Growing up on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean coast in France, I developed an unusual interest in the cold regions of the Earth at a young age, inspired by the stories of intrepid Polar explorers. This fascination drove me to pursue a PhD in physical geography at the University of Sciences and Technologies of Lille, France, with a focus on remote sensing of snow cover in the Canadian Subarctic. This experience solidified my desire to specialize in this field and further explore the cryosphere, ultimately leading me to move to Canada to continue my research and academic pursuits.
Since joining Athabasca University in 2006, my focus has been on pursuing my passion as a physical geographer specializing in remote sensing. Specifically, I have been developing capabilities in advanced observing systems, including both technology and algorithms, to monitor changes over time and space in Earth's surface parameters and processes. As part of this work, I am currently exploring different methods for remote sensing, including the use of drones, to acquire geospatial information with higher precision and efficiency.
In addition to my research, I am committed to innovation in teaching and learning, particularly in the realm of online education. I collaborate with experts in computing and information systems to develop cutting-edge, technology-driven solutions that integrate fieldwork into our courses through mobile technology-guided field trips and collaborative virtual geographic environments. My ultimate goal is to enhance the physical geography and geospatial technology curriculum at Athabasca University by creating comprehensive online geography courses accessible to a broader audience, thereby fostering a passion for geography among the next generation of learners.
Leveraging remote sensing technology to advance our understanding of Earth's systems.
Monitoring and analyzing the dynamics of snow cover, as well as other cryospheric processes.
Utilizing drones and other advanced geospatial technologies to enhance environmental monitoring and data collection.
Creating innovative location-based mobile learning tools, virtual geographical environments, and open educational resources to enhance online geography and environmental science courses.
Educational credentials
Bachelor in Geography, Environmental Studies and Planning, 1994, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France
Master's in Physical Geography, with focus area in Climatology and Hydrology, 1995, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France
Diplôme d'Études Approfondies in Physical Geography, Natural Resources and Risks, 1996, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, France
Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Analysis of Geographical Environments, Natural Resources and Risks, 2000, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, France
Professional affiliations
Member of the Canadian Association of Geographers - Association Canadienne des Géographes
Special Adviser to the Board of Aerial Evolution Association of Canada - Association pour l'Évolution Aérienne du Canada
Drone Pilot Certificate for Basic Operations
J. A. Oliver, F. C. Pivot, Q. Tan, A. S. Cantin, M. J. Wooster, and J. M. Johnston, “A Machine Learning Approach to Waterbody Segmentation in Thermal Infrared Imagery in Support of Tactical Wildfire Mapping,” Remote Sensing, vol. 14, no. 9, p. 2262, 2022, doi: 10.3390/rs14092262.
R. S. Costa, Q. Tan, F. Pivot, X. Zhang, and H. Wang, “Personalized and adaptive learning: educational practice and technological impact,” Texto Livre, vol. 14, no. 3, 2022, doi: 10.35699/1983-3652.2021.33445.
R. Plogmann, Q. Tan, and F. Pivot, “Design the HCI Interface Through Prototyping for the Telepresence Robot Empowered Smart Lab,” in ISDA 2019: Intelligent Systems Design and Applications, in Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol. 1181. Springer, 2021, pp. 446–455.
Z. Maciel, R. R. Andrade, C. R. M. Valenzuela, and F. Pivot, “Evaluación de receptores GPS de bajo costo de alta sensibilidad para trabajos geodésicos. Caso de estudio: línea base geodésica,” CIENCIA ergo-sum, vol. 27, no. 1, p. 6, 2020, doi: 10.30878/ces.v27n1a5.
Q. Tan, M. Denojean-Mairet, H. Wang, X. Zhang, F. C. Pivot, and R. Treu, “Toward a telepresence robot empowered smart lab,” Smart Learning Environments, vol. 6, no. 5, 2019, doi: 10.1186/s40561-019-0084-3.
R. Romero-Andrade, A. Zamora-Maciel, J. de J. Uriarte-Adrián, F. Pivot, and M. E. Trejo-Soto, “Comparative analysis of precise point positioning processing technique with GPS low-cost in different technologies with academic software,” Measurement, vol. 136, pp. 337–344, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.measurement.2018.12.100.
Q. Tan, X.-K. Zhang, F. C. Pivot, J. Evans, and R. McGreal, “The 5R adaptation framework: Concepts, systems, and learning scenarios,” Journal of Internet Technology, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 971–980, 2016, doi: 10.6138/JIT.2016.17.5.20141119a.
Q. Tan and F. Pivot, “Big data privacy: changing perception of privacy,” in 2015 IEEE International Conference on Smart City/SocialCom/SustainCom (SmartCity), Chengdu, China: IEEE, 2015, pp. 860–865. doi: 10.1109/SmartCity.2015.176.
F. Calmels, C. Laurent, R. Brown, F. Pivot, and M. Ireland, “How permafrost thaw may impact food security of Jean Marie River First Nation, NWT,” in 68th Canadian geotechnical conference and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conference., Quebec City, Canada, 2015.
N. El-Bendary, Q. Tan, F. C. Pivot, and A. Lam, “Fall detection and prevention for the elderly: A review of trends and challenges,” International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 1230–1266, 2013, doi: 10.21307/ijssis-2017-588.
F. C. Pivot, “C-band SAR imagery for snow-cover monitoring at Treeline, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada,” Remote Sensing, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 2133–2155, 2012, doi: 10.3390/rs4072133.
F. Pivot, Télédétection du couvert nival dans le subarctique canadien: suivi des variations spatio-temporelles du couvert nival à la limite des arbres par télédétection (Churchill, Manitoba). Éditions Universitaires Européennes, 2012.
D. Fortier, M. Allard, and F. Pivot, “A late-Holocene record of loess deposition in ice-wedge polygons reflecting wind activity and ground moisture conditions, Bylot Island, eastern Canadian Arctic,” The Holocene, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 635–646, 2006, doi: 10.1191/0959683606hl960rp.
D. Scherer et al., “Remote Sensing of Snow Cover,” in Remote Sensing in Northern Hydrology: Measuring Environmental Change, in Geophysical Monograph Series. American Geophysical Union, 2005, pp. 7–38.
F. C. Pivot, C. Kergomard, and C. R. Duguay, “Use of passive-microwave data to monitor spatial and temporal variations of snow cover at tree line near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada,” Annals of Glaciology, vol. 34, pp. 58–64, 2002, doi: 10.3189/172756402781817590.
F. C. Pivot, C. R. Duguay, and C. Kergomard, “Utilisation d’un géoradar pour l’étude du couvert nival à la limite des arbres, Churchill, Manitoba,” La Houille Blanche, no. 6–7, pp. 92–97, 2002, doi: 10.1051/lhb/2002090.
"People look down on stuff like geography and meteorology, and not only because they're standing on one and being soaked by the other. They don't look quite like real science. But geography is only physics slowed down and with a few trees stuck on it, and meteorology is full of excitingly fashionable chaos and complexity. And summer isn't a time. It's a place as well. Summer is a moving creature and likes to go south for the winter." ― Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay