Max Koller

Changes in catchment hydrology and slope processes in response to shifting environmental conditions. Integrating remote sensing and in-situ data for high-resolution analysis of a typical West Norwegian catchment.

The predicted changes in the amount, intensity and spatial distribution of precipitation and runoff in Norway present new and complex challenges. Newly downscaled climate models predict significant increase in flood magnitude and frequency in many catchments in western Norway. Slope processes such as rock falls and landslides are also sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation. Observing changes over the instrumental record and comparing this to longer time-series of reconstructed changes in climate and climate forced events, can yield pertinent information as to how geomorphic systems respond to environmental change. This project will primarily focus on flood and slope processes, and water storage changes.

By combining modern photogrammetric methods and remote sensing techniques with in-situ field measurements of groundwater, hydrologic and meteorological parameters, this project aims to develop a methodological approach to detailed analysis of geomorphic systems on the catchment level. The rapid development in computing power and capacity, and concomitant development of new techniques and equipment, allow for a more holistic and spatially continuous analysis as compared to discrete point observations extrapolated to a larger area.

Currently I am working on quantifying changes in river morphology based on historical imagery and laser scanning in the Flåm river catchment, and automatic image classification for identifying landslide deposits and changes in the hillslopes in the Flåm valley.