Pirunthan Keerthinathan is a PhD researcher at the QUT Centre for Robotics, specialising in remote sensing and machine learning. His research focuses on vegetation detection through semantic segmentation using drone and satellite imagery, with experience in multispectral, hyperspectral, and LiDAR data. As part of SAEF, he will contribute to advancing automated vegetation mapping techniques in Antarctica, where accurate detection is critical for monitoring fragile ecosystems under climate change. Pirunthan aims to develop efficient, scalable models to support long-term environmental monitoring and collaborate across disciplines to strengthen remote sensing capabilities. 

“Secure Antarctica’s environmental future to protect its fragile ecosystems and ensure they remain a vital indicator of global climate change for generations to come.”

— Pirunthan Keerthinathan