Bertram Ostendorf

Dr Bertram Ostendorf

Associate Professor

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


My main research interest is in evidence based decision making for environmental management. Clearly, decision making related to environmental issues is always spatial decision making and all environmental decision support systems are also spatial decision support systems.

I specialise in GIS, spatial simulation modelling, and spatial decision support. My research is about understanding why environmental conditions change in places and times and how this affects plants, animals, and people. I study how we can use this spatial knowledge to improve health of our environment (biodiversity, wildlife conservation, landscape capability, soil integrity), sustainable more efficient agricultural production (i.e. precision agriculture or viticulture to reduce water, fertilizer or pesticide use) or people (i.e. heatwaves or other climate extremes).

I am available to supervise Honours, PhD or Masters research projects in a wide range of topics related to spatial environmental influences on plants, animals, and humans. Have a look a titles in my journal publication record, talk to me during my GIS subjects, give me a call, or drop an email. I am happy to have an open discussion about your personal interest in research. I have a long track record student research project supervision, also in collaboration with Engineering and Health disciplines.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Spatiotemporal Patterns of the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) and European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with Remote Sensing Applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Natarsha Jade McPherson
    2023 Principal Supervisor Under what circumstances can southern bluefin tuna be detected using satellite imagery? Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Ian Robert Dewey
    2022 Principal Supervisor Development of a novel process-based wind erosion model to inform land management and policy development for regional South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ethan Lachlan Mackereth
    2022 Principal Supervisor Landscape Genetics of the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Gemma Chantelle Sansom
    2021 Principal Supervisor Multi dimensional spatial analysis of habitat usage by woodland birds in restored ecosystems. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew James Farrell
    2020 Principal Supervisor Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Modelling for Coastal Erosion Susceptibility Mapping Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hasan Musana
    2020 Co-Supervisor Monitoring arid land condition for conservation using remote sensing technologies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Angus Eugene Retallack
    2020 Co-Supervisor Ecological and health factors which impact abundance of yellow-footed rock-wallabies (Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus) in semi-arid South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lauren Elizabeth Werner
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Monitoring and Restoration of natural temperate grasslands in South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Diego Roy Guevara Torres
    2019 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Understanding the Effects of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Mangrove Communities Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Georgia Ann Claire Walden
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Detection of grapevine viral diseases in Australian vineyards using remote sensing and hyperspectral technology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yeniu Wang
    2017 - 2021 Principal Supervisor The significance of social factors in the planning and implementation of feral cat management programs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Brooke Patricia Deak
    2016 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Land Suitability Assessments for Agriculture using the Data By-products of Mining Exploration Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ingrid Ahmer
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Soil Erosion Modelling as a Tool for Future Land Management and Conservation Planning Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Amelie Jeanneau
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombats: When, Where, How Many, and Why Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Michael Swinbourne
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Using Advanced Remote Sensing Technologies to Discriminate Patterns of Ancient Aboriginal Land Use in the Australian Arid Zone Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Wallace Boone Law
    2014 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Measurement, impact and mitigation of heatwaves Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr John Richard Nairn
    2014 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Evaluating spatial and social factors to effectively implement community forest management operational plans in Nepal Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Lila Puri
    2013 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Modelling Crop Yields and Climate Risk under Limited Climate Data Conditions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Gennady Bracho Mujica
    2012 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Mapping and Monitoring Forest Cover Changes in Lao PDR Using Remote Sensing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Chittana Phompila
    2012 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Getting Real: Real Options Analysis of Land Use Change in a World of Price, Yield and Climate Uncertainty Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Courtney Regan
    2012 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Understanding the causes of human–wombat conflict and exploring non-lethal damage mitigation strategies for the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Casey Lauren O'Brien
    2011 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing for Estimation of Plant Available Water-holding Capacity of Soil Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sofanit Girma Araya
    2011 - 2017 Principal Supervisor A Spatial Analysis of Food Security in Bangladesh, based on Climate Change, Management Practices, and Socio-economic Variables Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Iffat Ara
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Spatial Simulation Based Riverbank Slope Instability and Susceptibility Assessment in the Lower River Murray Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Chen Liang
    2009 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Mapping, Modelling and Remote Sensing Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Infestations in Arid Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Victoria Marshall
    2009 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Invasive Fireweed in Australia: Exploring the Invasion Dynamics of Senecio madagascariensis using Population Genetics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Eleanor Dormontt
    2009 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Satellite remote sensing to monitor land condition and dynamics in arid Australia - Letting the landscape speak for itself Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Erika Lawley
    2008 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Assessing Natural and Management-Induced Patterns of Herbicide Sorption and Risks in Catchments: A Soil Landscape Modeling Approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Beng P Umali
    2007 - 2016 Co-Supervisor The occurrence, relative abundance and environmental associations of small terrestrial mammals in the Northern Kimberley, Western Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Liberty Olds
    2007 - 2014 Co-Supervisor A spatially explicit decision support system to adapt existing parks for the sustainable development of an established urban catchment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Ramesh Raja Segaran
    2006 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Remote Sensing to Monitor Interactions Between Aquaculture and the Environment of Spencer Gulf, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Paul Bierman
    2006 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Habitat reconstruction guidelines for woodland birds: a detailed, focussed, bird-orientated approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Joel Allan
    2005 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Managing post-fire soil erosion in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Rowena Morris
    2005 - 2010 Principal Supervisor "I can't be Green if I'm in the Red": Combining Precision Agriculture and Remote Sensing Technologies for Sub Field and Regional Decision Making Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gregory Lyle
    2005 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Landscape Scale Measurement and Monitoring of Biodiversity in the Australian Rangelands Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Kenneth Clarke
    2005 - 2009 Co-Supervisor On Using Airborne Optical Vertical Polarisation to Remove Sea Surface Reflectance for Enhanced Visualisation of Seagrass and Other Benthos Master of Science Master Part Time Mr David Geoffrey Derek Hart
    2004 - 2009 Principal Supervisor Fire in Arid and Semi-arid Australia 1998 - 2004 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Dorothy Turner
    2004 - 2007 Co-Supervisor Arid Land Condition Assessment and Monitoring Using Multispectral and Hyperspectral Imagery Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Reza Jafari
    2003 - 2009 Co-Supervisor Discriminating and mapping soil variability with hyperspectral reflectance data Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr David McCulloch Summers
    2003 - 2007 Co-Supervisor The Suitability of Habitat for Greater Bilby (Macrotis Lagotis) in the Tanami Desert and the Relationship with Fire Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Richard Southgate
    2003 - 2006 Co-Supervisor Evaluating Hyperspectral Imagery for Mapping the Surface Symptoms of Dryland Salinity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Anna Dutkiewicz
    2000 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Regional Scale Modelling of the Lower River Murray Wetlands Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Kjartan Bjornsson
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83137317
  • Email: bertram.ostendorf@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83136717
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Oliphant, floor 3
  • Org Unit: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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