Geospatial Data Scientist and PiML Specialist

CHRISTOPHER ILORI

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Spartanburg, South Carolina Willing to relocate +1-604-***-****

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Spatial and environmental data scientist with 8+ years of experience translating complex ecological and remote sensing datasets into actionable insights. Skilled in Python, R, geospatial analysis, and physics-informed machine learning (PiML) for environmental and field-based modeling. Experienced in experimental design, phenology analysis, and integrating satellite, and field data to support environmental decision-making.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programming & ML: Python, R, Shell scripting; ensemble methods (boosting, bagging), H2O AutoML, deep learning; MLflow (experiment tracking

GIS + Spatial: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, GPS/iOS mapping, coordinate transformations, satellite/drone integration, spatial interpolation

Data Visualization: SQLite, Jupyter, Quarto, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, R/ggplot2, PowerBI

Field & Experimental: Field survey collection, data validation, phenology metrics (onset, peak, duration), experimental trial data, statistical design support

EDUCATION

PhD, Geography (Remote Sensing) Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada 2020

Dissertation: Improving satellite-derived bathymetry through atmospheric correction optimization

MSc, Natural Resources (Sustainable Environmental Management) University of Greenwich, UK 2012

Dissertation: Modelling of endemic bird species

PG Diploma, Geographical Information Science (GIS) University of Nottingham, UK 2011

BSC, Geography Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria 2005

Dissertation: An evaluation of climatic extremes and agricultural production

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Surveyor – Apple Maps (Contract through Akkodis) Mar 2026 – May 2026

Collected high-resolution geospatial and street-level mapping data using GPS/iOS mapping devices, ensuring high-quality field observations

Coordinate closely with Field Coordinators and fellow team members, following strict field, safety, and physical security protocols

Report progress, equipment status, and field observations through dedicated project tools to support operational planning and project compliance

Execute pedestrian surveys to support geospatial validation and integration into lidar datasets.

Senior Remote Sensing Scientist TCarta LLC, Denver, USA Oct 2022 - Jan 2026

Core System & Engineering Contribution

Architected and implemented an end-to-end satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) pipeline, including image preprocessing, data ingestion from APIs, raster analysis, radiative transfer modeling, tide correction, interpolation, smoothing, validation, batch processing, and version control

Developed Python GUIs to automate raster and vector processing workflows in ArcGIS, significantly reducing manual intervention and improving reproducibility

Integrated ICESat-2 LiDAR elevation data into model training and validation workflows to enhance the accuracy and reliability of satellite-derived estimates

Assisted with designing a workflow for satellite-derived bathymetry with ensemble ML methods

Applied PEP 8 and modern software engineering practices (modular design, documentation, version control) to production geospatial pipelines

Business impact

Secured mining-sector contracts by demonstrating scalable, physics-based monitoring solutions transferable across sites without extensive local training data

Applied remote sensing–based change detection to assess reef degradation patterns associated with marine resource extraction activities in Scarborough Shoal

Organizational Impact

Trained Remote Sensing Unit on atmospheric correction principles and radiative transfer modeling, establishing systematic knowledge transfer protocols

Designed and implemented a structured, scaffolded technical workflow to train technicians on atmospheric correction and radiative transfer theory, progressively building conceptual understanding to enable confident execution of end-to-end production pipelines

Remote Sensing Specialist Arctus Inc., Canada Jun 2021 - Apr 2022

Contributed to SmartWhales project (Canadian Space Agency & DFO) predicting North Atlantic Right Whale distribution in Gulf of Maine using satellite-derived environmental features

Worked on GPU-accelerated phytoplankton bloom phenology analysis processing 23 years of satellite chlorophyll time series (1998-2021), extracting bloom initiation timing, peak magnitude, duration, and termination metrics

Applied unsupervised clustering (K-means, hierarchical) to classify spectrally-distinct phenological regions from multi-year time series, identifying spatial patterns in biological cycle variability

Automated end-to-end Chl-a estimation pipeline in R integrating PCA-based dimensionality reduction, seasonal decomposition, anomaly detection, and AutoML ensemble regression - deployed for production use by Canadian Space Agency

Authored Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) submitted to Canadian Space Agency

Independent Remote Sensing Consultant CJ Spatial, Canada Aug 2019 - Oct 2022

Provided satellite-derived bathymetry services for port operations (Middle East) and lake management (Canada, Finland) using physics-based radiative transfer models (RTM)

Applied ensemble ML methods (XGBoost, Random Forest, NNs) with H2O AutoML when physics-based models failed, achieving robust predictions across diverse environments

Designed Python GUI wrappers for US Fish & Wildlife Service enabling technicians to perform sun glint correction, atmospheric correction, and depth-invariant index calculation for invasive algae detection in US Pacific Islands Marine National Monuments

Project Coordinator Remote Sensing of Environmental Change Lab, SFU, Canada May 2021 – Dec 2021

Pre-proccesed Sentinel-3 time series data for atmospheric correction and algal bloom in Lake Erie, conducted invasive species mapping analysis in British Columbia

Applied deep learning workflows in ArcGIS Pro to classify salt marsh ecosystems into multiple land cover classes using high-resolution imagery

Remote Sensing Analyst TCarta Marine LLC, USA Jan - Oct 2018

Introduced physics-based radiative transfer modeling for satellite-derived bathymetry to TCarta, creating a new business vertical that now generates significant revenue

Contributed to SBIR grant proposal technical sections, securing funding by demonstrating operational advantages of physics-based approaches

Provided bathymetry maps supporting oil & gas exploration, seismic planning, and marine navigation

Remote Sensing Consultant Liquid Geomatics, Canada Sept – Dec 2017

Processed and optimized multispectral satellite imagery for atmospheric correction across diverse seasonal conditions (summer, autumn, winter), advising on atmospheric correction algorithm selection and performance trade-offs, supporting TCarta initial Marine’s operational remote sensing capabilities

Mapping Technician Environment Canada/BC Conservation Foundation Feb – Apr 2016

Analyzed a 30-year satellite imagery time series (Landsat, QuickBird, WorldView-2) using ArcGIS & eCognition to quantify wetland dynamics within the Roberts/Sturgeon Wildlife Management Areas

Produced change-detection maps and spatial analyses informing government-led wetland conservation and habitat preservation strategies

Collaborated with multidisciplinary project teams to ensure data integrity and methodological consistency

GIS Technician QC Data, UK Apr – Aug 2013

Digitized and maintained LV/HV underground electrical network assets in NetMAP (UK Power Networks) in accordance with capture specifications and QA standards

Managed raster/vector tile control and integration workflows within enterprise GIS environment

Updated tracking databases and ensured accurate lifecycle documentation from job initiation to QC approval and final integration

SELECTED INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Intern, Earth Observation for Water Resource Management UNOOSA, Austria Sep - Dec 2021

PhD Data Fellow, Earth Observation for urban analysis United Nations Global Pulse, USA Feb - Aug 2019

Intern and Volunteer UNESCO, France Feb – Apr 2019

Intern, Climate Change Adaptation Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan Oct – Dec 2010

PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH IMPACT

Total Citations: 275+ Journals: Remote Sensing, Atmospheric Research, Journal of Crop Improvement, Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing

HOBBIES

Piano playing, Traveling

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