rheck's picture

User Details

First Name: 
Richard
Last Name: 
Heck
Position / Title: 
Associate Professor
Phone: 
(519) 824-4120 Ext.52450
Building: 
Alexander Hall
Room: 
140
Education: 

B.S.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. University of Saskatchewan

Research: 

My general research interest is on the quantification of soil morphology at several scales of observation. At the local catchment scale we are employing high-resolution airborne remote sensing techniques: a) visible/near-infrared imaging of soil and crops are used to reveal variations in soil type, b computerized photogrammetry of stereo-airphotos and Lidar imaging are used to generate digital elevation models, from which landform quantification is performed. At the pedon/polypedon scale, we are employing thermal imaging and non-contacting magnetic induction techniques (electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility) to generate, through inversion modeling, 3D soil models. At the sub-pedon scale, we are employing high-resolution digital imaging of soil thin sections, as well as X-ray micro-computed tomography (mCT), combined with pixel- and context-based image processing, to reveal the spatial configuration of soil components. We have on-going collaborations with researchers in Canada, the United States, South America, Europe and Africa.

Publications: 
  • Owliaie, H.R., Abtahi, A. and Heck, R.J. (2006). Pedogenesis and clay mineralogy investigation of soils formed on gypsiferous and calcareous materials, southwestern Iran. Geoderma In press.
  • Owliaie, H.R., Heck, R.J. and Abtahi, A. (2006). The magnetic susceptibility of soils in Kohgilouye, Iran. Can. J. Soil Sci. 86: 97-107.
  • Martinez-Cummer, M.A., Heck, R. and Leeson, S. (2006). Use of axial x-ray microcomputed tomography to assess three-dimensional trabecular microarchitecture and bone mineral density in single comb white leghorn hens. Poultry Science 85: 706-711.

History

Member for
2 years 15 weeks
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120