Researcher in GIScience, Geoinformatics, Spatial Data Science and Land Use Change. Worked at INPE (Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research) from 1980-2016. Director of INPE from 2005 to 2012. Director of the Secretariat of Group on Earth Observations (GEO) from 2018-2021.
Gilberto Câmara: researcher and environmental policy expert
My work combines Spatial Data Science research and public policy. I work with multidisciplinary teams to address challenges such as tropical deforestation, agriculture mapping, land use policy, social exclusion, spatial segregation, and urban growth modelling. I am internationally recognized for promoting free access for geospatial data and for setting up an efficient satellite monitoring of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.
What I believe in
Geographical space provides a unifying framework for understanding the impacts of our actions on nature and society. Earth observation and geospatial information are essential to help humankind deal with the ongoing global environmental crisis. By modelling the structures and processes that bring about change in geographical space, Land Use Science and Spatial Data Science can support better decision-making in crucial times for our planet.
Experience
Associate Researcher at Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brazil
(2024-current)
Working on AgriBusiness Research Centre on public policy analysis on land use and land tenure for sustainable agriculture.
Collaborative Researcher with EOSTAT, FAO
(2024-current)
Working on R&D in big Earth observation data analytics for improving agricultural statistics.
Emeritus Researcher at INPE, Brazil
(2016-current)
Working on R&D in big Earth observation data analytics and land use change modelling.
Director of Secretariat of GEO (Group on Earth Observations)
(2018-2021)
GEO is an inter-governmental organisation that supports countries and institutions to use Earth observation for sustainable development.
Visiting Professor, Institute for Geoinformatics, University of Münster, Germany
(2013 – 2015)
Courses on GIScience and Spatio-Temporal Modelling, advised MsC thesis, and did research on big data analysis.
Director, INPE (Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research)
(2005 – 2012)
During my term, INPE’s budget grew from US$ 90 million in 2004 to US$ 250 million in 2010. INPE’ data supported a major decrease in the deforestation in Amazonia.
Researcher at INPE (Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research)
(1980-2016)
Advised 25 PhD dissertations and 28 Master thesis and published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers. Retired in 2016 after 35 years of service.
Awards
- Fellow, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente (Holanda), 2009.
- Doutor Honoris Causa, Geosciences Faculty, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany), 2011.
- Senior Member, Association for Computing Machinery, 2011.
- Commander of the Order of Scientific Merit, Brazil, 2012.
- Pecora Award for contributions to Remote Sensing, NASA/USGS, 2012.
- Chevalier of the Ordre National du Mérite of France, 2012.