Andri Baltensweiler
Function
Scientist
Contact
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Site
Birmensdorf Bi HP C 76
Research interests
I am interest in spatial modelling of various phenomena to identify relationships between them and environmental site conditions. The objectives are to understand the phenomena themselves but also to make spatial predictions. I am particularly interested to identify the relevant spatial scales at which processes operate.
I develop and apply digital soil mapping and species distribution models using different GIS, remote sensing and statistical methods.
Teaching at ETH Zurich
Geographic Information Systems. Master course (No. 651-4031-00L) at the Department of Earth Sciences. Yearly course autumn semester.
Geographic Data Processing with Python and ArcGIS. Master course (No. 701-1776-00L) at the Department of Environmental Systems Science. Yearly course (3 day block course) one week before the autumn semester starts.
Geoprocessing with ArcGIS and Python. Module at Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in RIS/GIS at the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformation (Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering).
Master thesis
If you are interested in writing a master thesis in the context of digital soil mapping, modelling biodiversity or forest functions using remote sensing techniques, please contact me.
Keywords: Geographic information science, Airborne and terrestrial LiDAR, Digital soil mapping, Species distribution models, Forest structures, Terrain attributes
FURTHER INFORMATION
Publications
Scientific publication article peer reviewed
Descombes, P.; Walthert, L.; Baltensweiler, A.; Meuli, R.G.; Karger, D.N.; Ginzler, C.; Zurell, D.; Zimmermann, N.E., 2020: Spatial modelling of ecological indicator values improves predictions of plant distributions in complex landscapes. Ecography, doi: 10.1111/ecog.05117
Zurell, D.; Zimmermann, N.E.; Gross, H.; Baltensweiler, A.; Sattler, T.; Wüest, R.O., 2020: Testing species assemblage predictions from stacked and joint species distribution models. Journal of Biogeography, 47, 1: 101-113. doi: 10.1111/jbi.13608
Wüest, R.O.; Bergamini, A.; Bollmann, K.; Baltensweiler, A., 2020: LiDAR data as a proxy for light availability improve distribution modelling of woody species. Forest Ecology and Management, 456: 117644 (10 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117644
Trotsiuk, V.; Hartig, F.; Cailleret, M.; Babst, F.; Forrester, D.I.; Baltensweiler, A.; Buchmann, N.; Bugmann, H.; Gessler, A.; Gharun, M.; Minunno, F.; Rigling, A.; Rohner, B.; Stillhard, J.; Thürig, E.; Waldner, P.; Ferretti, M.; Eugster, W.; Schaub, M., 2020: Assessing the response of forest productivity to climate extremes in Switzerland using model-data fusion. Global Change Biology, 26, 4: 2463-2476. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15011
Zellweger, F.; Baltensweiler, A.; Schleppi, P.; Huber, M.; Küchler, M.; Ginzler, C.; Jonas, T., 2019: Estimating below‐canopy light regimes using airborne laser scanning: an application to plant community analysis. Ecology and Evolution, 9, 16: 9149-9159. doi: 10.1002/ece3.5462
Thurm, E.A.; Hernandez, L.; Baltensweiler, A.; Ayan, S.; Rasztovits, E.; Bielak, K.; Zlatanov, T.M.; Hladnik, D.; Balic, B.; Freudenschuss, A.; Büchsenmeister, R.; Falk, W., 2018: Alternative tree species under climate warming in managed European forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 430: 485-497. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.08.028
Nussbaum, M.; Spiess, K.; Baltensweiler, A.; Grob, U.; Keller, A.; Greiner, L.; Schaepman, M.E.; Papritz, A., 2018: Evaluation of digital soil mapping approaches with large sets of environmental covariates. Soil, 4, 1: 1-22. doi: 10.5194/soil-4-1-2018
Vandegehuchte, M.L.; Wermelinger, B.; Fraefel, M.; Baltensweiler, A.; Düggelin, C.; Brändli, U.; Freitag, A.; Bernasconi, C.; Cherix, D.; Risch, A.C., 2017: Distribution and habitat requirements of red wood ants in Switzerland: implications for conservation. Biological Conservation, 212: 366-375. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.008
Baltensweiler, A.; Walthert, L.; Ginzler, C.; Sutter, F.; Purves, R.S.; Hanewinkel, M., 2017: Terrestrial laser scanning improves digital elevation models and topsoil pH modelling in regions with complex topography and dense vegetation. Environmental Modelling and Software, 95: 13-21. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.05.009
Dannenmann, M.; Bimüller, C.; Gschwendtner, S.; Leberecht, M.; Tejedor, J.; Bilela, S.; Gasche, R.; Hanewinkel, M.; Baltensweiler, A.; Kögel-Knabner, I.; Polle, A.; Schloter, M.; Simon, J.; Rennenberg, H., 2016: Climate change impairs nitrogen cycling in european beech forests. PLoS One, 11, 7: e0158823 (24 pp.). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158823
Zellweger, F.; Baltensweiler, A.; Ginzler, C.; Roth, T.; Braunisch, V.; Bugmann, H.; Bollmann, K., 2016: Environmental predictors of species richness in forest landscapes: abiotic factors versus vegetation structure. Journal of Biogeography, 43, 6: 1080-1090. doi: 10.1111/jbi.12696
Molinier, V.; Murat, C.; Baltensweiler, A.; Büntgen, U.; Martin, F.; Meier, B.; Moser, B.; Sproll, L.; Stobbe, U.; Tegel, W.; Egli, S.; Peter, M., 2016: Fine-scale genetic structure of natural Tuber aestivum sites in southern Germany. Mycorrhiza, 26, 8: 895-907. doi: 10.1007/s00572-016-0719-y
Zellweger, F.; Braunisch, V.; Morsdorf, F.; Baltensweiler, A.; Abegg, M.; Roth, T.; Bugmann, H.; Bollmann, K., 2015: Disentangling the effects of climate, topography, soil and vegetation on stand-scale species richness in temperate forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 349: 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.04.008
Nussbaum, M.; Papritz, A.; Baltensweiler, A.; Walthert, L., 2014: Estimating soil organic carbon stocks of Swiss forest soils by robust external-drift kriging. Geoscientific Model Development, 7, 3: 1197-1210. doi: 10.5194/gmd-7-1197-2014
Zellweger, F.; Braunisch, V.; Baltensweiler, A.; Bollmann, K., 2013: Remotely sensed forest structural complexity predicts multi species occurrence at the landscape scale. Forest Ecology and Management, 307: 303-312. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.07.023
Camathias, L.; Bergamini, A.; Küchler, M.; Stofer, S.; Baltensweiler, A., 2013: High-resolution remote sensing data improves models of species richness. Applied Vegetation Science, 16, 4: 539-551. doi: 10.1111/avsc.12028
Stadelmann, G.; Frehner, M.; Baltensweiler, A.; Bugmann, H., 2011: Modellierung des Einflusses von Wildverbiss auf die Schutzwaldentwicklung an der Rigi-Nordlehne. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 162, 10: 355-363. doi: 10.3188/szf.2011.0355
Gurtz, J.; Baltensweiler, A.; Lang, H., 1999: Spatially distributed hydrotope-based modelling of evapotranspiration and runoff in mountainous basins. Hydrological Processes, 13, 17: 2751-2768. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(19991215)13:17<2751::AID-HYP897>3.0.CO;2-O
Further scientific publications
Walthert, l.; Scherler, M.; Stähli, M.; Huber, M.; Baltensweiler, A.; Ramirez-Lopez, L.; Papritz, A., 2015: Böden und Wasserhaushalt von Wäldern und Waldstandorten der Schweizunter heutigem und zukünftigem Klima (BOWA-CH).. 118 p.
Baltensweiler, A.; Zimmermann, S., 2010: Modelling soil acidity in Switzerland using spatial statistics tools. In: 2010: Proceedings ESRI International User Conference, July 12-16, 2010, San Diego. ESRI International User Conference, San Diego. Paper Nr. 1493.
Cioldi, F.; Baltensweiler, A.; Brändli, U.-B.; Duc, P.; Ginzler, C.; Herold Bonardi, A.; Thürig, E.; Ulmer, U., 2010: Les ressources forestères. In: Brändli, U.-B.; Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt,la neige et le paysage WSL,Birmensdorf; Office fédéral de l'environnement OFEV,Berne (eds), 2010: Inventaire forestier national suisse. Résultats du troisième inventaire 2004-2006. Birmensdorf, Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage WSL. 31-113.
Cioldi, F.; Baltensweiler, A.; Brändli, U.-B.; Duc, P.; Ginzler, C.; Herold Bonardi, A.; Thürig, E.; Ulmer, U., 2010: Waldressourcen. In: Brändli, U.-B.; Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald,Schnee und Landschaft WSL,Birmensdorf; Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU,Bern (eds), 2010: Schweizerisches Landesforstinventar. Ergebnisse der dritten Erhebung 2004-2006. Birmensdorf, Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL. 31-113.
Lanz, A.; Brändli, M.; Baltensweiler, A., 2007: A large-scale, long-term view on collecting and sharing landscape data. In: Kienast, F.; Wildi, O.; Ghosh, S. (eds), 2007: A Changing World. Challenges for Landscape Research. Dordrecht, Springer. 93-111. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-4436-6_7
Baltensweiler, A.; Brändli, M., 2004: Web-based exploration of environmental data and corresponding metadata, in particular lineage information. In: Scharl, A. (eds), 2004: Environmental Online Communication. London; Berlin; Heidelberg, Springer. 127-132. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4471-3798-6_14
Baltensweiler, A., 2003: Using the Java Connector to Publish Heterogeneous Data. In: 2003: 23nd Annual ESRI International User Conference. 23nd Annual ESRI International User Conference, San Diego. (5 pp.).
Baltensweiler, A., 2002: Accessing spatial data and metadata using ArcIMS and the open source language PHP. In: 2002: 22nd Annual ESRI International User Conference Proceedings. 22nd Annual ESRI International User Conference, San Diego.
Jakob, P.; Ginzler, C.; Kräuchi, N.; Baltensweiler, A., 2000: Modern ecology requires a state-of-the-art data acquisition and management methodology. In: 2000: Conference of European Statisticians. Conference of European Statisticians, Neuchâtel. (8 pp.).
Gurtz, J.; Baltensweiler, A.; Lang, H.; Schulla, J., 1998: Spatially distributed model approaches to hydrologic processes and river flow from mountainous regions. In: Chalise, S.R.; Herrmann, A.; Khanal, N.R.; Lang, H.; Molnar, L.; Pokhrel, A:P. (eds), 1998: Ecohydrology of High Mountain Areas. Proc. Int. Conf. Kathmandu. 129-141.
Gurtz, J.; Baltensweiler, A.; Lang, H.; Menzel, L.; Schulla, J., 1997: Auswirkungen von klimatischen Variationen auf Wasserhaushalt und Abfluss im Flussgebiet des Rheins. Schlussbericht NFP 31. Zürich, vdf Hochschulverlag AG an der ETH. 147 p.
Lang, H.; Baltensweiler, A.; Gurtz, J.; Schulla, J., 1996: Die Auswirkungen von Klimaänderungen auf die Komponenten des Wasserkreislaufs. In: 1996: Klimaänderung und Wasserwirtschaft.Tagungsband. Conference on Recent Shifts in Vegetation Boundaries of Deciduous Forests, Especially Due to General Global Warming, München. 73-88.
Magazine article and brochures
Brändli, U.-B.; Baltensweiler, A.; Bergamini, A.; Ulmer, U.; Schwyzer, A., 2009: Verbreitung und Häufigkeit der Eibe (Taxus baccata) in der Schweiz, Ergebnisse aus dem Landesforstinventar (LFI). Eibenfreund, 43-49.
Supervised theses
Füglister B. 2020. Spatial distribution and environmental factors of dead spruce stands in the Swiss Plateau and Jura. MSc thesis, ETH Zurich. Supervisor Prof. N. Zimmermann.
Pranga J. 2019. Analysis of drought patterns in beech stands concerning environmental factors, in Switzerland. MSc thesis, University of Freiburg (D), Supervisor Dr. H. Weinacker.
Flavian S. 2019. Modellierungen von Baumarten der Schweiz mit Einbezug der Bewirtschaftung. BSc thesis, ETH Zürich.
Hertzog M. 2017. Modelling soil attributes with the Random Forest method for the Swiss forest area. MSc thesis, ETH Zurich. Supervisor Prof. D. Or, Cosupervisors: A. Papritz, L. Walthert.
Hürlimann R. 2016. Geostatistical modelling of soil pH based on LiDAR-measurements. MSc thesis, Wageningen University. Supervisor Prof. Gerard Heuvelink.
Lenggenhager A. 2014. Modellierung der Bodenacidität mit terrestrischem LiDAR im Alptal. MSc thesis University of Zurich. Supervisor Prof. R. Purves.
Allemann M. 2012. Nachbilden der Bodeneignungskarte für die Waldböden in der Schweiz und ergänzen der Kartierungseinheiten mit Informationen zum Wasser- und Nährstoffspeichervermögen. MSc thesis University of Bern. Supervisor Prof. W. Wilcke, Cosupervisor, L. Walthert.
Nussbaum M. 2011. Modellierung des organischen Kohlenstoffgehalts und –vorrats in Schweizer Waldböden. MSc thesis, University of Zurich. Supervisor Prof. M. Schmidt, Cosupervisor A. Papritz.
Camathias L. 2010. Potential von hochauflösenden Höhenmodellen als Indikatoren für die Biodiversität im Wald. MSc thesis University of Bern. Supervisor PD Dr. S. Wunderle, Cosupervisor A. Bergamini.
Stadelmann G. 2008. Modellierung der Waldentwicklung an der Rigi-Nordlehne zur Analyse der Schutzwirkung von Wald gegen Murgang. MSc thesis, ETH Zurich. Supervisor Dr. M. Frehner, Cosupervisors Prof. H. Bugmann, C. Graf.