Professor René Forsberg

Principal Consultant – Geodesy

Professor René Forsberg is a research scientist and Section Head at the Danish National Space Institute (DTU-Space). He has more than thirty years of experience at the National Survey and Cadastre of Denmark, as the State Geodesist responsible for physical geodesy and seismology.

Until recently, René was head of the Department of Geodynamics with a staff of 13 and in 2020, he transferred to head of the Gravity Field Section. René has worked extensively with geodetic, satellite and airborne research for cryosphere monitoring, general geodesy and mapping, and earth observation. His research focus has been on gravity field modeling, including geoid determination, and the use of gravity field data for environmental applications, as well as developing airborne methods for geophysics and cryosphere mapping (lidar).

René has also undertaken numerous consultancy tasks for international and national survey projects (e.g., major bridges), sea-level issues and satellite-related tasks. He has also co-developed the GRAVSOFT software package used across the world for many national geoid applications.

René has managed the Greenland Gravity Mapping program, since 1991, and has taken the initiative, planned and carried out countless field expeditions in Greenland, Svalbard, Canada, the Arctic Ocean, and more recently, also in Antarctica and many regions of Asia, Africa and South America. In addition, he has conducted associated National Geospatial Reference Frame (NGRF) consultancies across many countries, especially related to height system modernisation, geoids and land/marine datum unification, and continues national NGRF contractual work for the government of Denmark.

He is currently leading the 5mm Geoid Project of Denmark aiming to make the best possible geoid and GNSS-consistent height system for Denmark. This involves the rationalisation of existing gravity data in close cooperation with neighbouring countries; the acquisition of new marine and airborne gravity data; relevelling ties to national CORS Stations and reviewing existing data; national InSAR mapping for ground deformation studies; and the development and implementation of a hybrid 5mm geoid over Denmark. The project also includes training and capacity building and transformation software.

In 2009, René was involved in the development of a new geoid model for the UAE funded by the Military Survey Department. This included the collection of new land and airborne gravity data, rationalising existing and historical gravity data and developing both gravimetric and hybrid geoid models. He has also developed new geoid models for the British Isles. This project, funded by the UK Ordnance Survey was completed in 2005. It involved the development of gravimetric and hybrid geoid models based on existing onshore and offshore gravity data as well as satellite gravity data and Digital Terrain Modelling (DEM) data.

René has supervised of 9 PhD students in geodesy and cryosphere science, with 3 ongoing, as well as numerous M.Sc. thesis supervisions and opponent at many Danish and international PhD thesis defences. He is the author or co-author of over 220 papers and technical reports since 1978 and has a H-Index of 33.

René is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) Advisory Committee for Earth Observation (ACEO), Chairman of Danish National Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), advisory board member of the International Service for the Geoid, a component of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and former Chairman of the International Gravity Field Service (IAG).