Stuart Robson

Professor Stuart Robson, University College London

• Professor of Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning
• Dept of Civil, Environ &Geomatic Eng
• Faculty of Engineering Science

Professor Robson is known for his research in the field of dynamic 3D co-ordination and monitoring of engineering, medical and heritage structures using traceable optical metrology techniques. His reputation is built around low cost photogrammetric imaging networks and sequences where he has a key international profile. He leads the 3DImpact Research Group at UCL which comprises two academics, two teaching fellows, a senior research fellow, three Research Associates and 14 PhD and EngD students.
Robson’s primary research activity is to advance the science, capability and application of photogrammetric image networks and sequences. Key projects include: EPSRC funded Light Controlled Factory, to generate a next generation large volume optical measurement system that can mitigate for environmental variations within the factories of the future; EU EMRP project Luminar, led by NPL where Robson’s group are developing new photogrammetric sensors and fundamental understanding to evaluate environmental refraction over long sight lines. This work is sustained through £8M of EPSRC, EU and industrial funding secured for the next five years. He is CI on a £2.4M EPSRC robotic equipment award “Robotic Teleoperation for Multiple Scales: Enabling Exploration, Manipulation and Assembly Tasks in New Worlds Beyond Human Capabilities” winning £3M of funding for Robotic Teleoperation which forms the basis of new work around a large Kuka robot and a unique 2.5m snake arm robot developed by OCRobotics equipped for industrial inspection to UCL specifications. Recent industrial focussed work includes: aircraft wing structural testing (Airbus); wind tunnel and space structure photogrammetry (NASA); optimising metrology for jet engine manufacture (RollsRoyce); optical inspection of beryllium tile surfaces for the nuclear industry (UKAEA); optimising deformation monitoring for the railway industry (NetworkRail) and the creation of standards artefacts and metrology best practice (NPL). with established collaborations with NASA, NPL, Airbus, Philips, Network Rail, Leica Geosystems, EFTA JET, Faro, Nikon, Arius3D and with KTP supported technology transfer with SMEs 3DImpact research is also embodied in 3D imaging and digital recording for heritage, medical, earth science, fisheries and the creative industries. Digital heritage projects are centred on 3D colour artefacts and their dissemination to professionals and the public. Examples include: digitally preserving sculptures and artwork (Tate, Courtauld); producing digital models of complete gallery spaces (Science Museum, Petrie Museum); painted ceiling monitoring (Historic Royal Palaces); digital repatriation (British Museum) and; the improvement of accuracy and application of photogrammetry (English Heritage and Institute of Archaeology). This work will be augmented for the next eight years through the successful EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology between UCL, Oxford and Brighton where he is a C/I Professor Robson has successfully supervised over 30 PhD and MSc students and is currently supervising 10 PhD students in photogrammetry, metrology, cultural heritage imaging, engineering surveying, medical physics and archaeology. This includes 3 EngD students (VIVE & Secret DTCs). He has contributed to ~150 publications including several key textbooks on photogrammetry, one of which won the inaugural ISPRS Kraus Medal in 2010