Charles Bachmann Headshot

Charles Bachmann

Wiedman Professor

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science
Program Faculty - PhD Program in Physics

585-475-7238
Office Location

Charles Bachmann

Wiedman Professor

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science
College of Science
Program Faculty - PhD Program in Physics

Education

AB, Princeton University; Sc.M., Ph.D., Brown University

Bio

Charles M. Bachmann received the A.B. in physics from Princeton University (1984) and the Sc.M. (1986) and Ph.D. (1990) in physics from Brown University. He was a research physicist (1990-2013) at the Naval Research Laboratory, serving as Head of the Coastal Science and Interpretation Section in the Remote Sensing Division (2003 - 2013).  From 2012-2013, through the US Navy Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program, he was at the Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) Maritime Division, Sydney, Australia.  In 2013, he joined the faculty of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science (CIS) as the Frederick and Anna B. Wiedman Chair. Since 2016, he has also served as CIS Graduate Program Coordinator.  His research focuses on hyperspectral remote sensing of coastal and desert environments, BRF and radiative transfer modeling for retrieval of geophysical and biophysical parameters, field calibration and validation, the development of advanced instrumentation (goniometers), as well as abstract models for interpreting hyperspectral and multi-sensor imagery based on manifold descriptions and graph theory.  He holds two U.S. Patents for methods of analysis related to hyperspectral remote sensing imagery


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Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Lee, Chris H., et al. "Bi‐Directional Spectro‐Polarimetry of Olivine Sand." Earth and Space Science 11. (2025): e2024EA003928. Web.
Hao, Yuefeng, et al. "Soil moisture controls over carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions: a review." npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 8. 16 (2025): 1-14. Web.
Lee, Chris H., et al. "A Comprehensive BRF Model for Spectralon™ and Application to Hyperspectral Field Imagery." IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 62. (2024): 1-16. Web.
Published Conference Proceedings
Carmon, Nimrod, et al. "Advancing Topographic Correction in Hyperspectral Imaging: The Shape from Spectra Method." Proceedings of the 13th EARSeL Workshop on Imaging Spectroscopy, 16-18, April 2024. Ed. European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories. Valencia, Spain: European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories, 2024. Web.
Nur, Nayma Binte and Charles M. Bachmann. "Techniques for Improved Soil Moisture Estimation Using Hyperspectral Data." Proceedings of the AGU Fall Meeting 2024. Ed. AGU. Washington, DC: AGU, 2024. Web.
Empen, Ian, et al. "Estimating Created Wetland Soil Organic Matter Using UAS Hyperspectral Imagery." Proceedings of the AGU Fall Meeting 2024. Ed. AGU. Washington, DC: AGU, 2024. Web.
Peer Reviewed/Juried Poster Presentation or Conference Paper
Eon, Rehman S., et al. "Improving Accuracy of Salt Marsh Aboveground Biomass using High-Spatial Resolution, Multi-View Hyperspectral Imaging Systems." Proceedings of the AGU Fall Meeting. Ed. AGU. Washington, DC: AGU.
Goldsmith, Sarah, et al. "Assessing Salt Marsh Vulnerability Potential Through the use of High Resolution Hyperspectral Imagery." Proceedings of the AGU Fall Meeting. Ed. AGU. Washington, DC: AGU.

Currently Teaching

IMGS-599
1 - 4 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in any of their years of study.
IMGS-619
2 Credits
This course is focused on the fundamentals of radiation propagation as it relates to making quantitative measurements with imaging systems. The course includes an introduction to common radiometric terms, detector figures of merit, and noise concepts.
IMGS-643
1 Credits
This course will provide the foundational mathematics needed in Imaging Science. This course is the first semester in a two-semester sequence covering fundamental mathematical tools and methods with specific examples drawn from Imaging Science. Students will have the opportunity to put concepts into practice through practical implementation in computer programming assignments.
IMGS-699
0 Credits
This course is a cooperative education experience for graduate imaging science students.
IMGS-719
3 Credits
This course is the first course in a two-semester course sequence that covers the theory of radiative transfer in disordered media. The course begins with a brief review of basic electromagnetism and models for scattering and absorption by single particles and progresses to the theory of radiative transfer in semi-infinite media. Various approximations that allow closed-form solutions are presented, and related phenomenology, such as the shadow-hiding opposition effect and coherent backscatter opposition effects, are described in terms of these models.
IMGS-720
3 Credits
This course covers advanced topics related to the theory of radiative transfer in disordered media. The course begins with a review of topics presented in the first semester course, including the radiative transfer solutions due to Hapke’s solution for a semi-infinite medium and the opposition effect. Students will complete a project focused on one or more advanced topics related to radiative transfer in disordered media, such as effects of surface roughness, scattering in layered media, oriented scattering layers, more advanced treatments of multiple scattering or polarization, or radiative transfer in the water column.
IMGS-740
3 Credits
The analysis and solution of imaging science systems problems for students enrolled in the MS Project capstone paper option.
IMGS-790
1 - 6 Credits
Masters-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
IMGS-791
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
IMGS-799
1 - 4 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed tutorial of appropriate topics that are not part of the formal curriculum. The level of study is appropriate for student in their graduate studies.
IMGS-890
1 - 6 Credits
Doctoral-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
IMGS-891
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis

In the News

  • May 15, 2020

    student working in digital imaging lab with camera

    Student to Student: Remote Sensing

    RIT student, Benjamin Roth, credits his mentors for his interest in remote sensing. His research focuses on retrieving accurate biophysical information on forest health from remote sensing platforms.

  • March 6, 2019

    Three researcher watch hyperspectral camera on roof.

    RIT researchers developing ways to use hyperspectral data for vehicle and pedestrian tracking

    A classic scenario plays out in action films ranging from Baby Driver to The Italian Job: criminals evade aerial pursuit from the authorities by seamlessly blending in with other vehicles and their surroundings. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has RIT researchers utilizing hyperspectral video imaging systems that make sure it does not happen in real life.