Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research interests focus on understanding the processes controlling geohazards, and the spatial/temporal distribution of geohazard events, in data scarcity context, with a specific focus on Africa. I more specifically study physical processes governing volcanism, landslides and floods, using different techniques of remote sensing and photogrammetry.
I am particularly interested in studies requiring original approaches, in complex adventurous natural environments, where data are limited or inexistant.
This research is framed by the interests and key preoccupations of my African partners, with whom I actively collaborate through my two institutions, i.e., the VUB and the AfricaMuseum.
The tackled research questions do not only feed local needs, but also contribute to global societal and environmental challenges, in terms of both disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
Expertise
- African volcanism / rift volcanism
- Geohazards in Tropical Africa
- Remote sensing of geohazards
- Multispectral and (In)SAR remote sensing
- SfM-MVS photogrammetry
- UAV image acquisition
- Geospatial analysis
- Data scarcity context
- Fieldwork in complex natural environments
External positions
Senior Researcher, Royal Museum for Central Africa
1 Oct 2020 → …
Postdoc Researcher, Royal Museum for Central Africa
1 Apr 2016 → 30 Sept 2020
Postdoc Researcher, European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology
1 Jan 2016 → 31 Mar 2016
PhD Researcher, European Center for Geodynamics and Seismology
1 Jan 2012 → 31 Dec 2015
Junior Researcher, Royal Museum for Central Africa
17 Sept 2007 → 31 Dec 2011
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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VLIR442: COMPASS – COnstructing remote sensing and MaPping capacities to Assess geohazards, for a more Sustain-ableSociety
1/09/25 → 31/08/27
Project: Fundamental
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OZR3992: Dynamics of natural hazards and disasters in tropical Africa
1/10/22 → 30/09/26
Project: Fundamental
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OZR3837: Backup mandate Research Council: Unravelling magma crustal dynamics through the study of lava lake systems
1/01/22 → 1/01/22
Project: Fundamental
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FEDTWIN1: GeohazarDs in AfricaN CitiEs: patterns, rates and sustainability in urban-sprawling contexts
Kervyn De Meerendre, M. & Smets, B.
1/10/20 → 30/09/25
Project: Fundamental
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Magmatic differentiation and plumbing system beneath Nyamulagira volcano (Virunga Volcanic Province, East African Rift)
Kamate Kaleghetso, E., Namur, O., Smets, B., Vander Auwera, J., Lubala, F., Van Gerve, T. & Molendijk, S. M., Feb 2025, In: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 458, 24 p., 108264.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Thermal remote sensing of lava lakes: a physically-based algorithm
Rolain, S., Peumans, D. & Smets, B., 4 Jul 2025. 1 p.Research output: Unpublished contribution to conference › Poster
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A semi-automatic natural language tool to minimize systematic biases in geo-hydrological disaster datasets in tropical Africa
Valkenborg, B., Dewitte, O. & Smets, B., 18 Apr 2024.Research output: Unpublished contribution to conference › Poster
Open Access -
Assessing lava flow susceptibility at neighbouring volcanoes: Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo volcanoes, Virunga Volcanic Province
Kervyn, M., Barette, F., Poppe, S., Smets, B., Syavulisembo Muhindo, A., Kambale Makundi, J., Ngunzi Kahashi, Y., Kambale Ndagana, J., Mossoux, S., Kervyn, F. & Michellier, C., 11 Apr 2024, In: Journal of Applied Volcanology. 13, 1, 22 p., 5.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)120 Downloads (Pure) -
Landslides, bedrock incision and human-induced environmental changes in an extremely rapidly formed tropical river gorge
Mugaruka Bibentyo, T., Dille, A., Depicker, A., Smets, B., Vanmaercke, M., Nzolang, C., Dewaele, S. & Dewitte, O., 15 Mar 2024, In: Geomorphology. 449, 20 p., 109046.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
6 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
- 4 Talk or presentation at a conference
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Geo-hydrological hazard risks in changing tropical African environments: natural or unnatural processes? (Poster)
Olivier Dewitte (Speaker), Axel Antonius Johannes Deijns (Contributor), Antoine Jean Dille (Contributor), Francois Kervyn (Contributor), Mohamed Laghmouchi (Contributor), Caroline Michellier (Contributor) & Benoît Smets (Contributor)
19 Feb 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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The challenge of sustainable development facing natural hazard risks in an African mountainous region.
Francois Kervyn (Speaker), Olivier Dewitte (Contributor), Caroline Michellier (Contributor), Benoît Smets (Contributor), Mohamed Laghmouchi (Contributor), Mercy Gloria Ashepet (Contributor), Axel Antonius Johannes Deijns (Contributor), Antoine Jean Dille (Contributor), Julien Barrière (Contributor), Guy Ilombe Mawe (Contributor), Violet Kanyiginya (Contributor), Hugues Katembo (Contributor), Jean-Claude Maki Mateso (Contributor), Toussaint Mugaruka Bibentyo (Contributor), Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi (Contributor), Jean Nsabimana (Contributor), Nicolas d'Oreye (Contributor), Adrien Oth (Contributor), Josue Subira (Contributor), F. Muhashi Habiyaremye (Contributor), Ndayisenga A (Contributor), Charles Nzolang (Contributor) & Ronald Twongyirwe (Contributor)
5 Dec 2023 → 7 Dec 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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The flash floods of April 2020 in Uvira (DR Congo): story of an event with extreme impacts.
Josué Mugisho Bachinyaga (Contributor), Axel Antonius Johannes Deijns (Contributor), Guy Ilombe Mawe (Contributor), Francois Kervyn (Contributor), Caroline Michellier (Contributor), Bibentyo Toussaint Mugaruka (Contributor), Jaziel Nkere Buliba (Contributor), Charles Nzolang (Contributor), Benoît Smets (Contributor) & Dewitte Olivier (Speaker)
23 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
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Remote sensing of geohydrological hazards in Central Africa.
Benoît Smets (Speaker), Julien Barriere (Contributor), Olivier Dewitte (Contributor), Axel Antonius Johannes Deijns (Contributor), Louise Delhaye (Contributor), Arthur Depicker (Contributor), Dominique Derauw (Contributor), Antoine Jean Dille (Contributor), Nicolas d'Oreye (Contributor), Nicolas Theys (Contributor), Thimm Zwiener (Contributor) & Francois Kervyn (Contributor)
15 Sept 2021 → 17 Sept 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference
Thesis
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Dynamics of volcanic activity in a youthful extensional setting studied by means of remote sensing and ground-based monitoring techniques: Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes (North Kivu, DR Congo)
Author: Smets, B., 4 Mar 2016Supervisor: Kervyn De Meerendre, M. (Promotor), D'oreye De Lantremange, N. (External person) (Promotor), Kervyn, F. (External person) (Promotor), Canters, F. (Jury), Huybrechts, P. (Jury), Claeys, P. (Jury), Van Wyk De Vries, B. (External person) (Jury) & Ebinger, C. (External person) (Jury)
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis