2026 PhD Summer School in Remote Sensing

This 5-day summer school will focus on advances in remote sensing techniques useful in wind energy. The themes to be covered are development, instrument configuration, signal processing, data analysis and applications of various remote sensing instruments including LIDAR, SODAR and SAR both ground- and satellite-based instruments. Applied use includes wind resource mapping, wind profiling, power curve, wind loads, turbulence, and wind turbine control. Theoretical aspects of scattering and atmospheric boundary-layer characteristics relevant in remote sensing for wind energy will also be covered.

We plan hands-on exercises. Please bring your laptop.

Credits:
Credits for the course are 2.5 ECTS.

This includes 34 hours of preparation time studying the recommended reading: Recommended-readings-summer-school-2026-1-

Learning objectives:
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:

• To explain basic principles of continuous-wave and pulsed Doppler lidar for wind energy
• To be able to interpret and analyse wind lidar data
• To describe ground-based and nacelle lidar used in power curve measurements
• To explain the basic principles of lidars for wind farm control
• To explain remote sensing techniques for observing turbulence and understand why lidars are not measuring the same turbulence as in-situ sensors
• To describe the capabilities and limitations of continuous-wave and pulsed Doppler lidar for measuring the wind flow over complex terrain 
• To list the sensors needed to measure physical parameters related to the wind profile
• To be able to reconstruct orthogonal wind components from line-of-sight speeds
• To understand the main sources of uncertainty that impact lidar accuracy
• To develop a typical measurement plan using remote sensing devices for wind data
• To explain the basic principle of radar for wind and wake
• To gain an overview of meteorological parameters related to the use of wind lidar, aerial lidar and radar
• To understand temporal scales of flow characterization, main methods for wind resource assessment and major differences between on-shore and offshore flow related to wind energy
• To explain the basic principles of airborne lidar for land surface characterization
• To explain the principle behind Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) wind retrieval over the ocean

Accommodation
You can find information about hotels in Roskilde at www.visitfjordlandet.dk Alternatively, you can search the internet for ‘bed & breakfast Roskilde’ as there are many good and relatively cheap options in the surroundings. You can find information about hotels in Copenhagen at www.visitcopenhagen.com By public transportation, the trip from Copenhagen to Roskilde (Risø) will take approximately one hour if you are locatedfairly close to the central train station. Please reserve your room directly with the hotel of your choice.

Transportation
If you arrive by plane at Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) you can take a train to Roskilde via Copenhagen Central Station. When you arrive at Copenhagen Airport, you will find the train station at the end of the arrival hall to your left. If you need information about the trains, you can ask at the information desk before going down to the platform. From Roskilde to Risø DTU, you can take buses No. 600S and 216. You can get bus plans and ask for information at Roskilde Station (unless you arrive late in the evening). You can find further information at DTU Wind and Energy System's web page. You can find further information about how to get to and from the Copenhagen Airport here.