On August 30th, 2024, a specialized training session was organized by Afwan Hafiz as part of the ATMO-ACCES activities. The training took place at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, from 10:00 to 16:00 and brought together members of the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RS-Lab) as well as several collaborators from University of Wroclaw and University of Silesia.

The training had two primary objectives. Firstly, it aimed to familiarize participants with the existing tools developed by other members of the RS-Lab, providing them with a clear understanding of the expected products and the general purposes of these tools. Secondly, the training sought to collect feedback from the participants on the possible improvements and future developments on the basis of presented tools.

The participants came from various backgrounds, not limited to working with lidar data. Some were involved in in situ and satellite data, while others had just begun their work with lidar data. This diversity contributed to the richness of the discussions, as participants brought different perspectives and expertise to the table.

During the session, attendees were given a detailed walkthrough of the tools, starting from basic functionalities to more advanced applications. In addition to the instructional content, the training fostered an active and dynamic discussion among participants. Attendees provided valuable feedback on the existing codes, contributing ideas for possible improvements and suggesting directions for future developments. These discussions were particularly intense and productive, reflecting the participants' deep engagement with the material and their commitment to enhancing the tools further.

One of the key highlights was the presentation of some tools in their original, unrefined state. While this provided an authentic view of the development process, it also posed challenges for participants who did not have extensive coding experience. This led to significant feedback on how to make the tools more user-friendly, particularly for users with limited programming knowledge.

The discussions were more vibrant and engaged than anticipated, resulting in the training session running longer than scheduled. Not all tools were covered within the available time, leading both the organizer and participants to foresee the need for a follow-up session in the near future. Some participants expressed their interest in becoming “testers” for the future development or improvement of the tools presented during the meeting, indicating a strong commitment to ongoing collaboration and enhancement of these resources.

The training was a significant step in advancing the capabilities of researchers within the RS-Lab and beyond, ensuring that the tools developed are not only accessible but also continually evolving based on user feedback and emerging research needs.

The participants were:

RS-Lab Participants:
Iwona S. Stachlewska
Dominika Szczepanik
Maciej Karasewicz
Zuzanna Rykowska
Patryk Poczta
Igor Okraska

External Participants:
Anna Abramowicz (University of Silesia)
Mariola Jabłońska (University of Silesia)
Ádám Nádudvari (University of Silesia)
Alek Rubin (University of Silesia)
Kinga Wiśniewska (University of Wrocław)
Aleksandra Walkowicz (University of Wrocław)