ED: You have an exciting job as a scientist in remote sensing and, on the side, you showcase satellite imagery of the earth under the title‘Remote Sensations’. How did you come up with the idea?
Michael Engel: The connection between science and leisure has always fascinated me. Starting with mountaineering, even before I joined the faculty, I used digital elevation models and aerial images for my personal life: whether for hiking, ski touring, or paragliding. Through my work in remote sensing, this geodata then came ‘from outside’ to my desk. From then on, I had impressive data and images of our planet in front of me every day.
More than scientific information, the satellite images from the Copernicus programme illustrate the capabilities of modern remote sensing technologies - and at the same time, they are visual artworks. A few years ago, I started curating the most beautiful and characteristic satellite images as an after-work activity. And so, ‘science and leisure’ became ‘science and art’ - both now integral parts of my life.
You have been publishing a calendar for several years, and your pictures are on display in an exhibition. What drives you in this endeavor?
I am committed to making the beauty and complexity of Earth's system accessible to a broad audience – but only from the perspective of looking down from above. For my exhibits, I spend many hours searching for the perfect images and selecting a unique perspective. Each time, I am in awe of how impressive our Earth looks from space. I aim to highlight the most characteristic and aesthetic aspects to raise awareness of the importance of mindful monitoring of our planet on an emotional level.
It is a great honour to now share my work with the public through an exhibition. The new calendar is also available online. I hope it inspires many people to rediscover the fascinating diversity and beauty of our Earth and perhaps to visit my exhibition.
How do you select the images you present?
This is indeed a complex, creative process. The raw data must first be processed so that images can be created from it at all. The crucial question is: Which wavelength is best to observe the planet? Depending on the details I want to emphasize, I choose different spectral ranges, including those invisible to the human eye. The process is exciting because it demonstrates how scientific data can be transformed into art, thereby conveying the underlying messages.
What messages do you give to viewers?
I provide information about the images but do not classify them politically. It is important to me that viewers form their own opinions. This is also the task of remote sensing: to inform, not to judge. Everyone should develop their own perspective and interpretation of the images.
What are you researching in your doctoral thesis?
My doctorate is dealing with the prediction and analysis of natural events. For example, currently as part of the KIMoDIs project, groundwater levels and the impact of agriculture on them. I am focusing on modelling and inversely explaining such phenomena with the help of multiresolution analyses of associated measurement series.
The goal of my research is to optimize and interpret the ‘setting screws’ of physical or data-driven models in a more robust and physically meaningful way, and to do so mathematically correctly. This scientific precision also influences my choice of images – I aim to artistically depict the essence of our Earth while providing scientifically accurate information.
In addition to your research, you are also active as a tour guide and lead mountain hikes, including for the University Sports Centre (ZHS) at TUM. How do these interests fit together?
A significant part of my professional motivation comes from my fascination for outdoor activities; after all, that's where it all began. The Earth is the greatest artist – whether viewed from above through satellite images or experienced directly on its surface. Through my work as a tour guide for the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV) and ZHS, I bring people closer to nature. This combination of science, art, and direct experience of nature is the perfect balance for me.
Further links:
Profile Michael Engel
Remote Sensations
Chair of Remote Sensing Technology, Prof. Marco Körner
Study Program Geodesy and Geoinformation B. Sc.
Webinar on Satellite-based Mountain Tour Planning