JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Karen Joyce

About

I graduated in 2005 with a PhD in Geographical Sciences from the University of Queensland. My focus was on mapping live coral cover using remote sensing. Using my remote sensing expertise for a variety of applications, I have since worked as a Geomatic Engineering Officer in the Australian Army, developed models for spatially explicit mapping of recreation opportunities across New Zealand’s conservation estate, and developed techniques for integrating remote sensing into all phases of the disaster management cycle. My primary area of interest is in creating, applying and automating remote sensing tools for environmental monitoring and management problems. While the environmental target may vary from marine and coastal through to savanna ecosystems, my common approach is to optimise models for rapid quantitative information extraction and communication purposes.

Please connect with me on social media via the links to the right. Also visit http://www.kejoyce.com/education.html to access my remote sensing education resources.

Teaching

EV2502: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
EV3502: Advanced Geographic Information Systems (Level 3; TSV)
EV3506: Remote Sensing (Level 3; CNS)
EV5502: Advanced Geographic Information Systems (Level 5; TSV)
EV5505: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (Level 5; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Professional

Innovation

Research

Remote Sensing
Coral Reefs
Unmanned Airborne Systems

Teaching

Active and collaborative learning
Flipped classroom

Experience

2010 to 2015 - Senior Lecturer, Charles Darwin University (Northern Territory, Australia)
2007 to 2010 - Remote Sensing Scientist, GNS Science (Lower Hutt, New Zealand)
2006 to 2007 - Senior Technical Support Officer, Department of Conservation (Wellington, New Zealand)
2003 to 2006 - Troop Commander, Australian Army (Brisbane, Australia)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2019 to 2020 - Homeward Bound 2020
2019 to 2020 - Advance Queensland SheEO Activator
2018 - Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards - Women's Leadership
2017 to 2018 - Blended Learning and Innovation - VR for storytelling
2017 - JCU Excellence Awards - Research
2017 - TropEco Award: For embedding sustainability in teaching and learning activities
2017 - Women to Watch in the UAS Industry - Education
2016 to 2017 - Rising Star award. Developing hyperspectral drone technology for coral reef bathymetric mapping ($13,986)
2016 - Reperio Commercial pitch second place. Sugar Sense: Using a drone to measure crop health (3,000)
2014 - Innovation Award - Unmanned Airborne Systems
2013 - Innovation Award - Developing online tools for remote sensing education http://remotesensinglab.com/
2013 - Vice Chancellor's Award for outstanding contribution to student learning
2006 - Australian Defence Service Medal
2000 - Order of Australia Medallion (Young Endeavour Sail Training Ship award for leadership)

Other

2016 to 2017 - JCU Development Grant. Are satellites telling the truth? Perspectives from a coral reef ($78,366)

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Boyden J, Wurm P, Joyce K and Boggs G (2019) The spatial dynamics of invasive para grass on a monsoonal floodplain, Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. Remote Sensing, 11 (18), pp. 2090-2128, DOI:10.3390/rs11182090.
Joyce K, Duce S, Leahy S, Leon J and Maier S (2019) Principles and practice of acquiring drone-based image data in marine environments. Marine and Freshwater Research, 70 (7), pp. 952-963, DOI:10.1071/MF17380.
Younes N, Joyce K, Northfield T and Maier S (2019) The effects of water depth on estimating Fractional Vegetation Cover in mangrove forests. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 83, Article: 101924, DOI:10.1016/j.jag.2019.101924.
Boyden J, Wurm P, Joyce K and Boggs G (2018) A spatial vulnerability assessment of monsoonal wetland habitats to para grass invasion in Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 71, pp. 43-55, DOI:10.1016/j.jag.2018.05.004.
Hamylton S, Duce S, Vila-Concejo A, Roelfsema C, Phinn S, Carvalho R, Shaw E and Joyce K (2017) Estimating regional coral reef calcium carbonate production from remotely sensed seafloor maps. Remote Sensing of Environment, 201, pp. 88-98, DOI:10.1016/j.rse.2017.08.034.
Younes Cárdenas N, Joyce K and Maier S (2017) Monitoring mangrove forests: are we taking full advantage of technology? International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 63, pp. 1-14, DOI:10.1016/j.jag.2017.07.004.
Heenkenda M, Maier S and Joyce K (2016) Estimating mangrove biophysical variables using Worldview-2 satellite data: Rapid Creek, Northern Territory, Australia. Journal of Imaging, 2 (3), Article: 24, pp. 1-19, DOI:10.3390/jimaging2030024.
Wilson L, Fulton C, Hogg A, Joyce K, Radford B and Fraser C (2016) Climate-driven changes to ocean circulation and their inferred impacts on marine dispersal patterns. Global Ecology and Biogeography , 25 (8), pp. 923-939, DOI:10.1111/geb.12456.
Heenkenda M, Joyce K, Maier S and de Bruin S (2015) Quantifying mangrove chlorophyll from high spatial resolution imagery. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 108, pp. 234-244, DOI:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2015.08.003.
Heenkenda M, Joyce K and Maier S (2015) Mangrove tree crown delineation from high-resolution imagery. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 81 (6), pp. 471-479, DOI:10.14358/PERS.81.6.471.
Cowley R, Hearnden M, Joyce K, Tovar-Valencia M, Cowley T, Pettit C and Dyer R (2014) How hot? How often? Getting the fire frequency and timing right for optimal management of woody cover and pasture composition in northern Australian grazed tropical savannas. Kidman Springs Fire Experiment 1993-2013. Rangeland Journal, 36 (4), pp. 323-345, DOI:10.1071/RJ14030.
Heenkenda M, Joyce K, Maier S and Bartolo R (2014) Mangrove species identification: comparing WorldView-2 with aerial photographs. Remote Sensing, 6, pp. 6064-6088, DOI:10.3390/rs6076064.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 28+ research outputs authored by Dr Karen Joyce from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

CRC for Developing Northern Australia Scheme - Projects

Applying new technologies to enhance biosecurity and cattle quality

Indicative Funding: $1,084,500 over 3 years (administered by Branir Pty Ltd & Trustee for Booloomani Unit Trust)
Summary: The vast natural environment of Northern Australia feeds the cattle industry; however, biosecurity threats have negatively impacted this. Conventional management of such threats such as weeds are not suited to such broad, harsh landscapes. The project will use an Internet of Things network with low-cost environmental sensors, drone mapping and big data analytics to develop and test data-driven, strategic pest management programs - ultimately improving both cattle industry and natural assets.
Investigators: Ian Atkinson, Wei Xiang, Ron White, Stephanie Duce, Mohan Jacob and Karen Joyce (Research Infrastructure and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Biosecurity; Cattle; Drones; Weeds; Technology; Internet Of Things

Department of Industry - Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship

She Flies Drone Camps: Building Northern Australia's Drone Ecosystem

Indicative Funding: $249,075 over 2 years
Summary: She Flies is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary programme across Northern Australia. While the She Flies brand will cover a range of national initiatives (http://www.sheflies.com.au), this particular application for funding will focus on the She Flies Drone Camps. This is a series of week-long camps aimed at teaching Northern Australian high school girls and their teachers or parents the possibilities of working with, and flying drones. From design and construction through to flying and finally using photography to create maps, She Flies Drone Camp will be hands on, practical, fun and safe. Importantly, it will also provide a career path opportunity that many young women probably never realised existed. With initial estimates suggesting that fewer than 1% of drone pilots in Australia are female, we need to encourage young women into this technology and its associated spatial sciences. This will ensure equity and diversity across the industry going forwards.
Investigators: Karen Joyce, Catherine Ball, Renee Bartolo, Mangalam Sankupellay, Bruce White and Jude Ellen (College of Science & Engineering, Remote Research Ranges, Qld Department Environment & Resource Management and Charles Darwin University)
Keywords: Remote Sensing; Drones; STEM; Wmen; Engaging Science

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation:

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Long Term Monitoring of Mangrove Forests in Darwin, NT using the Landsat Image Archive (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Investigation into Artificial Intelligence Methods for Hyperspectral Image Analysis in Coral Reef Science Applications (PhD , Primary Advisor)
Investigating Hyperspectral Imaging for monitoring Health of Coral Recruits to improve Recruiot Resilience (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.