Supervising Scientist Division

Supervising Scientist research profiles

Dr Kirrilly Pfitzner – BEd, BSc (Hons), PhD

Research interests

Remote sensing; spectroscopy of vegetation, soils and minerals; standards for spectral measurement; and monitoring and assessment of mine sites.

General research interests and background

Dr Kirrilly Pfitzner is a research scientist with the ERISS Spatial Sciences and Data Integration program. She has a background in biology, earth sciences and remote sensing (in particular hyperspectral, optical and gamma ray spectrometry data) for characterisation of mine sites and other ecological environments. A research focus is on the development a reflectance library (both of laboratory and in situ measurements) for local vegetation and soil spectral characterisation.

Current key projects

Key publications

Pfitzner K, Bollhöfer A, Esparon A, Bartolo B & Staben G (2010) Standardised spectra (400-2500nm) and associated metadata:an example from northern tropical Australia. 2010 IEEE International Geoscinece and Remote Sensing Symposium. July 25-30, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Bollhöfer A, Esparon A, Ryan B & Pfitzner K 2009. Investigating a pre-mining radiological analogue for Ranger Uranium mine, Northern Territory, Australia. Paper presented at 2009 Australasian Radiation Protection Society (ARPS) Conference, Fremantle 26–28 October 2009.

Pfitzner K, Bollhöfer A & Esparon A (2008) SSD's Spectral Library Database. 14th ARSPC 29th September – 2nd October, Darwin Convention Centre, NT

Bollhöfer A, Martin P, Ryan B, Pfitzner K, Frostick A, Evans K & Jones D (2008) Radiological Assessment of the rehabilitated Nabarlek Uranium Mine, Northern Territory, Australia. Uranium, Mining and Hydrogeology (Eds.) B.J. Merkel; A. Hasche-Berger 2008, XXII, 958 p 328 illus. With CD-ROM., Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-87745-5

Mitchell A, Lucas R, Donnelly B, Pfitzner K, Milne A &Finlayson M (2007) A new map of mangroves for Kakadu national park, Northerm Australia, based on stereo aerial photography. Aquatic Conservation – Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 17 (5): 446-467.

Pfitzner K, Bollhöfer A & Carr G 2006. A standard design for collecting vegetation reference spectra: Implementation and implications for data sharing. Journal of Spatial Sciences 52 (2), 79–92.

Pfitzner K and Clifton R (2006) Integration of Airborne Casi and Gamma Ray Data for Mine Site Characterisation. Journal of Spatial Science, Vol. 51, No. 2.

Pfitzner K (2006) Design and implementation of vegetation reference spectra: Implications for data sharing. To be presented to Workshop on hyperspectral remote sensing and field spectroscopy of agricultural crops and forest vegetation, 10th Feb 2006, University of Southern Queensland.

Pfitzner K & Baylis P (2006) Revegetation monitoring – 60 cm pixels and an object orientated approach. 13th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference. National Convention Centre, Canberra. Monday 20-Friday 24 Novemeber 2006.

Martin P, McGill A, Pfitzner K, Ryan B & Tims S (2006) Use of Airborne y-Ray Spectrometry for Environmental Assessment of The Rehabilitated Nabarlek Uranium Mine, Australia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 115. pp. 531-553.

Pfitzner K (2005) Mining and Exploration: Radiation Assessment, Position June/July 2005, 54-47.

Pfitzner K, Bartolo R, Ryan B & Bollhöefer A (2005). Issues to consider when designing a spectral library database. Proceedings of Spatial Sciences 2005. CDRom. 13-16th September, Melbourne.

Pfitzner K (2005) Field-based spectroscopy – do we need it? North Australian Remote Sensing and GIS Conference (NARGIS), July 4-7 2005, Charles Darwin University, Darwin.

Pfitzner K, Martin P, Bollhoefer A & Ryan B (2005). Mapping uranium mining and milling residues using high spatial resolution airborne gamma ray data. Presented at the Symposium on uranium production and raw materials for the nuclear fuel cycle – supply and demand, economic, the environment and energy security. IAEA Symposium, Vienna 20–24 June 2005.

Pfitzner, K. S., 2004, Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for mine site characterisation. Unpublished PhD thesis, Charles Darwin University.

Pfitzner, K. S., and Clifton, R, 2004, Integration of CASI and gamma-ray data for mine site characterisation. Proc. 12th Australasian Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Conference, Fremantle 23rd – 26th October 2004.

Bayliss P, Pfitzner K & Bellairs S 2004, Revegetation of the Nabarlek mine site. Seasonal comparison of groundcover vegetation on the mine site and adjacent natural reference areas (September 2003 & May 2004). Internal Report 491, July, Supervising Scientist, Darwin. Unpublished paper.

Pfitzner, K. S., and Martin, P., 2001, The use of airborne geophysics, digital elevation data and high resolution digital camera imagery for assessing the impact of historical uranium mine sites in the upper South Alligator River valley, Kakadu National Park. IEEE 2001 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 9-13 July 2001, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia.

SSD publications

More information about SSD publications is available online.

More information

Dr Kirrilly Pfitzner (BEd, BSc (Hons), PhD)

Kirrilly Pfitzner
Contact: 08 8920 1141
kirrilly.pfitzner@environment.gov.au

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