Institute for Atmospheric Optics and Remote Sensing (IFAORS)
The longest operating division of TU since 1976, IFAORS has built an excellent international reputation in the field of atmospheric sciences, remote sensing and data management and analysis. In successful support of its several national and international clients, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. DOD (Army, Air Force and Navy), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)/ World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), TU has developed exciting and innovative high-technology solutions to problems in areas as diverse as the space program, defense against chemical and biological agents, low observable smokes/ obscurants & countermeasures, applications of remote sensing for management & production of rice, and for fight against vector-borne diseases and illegal drugs.
IFAORS is a not-for-profit Research Institute for the Science and Technology of Atmospheric Optics, Solar radiation, Environmental and Space Remote Sensing, and Ground-Truth Measurements.
Of special interest are applications of this research to the solutions of problems concerning Food and Water Resources, Weather and Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, and Environmental Pollution and Health.
Long-range direction and guidance of IFAORS is provided by a Science Advisory Council (SAC) comprised largely of expert scientists from several universities and research laboratories.
Since 1976, IFAORS has its technical efforts centered in Hampton, Virginia.
Upcoming Courses
IFAORS Areas of Research Interest:
The Institute plans to do advanced research to the following and related topics:
- Advanced Remote Sensing concepts in actively probing and passively sensing the planetary environments from ground, airborne and space platforms
- Radiative Transfer Methods
- Retrieval Methods in Remote Sensing
- Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV)
- Solar Aureole Studies
- Optical Extinction and Visibility Studies
- In situ ground-truth measurements techniques
- Dynamical, Physical, and Chemical Modeling of Aerosols and Gases
- Laser and solar radiation interactions with atmospheric environment
- Effects of solar radiation and pollutants on weather and pollutants on weather & climate, agricultural crops, and human health
- Remote optical, infrared, and microwave probing of the atmosphere, oceans, and natural resources
- Remote measurement of atmospheric pollutants
- Remote Sensing for coastal zone management, including waterways, estuaries, and marine life
- Internal and external measurement of pollutant levels associated with energy devices, such as, power plants, combustion engines, etc.
IFAORS Executive Board:
Adarsh Deepak, Ph. D.
Chairman, Board of Directors, IFAORS
Paul D. Try, PhD
IFAORS Science Advisory Council (SAC)
Benjamin Herman, PhD
Professor at IFAORS/TU
Dr. Alex E. S. Green
Graduate Research Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Dr. Jacqueline Lenoble
Grenoble, France, (formerly Chair of Laboratory for Atmospheric Optics of University de Lille, France)
Dr. Michael B. McElroy
Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University
Dr. Ruth A. Reck
Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, & Director of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC), University of California at Davis, Davis, CA
Divisions:
- Sensor Systems Group (SSG)
- Center for Space Exploration (CSE)
- Center for Cyber and Cognitive Sciences (CCS)
- Institute for Global Studies (IGS)
- Center for Anthropogenic Environmental Studies (CAES)