I research creative applications of 2D and 3D imaging and other remote sensing datasets to planetary surfaces. In particular, I am interested in:
- how to best leverage remote sensing to plan for future planetary missions
- advancing our understanding of different regimes of geology on other worlds in preparation for future missions
- quantitative and qualitative investigations of surface geology using orbital imagery and 3D visualization tools
- and equitable, research-based approaches to engagement using real data
My ongoing and past projects, with selected publications, are listed below. My full list of publications, both peer-reviewed and informal and sorted by date, can be found on my Publications page. A full C.V. will be linked here soon.
new technologies and strategies for landed missions
projects
- investigating and characterizing novel planetary imaging capabilities for future ascent/descent spacecraft
- using Apollo 16 imagery to investigate sampling strategies for future landed missions on Europa
- supporting the Europa Lander concept and Europa Clipper Project Science and Reconnaissance Focus Group (2021–22)
publications &c
Persaud, D. M., Phillips, C. B., How to sample an alien world? Lessons for Europa from Apollo 16. 54th Lunar and Planetary Conference. Poster (virtual).
Phillips, C. B., Persaud, D. M., Hand, K. P., Correlation of Surface and Subsurface Properties when Choosing a Sampling Site: Applications from Mars and the Moon to Sampling Locations on Europa and Other Ocean Worlds, AGU Fall Meeting, 11–15 December, 2022. Poster (virtual).
Brydon, G., Persaud, D. M., Jones, G., 2021, Planetary Topography Measurement by Descent Stereophotogrammetry, Planetary and Space Science, 202, 105242. doi: 10.1016/j.pss.2021.105242
martian stratigraphy in 3D
projects
- stereo reconstruction of co-registered, multi-resolution 3D orbital imagery of Gale crater, Mars
- 3D visualization and morpho-stratigraphic analysis of exposed layers in Sakarya Vallis, Gale crater, Mars using PRo3D
collaborations:
- processing and analysis of a CTX DTM of a terraced crater in the Cerberus Plains, Mars, to complement SHARAD data analysis (Xiong et al., ESS)
- processing CTX and HRSC DTMs of Victoria crater and Gale crater, Mars, towards image simulations from a planetary penetrator descent camera (Brydon et al., PSS)
- ExoFit rover trials 1 and 2 (2018, 2019)
publications &c
Persaud, D. M., 2022, On Multi-Resolution 3D Orbital Imagery and Visualisation for Mars Geological Analysis. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), University College London.
Persaud, D. M., Barnes, R., Morpho-stratigraphy of Sakarya Vallis, Gale crater, Mars: a virtual outcrop study, 54th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences, London, Ontario, 2–7 October, 2022. Oral presentation (virtual).
Chernetskiy, M., Muller, J.-P., Tao, Y., Persaud, D. M., Malik, R., 3D imaging of the moon for the NASA Artemis human exploration programme, British Planetary Science Conference, 2020. Oral presentation.
Hall, A., et al. ExoFiT: ExoMars-Like Field Trials – a Mission Simulation. In: 15th Symposium on Advanced Space Technologies in Robotics and Automation, 27-28 May 2019, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
related media
recorded talks:
- “3D imagery to support planetary exploration,” Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, 2022
- ”Remote Sensing the Solar System in 3D,” Herdman Symposium, 2022
- “Gale Crater: a 3D tour,” Pint of Science, 2021
- “Planetary geology is storytelling,” Wellcome Connecting Science, London, 2021
- “3D imaging and visualization to investigate complex geology on Mars,” TIGER in STEMM Summer Webinar Series in Physics, 2020
- Lunchtime Q&A, Geological Society, 2020
- COSS Launch Talk, UCL, 2020
interviews:
- Day, S., Visualising another world, Geoscientist 30 (11), 26-27, 2020
- Pandemic Special for iCRAGorama podcast (May 12, 2020)
- S2 Ep. 26: What is Mars like in 3D? for The Cosmic Cast (April 2020)
- Ep. 5: Space: The Next Frontier for Melanin Memos (2019)
- Ep. 15: Planetary Science for Superwomen in Science (2018)
- A Canyon in Gale Crater, Mars, and Implications for Exploration by the Curiosity Rover for Planetary Geomorphology Image of the Day (Mar. 2021)
- Planetary Surface in 3D YouTube playlist
impact cratering on icy satellites
projects
- testing methods of estimating initial crater depths of Saturn’s moons Rhea and Dione using Cassini ISS digital elevation models (DEMs)
- investigating stereo methods for icy moon topography
- producing crater size catalogs of four Saturnian moons
- assessment of methods of estimating initial crater depths of icy bodies
publications &c
Persaud, D. M., Phillips, C. B., Methods of Estimating Initial Crater Depths on Icy Satellites using Stereo Topography, AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December, 2014. Oral presentation.
previous work
HOMER mission concept development
Designed a smallsat-scale ground penetrating radar (GPR)/synthetic aperture radar (SAR) hybrid multistatic system for the detection of lava tube systems on Mars; investigated and selected regions of interest, and defined science objectives.
Persaud, D. M., et al., 2016, HOMER: a smallsat ground penetrating radar sounding fleet to map planetary surfaces at high resolution, 47th Lunar and Planetary Conference. Poster.
Wu, T. S., Persaud, D. M., et al., Subsurface Feature Mapping of Mars using a High Resolution Ground Penetrating Radar System, AGU Fall Meeting, 14-18 December 2015. Poster.
paleomagnetism & meteoritics
- Used scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy to characterize the matrix composition of Allende meteorite samples; identified rare chromite mineral species
- Prepared and ran hysteresis and thermal demagnetization tests on impact glass samples to determine whether a magnetic field was generated by the Darwin impact
- Documented and prepared Fukang pallasite meteorite samples for magnetic tests
passive radiometry using LiDAR
Adapting a method of passive radiometry used with the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) for use with the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) to generate a reflectance map of the surface of Mercury at the 1064 nm wavelength.