University of Minnesota Researcher Recognized for Her Work on Arctic and Antarctic Digital Mapping

National Science Foundation
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Posted March 7, 2019

University of Minnesota researcher recognized for her work on Arctic and Antarctic digital mapping

Claire Porter, a researcher at the OPP-supported Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota, is the recipient of the National Space Club & Foundation’s NOAA David Johnson Award.

She is being recognized for her innovative contributions to the automated production of precision digital elevation models from commercial satellite-based imagery. She constructed time-dependent elevation data for the entire Arctic and Antarctic – in just three years – using the NSF-funded “Blue Waters,” the world’s largest supercomputer based at an academic institution.

Her achievements pave the way for the continuous production of global digital elevation models, according to the foundation. The awards are selected by panels of experts from across the aerospace and defense industry, government and academia and, the foundation notes, “are a testament to the inspiring work of individuals across the United States.”

She will be presented with the award at the 62nd Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington D.C. on Friday, March 22.

Read more about the ArcticDEM in this NSF news release: https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=136108