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  • Associate Professor David Blake

    Associate Professor David Blake

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Associate Professor David Blake

Associate Professor

Staff Member Details
Email: d.blake@ecu.edu.au
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3747-2960

David is an Associate Professor in Environmental Science in the School of Science and an Associate Director for the strategic research centre, the Centre for People Place and Planet.

Current Teaching

  • SCM2104 Geographical Information Systems
  • GEO1150 - Geography and Environment: People, Pattern, Process
  • SCI6105 Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing

Background

Dave Blake is an environmental scientist whose research bridges geospatial science, fire ecology, hydro-geochemistry and integrating knowledge systems to address pressing challenges in ecosystem resilience, land management, and climate adaptation, using transdisciplinary research methods. With a background rooted in GIS and remote sensing and a career spanning research, leadership, and applied science, his work centres on how landscapes respond to disturbance, particularly fire, drought, and thermal stress - with a strong emphasis on wetland and agricultural systems, and the nexus of human and environmental health.

As Associate Director - Research Practice for the Centre for People Place and Planet strategic research centre at ECU, Dave specialises in bringing together Traditional Custodians, academia, government, NGOs, community groups to create transdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental problems.

Professional Memberships

  • Geospatial Council of Australia

Research Areas and Interests

  • Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing
  • Spatial Ecology
  • Peatland Ecology
  • Fire Ecology
  • Post-fire ground- and surface water contamination
  • Sustainable Agricultural Systems
  • Transdisciplinary research methods

Qualifications

  • Bachelor Of Science (Enviromental Management), Edith Cowan University.
  • Doctor of Philospohy, Edith Cowan University, 2013.

Research Outputs

2026

Journal Articles

2025

Journal Articles

  • Voisin, R., Godrich, S., Blake, D., Sambell, R., Herrington, S., Joyce, J., Horwitz, P., Devine, A. (2025). Comprehensive assessment instruments for place-based sustainable agriculture: a scoping review. Sustainability Science, 20(3), article number 100132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01629-3.
  • Zia Ur Rehman, M., Islam, S., Blake, D., Ulhaq, A., Janjua, N. (2025). Deep learning for land use classification: a systematic review of HS-LiDAR imagery. Artificial Intelligence Review, 58(9), Article number 272. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-025-11265-z.
  • Galalizadeh, S., Morrison-Saunders, A., Silberstein, R., Blake, D., Horwitz, P. (2025). A Practical Mobile Measurement Approach for Urban Climate Data Collection: Proposing a Method to Investigate the Cooling Effect of Urban Green Areas in Joondalup, Western Australia. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 112(2025), article number 128891. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128891.
  • Zia Ur Rehman, M., Islam, S., Ulhaq, A., Blake, D., Janjua, N. (2025). Effective Land Use Classification through Hybrid Transformer Using Remote Sensing Imagery. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 18(2025), 2252-2268. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2024.3494258.
  • Jamtsho, K., Lund, M., Blake, D., Van Etten, E. (2025). Urbanisation and specifically impervious cover alter riparian plant communities in a rapidly urbanising landscape in the Himalayas. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 110(August), Article number 128862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128862.
  • Jamtsho, K., Lund, M., Blake, D., Van Etten, E. (2025). Contrasting effects of impervious cover on riparian plant and soil bacterial communities in a rapidly urbanising Himalayan city. Science of the Total Environment, 1003(2025), article number 180681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180681.

Conference Publications

  • Zia Ur Rehman, M., Islam, S., Ulhaq, A., Blake, D., Janjua, N. (2025). Towards Robust Multimodal Land Use Classification: A Convolutional Embedded Transformer. Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Computer Vision, Imaging and Computer Graphics Theory and Applications (143-153). Science and Technology Publications, Lda. https://doi.org/10.5220/0013191300003912.

2024

Journal Articles

  • Jamtsho, K., Lund, M., Blake, D., Van Etten, E. (2024). Microplastic Pollution in Riparian Soils of the Rapidly Growing City of Thimphu, Bhutan. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: an international journal of environmental pollution, 235(11), article number 714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07536-0.
  • Galalizadeh, S., Morrison-Saunders, A., Horwitz, P., Silberstein, R., Blake, D. (2024). The cooling impact of urban greening: A systematic review of methodologies and data sources. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 95(2024), article number 128157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128157.
  • Dorji, T., Rinchen, K., Morrison-Saunders, A., Blake, D., Banham, V., Pelden, S. (2024). Understanding How Indigenous Knowledge Contributes to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Environmental Management, 74(6), 1101-1123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-02032-x.
  • Sowden, M., Blake, D. (2024). Using infrared geostationary remote sensing to determine particulate matter ground-level composition and concentration. Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, 17(6), 1183-1192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-01061-3.

Conference Publications

  • Zia Ur Rehman, M., Islam, S., Ulhaq, A., Janjua, N., Blake, D. (2024). Multimodal Land Use Classification: Harnessing HSI and LiDAR Integration. Proceedings - 2024 25th International Conference on Digital Image Computing: Techniques and Applications, DICTA 2024 (655-661). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/DICTA63115.2024.00099.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Dorji, T., Morrison-Saunders, A., Blake, D. (2023). Understanding How Community Wellbeing Is Affected By Climate Change: Evidence From A Systematic Literature Review. Environmental Management (New York): an international journal for decision-makers, scientists and environmental auditors, 72(3), 568-586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-023-01833-w.
  • Toribio, JL., Lomata, K., Fullman, S., Jenkins, A., Borja, E., Arif, S., McKercher, J., Blake, D., Garcia, A., Whittington, RJ., Underwood, F., Marais, BJ. (2023). Assessing risks for bovine and zoonotic tuberculosis through spatial analysis and a questionnaire survey in Fiji – A pilot study. Heliyon, 9(12), article number e22776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22776.
  • Tshering, K., Miotlinski, K., Blake, D., Boyce, M., Bath, A., Do Carmo Carvalho, A., Horwitz, P. (2023). Effect Of Fire On Characteristics Of Dissolved Organic Matter In Forested Catchments In The Mediterranean Biome: A Review. Water Research, 230(2023), article number 119490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119490.
  • Miotlinski, K., Tshering, K., Boyce, M., Blake, D., Horwitz, P. (2023). Simulated Temperatures Of Forest Fires Affect Water Solubility In Soil And Litter. Ecological Indicators, 150(2023), article number 110236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110236.

2022

Journal Articles

  • Sanna, F., Locatelli, F., Sly, P., White, E., Heyworth, J., Hall, G., Foong, R., Blake, D. (2022). Characterisation of lung function trajectories and associated early-life predictors in an Australian birth cohort study. ERJ Open Research, 8(1), article number 00072-2022. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00072-2022.

2021

Journal Articles

  • Radley, P., Van Etten, E., Blake, D., Davis, R. (2021). Breeding and feeding habitat selection by an island endemic bird may increase its vulnerability to climate change. Biotropica, 53(2), 422-432. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12885.
  • Shafaei Darestani, A., Sostaric, T., Bruemmer, J., Blake, D., Sanfead, T., Unlu, H., Lagesse, H., Boyce, M. (2021). Development of a high-performance thin-layer chromatography method for the analysis of Kakadu plum. Journal of Planar Chromatography: Modern TLC, 34(1), 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00764-021-00081-0.
  • Blake, D., Boyce, M., Stock, W., Horwitz, P. (2021). Fire in Organic-Rich Wetland Sediments: Inorganic Responses in Porewater. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: an international journal of environmental pollution, 232(3), Article number 101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05013-6.

Reports

  • Blake, D., Horwitz, P., Zwickl, K. (2021). Wildfire In Yanchep National Park Wetlands: Postfire Effects, Water Chemistry and Macroinvertebrate Response. Australia. Department of Water and Environmental Protection.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Main, M., Davis, R., Blake, D., Mills, H., Doherty, T. (2020). Human impact overrides bioclimatic drivers of red fox home range size globally. Diversity and Distributions, 26(9), 1083-1092. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13115.
  • Blake, D., Nyman, P., Nice, H., D'souza, F., Kavazos, C., Horwitz, P. (2020). Assessment of post-wildfire erosion risk and effects on water quality in south-western Australia. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 29(3), 240-257. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF18123.
  • Sowden, M., Blake, D. (2020). Which dual-band infrared indices are optimum for identifying aerosol compositional change using Himawari-8 data?. Atmospheric Environment, 241(15 November 2020), Article number 117620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117620.
  • Sowden, M., Blake, D., Cohen, D., Atanacio, A., Mueller, U. (2020). Development of an infrared pollution index to identify ground-level compositional, particle size, and humidity changes using Himawari-8. Atmospheric Environment, 229(15 May 2020), Article number 117435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117435.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Vitelli, F., Hyndes, G., Saunders, B., Blake, D., Newman, SJ., Hobbs, JA. (2019). Do ecological traits of low abundance and niche overlap promote hybridisation among coral-reef angelfishes?. Coral Reefs, 38(5), 931-943. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01816-6.
  • Zijlema, W., Stasinska, A., Blake, D., Dirgawati, M., Flicker, L., Yeap, BB., Golledge, J., Hankey, G., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Heyworth, J. (2019). The longitudinal association between natural outdoor environments and mortality in 9218 older men from Perth, Western Australia. Environment International, 125(April 2019), 430-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.075.
  • Sowden, M., Mueller, U., Blake, D. (2019). What temporal resolution is required for remote sensing of regional aerosol concentrations using the Himawari-8 geostationary satellite. Atmospheric Environment, 216(2019), Article number 116914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.116914.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Radley, P., Davis, R., Dekker, R., Molloy, S., Blake, D., Heinsohn, R. (2018). Vulnerability of megapodes (Megapodiidae, Aves) to climate change and related threats. Environmental Conservation: an international journal of environmental science, 45(4), 396-406. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892918000152.
  • Sowden, M., Mueller, U., Blake, D. (2018). Review of surface particulate monitoring of dust events using geostationary satellite remote sensing. Atmospheric Environment, 183(June 2018), 154-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.04.020.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Boeyen, J., Callan, A., Blake, D., Wheeler, A., Franklin, P., Hall, G., Shackleton, C., Sly, P., Hinwood, A. (2017). Investigating the relationship between environmental factors and respiratory health outcomes in school children using the forced oscillation technique. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 220(2), 494-502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.014.

2016

Journal Articles

  • Dirgwati, M., Heyworth, J., Wheeler, A., McCaul, K., Blake, D., Boeyen, J., Cope, M., Yeap, BB., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Brunekreef, B., Hinwood, A. (2016). Development of Land Use Regression models for particulate matter and associated components in a low air pollutant concentration airshed. Atmospheric Environment, 144(2016), 69-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2016.08.013.

2015

Journal Articles

  • Dirgawati, M., Barnes, R., Wheeler, A., Arnold, A., McCaul, KA., Stuart, AL., Blake, D., Hinwood, A., Yeap, BB., Heyworth, JS. (2015). Development of Land Use Regression models for predicting exposure to NO2 and NOx in Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Environmental Modelling and Software, 74(2015), 258-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.07.008.

2012

Journal Articles

  • Blake, D., Lu, K., Horwitz, P., Boyce, M. (2012). Fire suppression and burnt sediments: effects on the water chemistry of fire-affected wetlands. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 21(5), 557-561. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF10125.

Reports

  • Sommer, B., Froend, R., Blake, D. (2012). Prioritizing wetlands for restoration within the Gnangara pine plantation. Perth, W.A.. Edith Cowan University.

2009

Journal Articles

  • Blake, D., Hinwood, A., Horwitz, P. (2009). Peat fires and air quality: volatile organic compounds and particulates.. Chemosphere, 76(3), 419-423.

2008

Reports

  • Horwitz, P., Blake, D., Cargill, J., Froend, R., Hinwood, A., Loomes, R., McQueen, H., Rogan, R., Van Etten, E. (2008). Fire management implications for wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Perth, W.A.. Edith Cowan University.

Research Projects

  • Sustainable solutions for sandy soils A collaborative approach for transformational change, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Future Drought Fund Resilient Landscapes Program, 2025 ‑ 2030, $250,000.
  • PEAT Southwest, Lotterywest, Grant, 2025 ‑ 2028, $609,001.
  • PEAT | Protecting peatland ecosystems and addressing threats in Southwestern Australia, Ian Potter Foundation, Grant, 2023 ‑ 2028, $879,816.
  • Evaluating high resolution remotely sensed imagery to detect plant responses to changing irrigation strategies, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Scholarships to Support Industry Engagement PhD Projects, 2022 ‑ 2027, $70,000.
  • Transformative Aboriginal agriculture methods: Maaman Marra Boodja, Grower Group Alliance, South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub grant, 2024 ‑ 2025, $289,000.
  • The Predicting and Managing the Impacts of Wildfire and Prescription Burns on Water Quality and Water-Related Assets Project, Water Corporation, Grant, 2019 ‑ 2023, $825,000.
  • Development of a methodology for the project Assessing Environmental Impacts of the Land Transport System in Greater Perth, Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (WA), DoT WA - Grant, 2023, $38,334.
  • Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health: a comparative study from South-Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Grant, 2021 ‑ 2022, $3,500.
  • Wildfire in Yanchep National Park wetlands: post-fire effects, water quality and macroinvertebrate response , Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Grant, 2020 ‑ 2021, $39,330.
  • Geospatial Mapping of Empodisma Peatlands in southwest Western Australia, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Environmental Mapping Study Grant, 2021, $50,000.
  • An investigation into the spatial distribution, habitat selection and resource usage of the red fox inhabiting urban reserves, Ecological Society of Australia, Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, 2017 ‑ 2020, $3,200.
  • The Development of Operational Rules for Management of Shallow Groundwater in Water Limited Ecosystems Project: Preliminary Works, Water Corporation, Grant, 2013 ‑ 2018, $567,754.
  • Investigating historical fire regimes and erosion rates in major water catchments within Southern Australia, Edith Cowan University, ECU Collaboration Enhancement Scheme - 2016 Round 2, 2017 ‑ 2018, $1,600.
  • Designing water quality monitoring protocols in catchments after severe wildfires: the 2016 Harvey River Basin case study., Edith Cowan University, ECU Industry Collaboration Scheme - 2016 Open Round, 2016 ‑ 2017, $30,000.
  • Projected Sea Level Rise and the Conservation Ecology of the Micronesian Megapode (Megapodius laperouse senex) in Palau, Micronesia, World Pheasant Association, Grant, 2016 ‑ 2017, $6,516.
  • Toolibin Lake and surrounding reserves water balance investigation – vegetation water use: 1977-2015 (Desktop Assessment), Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions WA, Botanic Parks and Gardens - Grant, 2016, $12,992.
  • Turning the tide for the Bekai: identifying refuges from climate-induced sea level rise for the Palau Megapode, The Rufford Foundation, Rufford Foundation - Small Grants, 2015 ‑ 2016, $10,616.
  • Household resilience to fuel price rises in Perth, Western Australia: A geographical perspective, Planning and Transport Research Centre, PATREC - Grant, 2014 ‑ 2015, $5,000.
  • BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHPBIO) Ecological Water Asset Project - Regional Ecohydrology Monitoring Network, BHP Billiton, Grant, 2013 ‑ 2014, $266,342.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Evaluating Urban Tree Canopy Health Using High-Resolution UAV Imagery and Machine Learning Approach.
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Development & Evaluation of a Peat Fire Danger index & Peatland Digital Soil Mapping
  • Master of Science by Research, The carbon sequestration capacity of Western Australia tidal marsh ecosystems
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Floristic Communities & Plant Fire Responses under Global Warming in the Peatlands of Walpole Wilderness Area, Western Australia
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Study of Fire Regimes in South Western Australia Using Geospatial Techniques

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Understanding climate change and wellbeing through Bhutan’s pursuit of Gross National Happiness
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Effective Mapping and Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Imagery
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The Role of Place Attachment in Farmers’ Responses to Climate Change Induced Livelihood Vulnerability
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The Role of Green Areas in Cooling Surrounding Urban Areas

Completed Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, UNDERSTANDING FIRE TRANSFORMED DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER FOR WATER QUALITY IN FORESTED CATCHMENTS
  • Master of Science (Biological Sciences), An investigation into the spatial distribution, habitat selection and resource usage of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) inhabiting urban reserves within Perth, Western Australia

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Master of Science (Biological Sciences), Nocturnal roost tree, roost site and landscape characteristics of carnaby's black-cockatoo (calyptorynchus latirostris) on the Swan coastal plain

Associate Supervisor

  • Master of Science by Research, Accuracy Assessment of Spectral Indices & Determining Factors Influencing Burn Severity of the 2021 Wooroloo Fire
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Projected sea level rise and the conservation ecology of the micronesian megapode (megapodius laperouse senex) in palau, micronesia
  • Master of Science (Environmental Management), Energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions across different scales of iron ore mining operations in Western Australia
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Determining ground-level composition and concentration of particulate matter across regional areas using the Hinawari-8 satellite
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Impacts of Impervious Cover Expansion on Riparian Areas in a Rapidly Urbanising Himalayan Landscapes
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