny Lackey (representing TxDOT) emphasized the study’s significance in supporting TxDOT’s digital delivery initiative. He highlighted the practical value the findings offer to surveyors and engineers statewide, particularly in enhancing the efficiency, safety, and quality of geospatial data collection for transportation projects.

The MANTIS Lab’s collaboration with TxDOT reflects a broader commitment to research-driven solutions that align with the evolving needs of infrastructure development. The full research report is available through the Lab Resources >> Technical Reports on this website.

MANTIS and CBI Support TxUESI Conference

The Measurement Analytics Lab (MANTIS), in collaboration with the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science (CBI), played a central role in organizing and supporting the 2025 Texas UESI (TxUESI) Conference, held May 21–23 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Hosted on the university's campus, this year’s TxUESI Conference brought together engineers, surveyors, researchers, students, and industry leaders from across Texas to explore emerging trends, technologies, and standards in utility engineering and subsurface investigations. The event featured technical sessions, equipment demonstrations, and professional networking opportunities.

MANTIS researchers and CBI staff were actively involved in the event’s coordination, including the development of session tracks on advanced surveying and sensing methods, digital twin applications, UAS-based data acquisition, and geospatial analytics. The conference also highlighted the critical role of academic-industry partnerships in advancing subsurface utility engineering practices.

The 2025 TxUESI Conference underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to address infrastructure challenges across Texas and beyond.

Mohammad Sohail Presents Research at 2025 NSF GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop

Congratulations to Mohammad Sohail, MANTIS student in the Computer Science Ph.D. program, who recently presented his research at the 2025 NSF GAGE/SAGE Community Science Workshop in Bloomington, Minnesota. The workshop focused on geophysical research exploring the solid Earth, cryosphere, oceans, atmosphere, and more. While there, Mohammad presented his research on land deformation and risk assessment related to the 2022 Southern Flood Plain in Pakistan event.

MANTIS Hosts Students During NOAA Workshop

The Measurement Analytics Lab (MANTIS) recently welcomed a group of students as part of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) workshop aimed at advancing education and exposure in coastal and geosciences. The visit, held in conjunction with a broader initiative to showcase research facilities across the university, centered on the application of remote sensing technologies for surveying and mapping, with a special focus on coastal studies, change detection, and precision measurement and analytics.

Students engaged in discussions led by MANTIS researchers and observed demonstrations highlighting the lab’s cutting-edge capabilities in remote sensing data acquisition, processing, and analysis. Particular emphasis was placed on techniques for monitoring coastal environments, detecting environmental and anthropogenic changes over time, and ensuring accuracy in spatial data for scientific and operational use.

Dr. Michael J. Starek, Director of MANTIS, also served as a featured speaker during the workshop. In his address, he underscored the critical role of measurement science in contemporary geospatial research, particularly as coastal regions face increasing environmental pressures.

Ahmed Omar Presents Research at the 2025 TAMIDS Scientific Machine Learning (SciML) Summer School

Congratulations to Ahmed Omar, MANTIS student in the Coastal Marine Systems Science Ph.D. program, who recently presented his research and took part in the 2025 TAMIDS Scientific Machine Learning (SciML) Summer School. Held over five days, the program introduced a select group of students to the fundamentals of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and Scientific Machine Learning (SciML).

Nicholas Lincks Graduates

MANTIS undergraduate student Nicholas Lincks has recently graduated from the Geospatial Science program at TAMUCC. During his time with MANTIS, Nicholas was engaged in remote sensing applications for surveying and mapping and also served as a founding member and president of the ASPRS Student Chapter for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Nicholas will go on to work for Dallas Aerial Mapping as he continues to pursue licensure as an RPLS. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

MANTIS Students Present at 2025 SSIRCA

MANTIS students Sabin Pandey, Ahmed Omar, and Mohammad Sohail presented their research at the 2005 Student Symposium for Innovation Research & Creative Activities (SSIRCA) held at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on April 25. The presentation titles were as follows:

• Sabin Pandey: Evaluation of SfM-MVS Apple LiDAR Data for Coastal Monitoring

• Ahmed Omar: Monitoring Groundwater Levels in Different Texan Aquifers Using Satellite Data, Geologic Inputs and Machine Learning

• Mohammad Sohail: Satellite-Based Monitoring and Mapping of Disaster Risk: A Case Study of the Southern Flood Plain in Pakistan

The annual symposium serves as a platform for supporting student research and creative work, helping students achieve their academic and career goals. Participation encourages students to showcase their research ideas, discoveries, and creative work and receive meaningful feedback from an evaluation panel of established TAMU-CC faculty members and researchers. Participation also prepares students for presentations at national and international events.

ASPRS Student Chapter Launched at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

We are proud to announce that the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) has officially recognized Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as an ASPRS Student Chapter. This milestone comes after a successful petition led by the MANTIS Lab director and a group of dedicated graduate students passionate about advancing geospatial sciences.

ASPRS is a prominent scientific association committed to the advancement of Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). With this new chapter, the Island University joins a distinguished network of academic institutions working collaboratively to support the growth and professional development of the next generation of geospatial scientists.

The TAMU-CC ASPRS Student Chapter aims to provide a platform for students to engage in scholarly exchange, technical training, and outreach initiatives. Through workshops, guest lectures, and networking events, the chapter will foster a vibrant community of learners and practitioners devoted to geospatial innovation.

This accomplishment reflects the growing momentum of geospatial research and applied technology on campus, particularly through initiatives led by the MANTIS Lab. We look forward to the chapter’s contributions in shaping coastal, environmental, and urban research through state-of-the-art remote sensing and photogrammetric methodologies.

For more information, visit our official ASPRS chapter page and view the announcement on LinkedIn.

MANTIS and TTI Collaborate on GNSS Evaluation

The Measurement Analytics (MANTIS) Laboratory recently joined forces with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) for a hands-on geospatial research experiment aimed at advancing the understanding of specific GNSS technologies. This collaborative effort brought together researchers and engineers from both teams to conduct a comparative field study of GNSS receiver performance across various grades and correction techniques.

The joint fieldwork took place on the Texas A&M University campus, where teams collected GNSS data over a known benchmark. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility, limitations, and practical applications of different GNSS configurations in the context of geospatial sciences, surveying and mapping, and transportation-related projects. By comparing the different setups, the researchers seek to quantify positional accuracy, reliability under varying environmental conditions, and overall cost-effectiveness.

Key considerations included accuracy and precision (how close each receiver-correction pair could measure relative to the benchmark), operational complexity (time, setup, and training required to deploy each system), and cost benefit (balancing budget constraints with positional accuracy needs). Findings are expected to inform best practices for selecting GNSS technologies based on project requirements, whether for asset inventory, roadway mapping, traffic infrastructure planning, or other geospatial applications where precise positioning is critical.

This collaboration underscores the value of interdisciplinary research and practical testing as MANTIS and TTI continue to bridge engineering and geospatial science to support innovation in transportation systems and beyond.

MANTIS Faculty and Students Present Research at ASPRS Gulf South Conference

MANTIS faculty and students recently attended the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Gulf South Conference, held March 13-15 in Austin, Texas. The event provided an opportunity for researchers to share advancements in remote sensing and geomatics, particularly in the areas of UAS-SfM photogrammetry, LiDAR, artificial intelligence, and InSAR applications. The MANTIS team contributed to the discussion with several compelling presentations, each exploring innovative methods to enhance surveying, mapping, and geospatial analysis.

MANTIS director, Dr. Michael J. Starek delved into the role of artificial intelligence and deep learning in UAS photogrammetric workflows. His research highlights how AI-driven automation can significantly enhance data processing, feature extraction, and accuracy assessment in aerial photogrammetry. The ability to integrate deep learning into these workflows paves the way for more efficient and scalable mapping solutions, reducing manual labor while improving the quality of 3D reconstruction. MANTIS associate director, Dr. Tianxing Chu (joined by CBI’s research scientist, Dr. Danielle Smilovksy), provided insights into InSAR technology, emphasizing its applications for infrastructure monitoring, land subsidence detection, and disaster response. Their presentation addressed the current capabilities of InSAR and how emerging advancements in satellite-based remote sensing will further improve the technology’s ability to monitor surface deformation with high accuracy.

Graduate students Benjamin Gansah, Jose Pilartes-Congo, and Sabin Pandey also presented their research. Benjamin introduced his research on the integration of remote sensing and machine learning for agricultural monitoring. His work leverages advanced image processing and classification techniques to assess crop health and yield predictions. By combining remote sensing data with machine learning models, his study provides a pathway for smarter, data-driven agricultural decision-making, addressing challenges such as food security and resource optimization. Jose presented a study comparing UAS-SfM photogrammetry and UAS-LiDAR for material volume estimation. His research aimed to determine which method offers greater accuracy and efficiency in measuring material volumes. By evaluating the strengths and limitations of both techniques, his findings contribute to the ongoing optimization of remote sensing workflows. Finally, Sabin discussed his research on the accuracy of Apple lidar scanning patterns using the SfM/MVS photogrammetry techniques. His research focused on assessing how well Apple’s mobile lidar systems perform compared to traditional UAS-SfM photogrammetry approaches. He also explored the potential for data fusion between Apple lidar and UAS imagery, which could open new possibilities for cost-effective, high-resolution 3D mapping applications.

The MANTIS research group continues to push the boundaries of geospatial science, developing methodologies that improve the accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of remote sensing applications. Their work at the ASPRS Gulf South Conference reflects their ongoing commitment to advancing the field and contributing to real-world solutions in surveying, mapping, and environmental monitoring. As remote sensing technology evolves, the MANTIS team remains at the forefront, driving innovation for both academic research and industry applications.

Naval Research Lab Representatives Visit MANTIS

In a recent visit to the Conrad Blucher Institute, representatives from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) spent some time in the MANTIS Laboratory for a brief discussion on the latest advancements in remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) for surveying and mapping. The visit focused on the various ways in which MANTIS researchers are exploring cutting-edge methodologies to enhance 3D data collection and geospatial analysis, with focus on coastal monitoring. During the visit, the MANTIS team presented their ongoing projects, demonstrating how remote sensing techniques are being integrated with AI to improve data collection, processing, and analysis. The discussion highlighted the application of these technologies for coastal surveying, asset monitoring, and long-term management.

TAMUCC Alumni Inspire Future Land Surveyors

During a recent recruitment visit to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), former students, Juan Martinez (‘17), Luis Hernandez (‘17), and Dustin Pustejovski (‘14), who are now professionals at Westwood Professional Services, Inc., returned to share their insights and experiences in the land surveying profession. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for current students to connect with industry professionals and learn about the latest advancements in the field. The alumni engaged with students, former colleagues, and instructors, offering firsthand perspectives on their career paths and the evolving landscape of land surveying. Their experiences highlighted the practical applications of their education and the diverse opportunities available within the profession.

A key highlight of the discussion was the integration of cutting-edge technology in modern land surveying practices. The former students showcased how they are using advanced 3D laser scanning and UAS photogrammetry in their projects. These technologies are transforming the industry by enhancing precision, efficiency, and data collection capabilities in various surveying applications. The visit not only served as an informative session for students but also as an inspiring moment for faculty and staff, reinforcing the importance of real-world applications in academic learning. By bridging the gap between education and professional practice, these engagements help students better prepare for their careers and stay informed about industry trends.

Celebrating Dr. Bradley Koskowich's Graduation

Dr. Bradley Koskowich became the latest MANTIS and Geospatial Computer Science program graduate this past December 14, 2024. This is a well-deserved accomplishment for a student who has gone through the geospatial undergraduate and graduate programs at TAMUCC. During his time as a doctoral student, Bradley published several journal and conference papers focused on remote sensing and computer vision techniques for various geospatial applications. We wish Bradley all the best in his future endeavors.