Sam Thiele
Research Scientist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
Freiberg, Saxony, Germany
Summary
🤩
Rockstar🎓
Top SchoolSam Thiele is a research scientist and geologist with 11 years' experience applying remote mapping technologies and multidisciplinary data synthesis to volcanic and geothermal research. Based at HZDR in Freiberg, he combines field volcanology (including 4D photogrammetry of lava-dome dynamics) with software development skills, notably enhancing CloudCompare's qCompass plugin to add mapping, measurement and geotechnical analysis tools. His background spans a PhD from Monash, high‑distinction masters work, and hands‑on monitoring at Volcán de Colima, giving him a rare mix of rigorous quantitative analysis and practical eruption-response experience. Sam’s toolkit blends UAV-based mapping, GIS/database design and custom plugin development, enabling novel ways to quantify fracture density, strain and morphological change. He’s equally at home writing code as he is interpreting complex, multi-scale geological datasets, often turning field observations into reproducible computational workflows.
10 years of coding experience
Master’s Degree, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, 89.5%, Master’s Degree, Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, 89.5% at The University of Western AustraliaDoctor of Philosophy - PhD, Geology/Earth Science, General, Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Geology/Earth Science, General at Monash University
English, Spanish
Github Skills (11)
c-language10
cprogramming-language10
point-cloud10
qt10
front-end-development10
data-structure9
algorithm9
data-structures9
algorithms9
3d-graphics8
xml8
Programming languages (3)
Github contributions (5)
CloudCompare/CloudCompare
Aug 2017 - Apr 2020
CloudCompare main repository
Role in this project:
Full-stack Developer
Full-stack DeveloperContributions:16 commits, 15 PRs, 8 pushes in 2 years 7 months
Contributions summary:Sam significantly enhanced the CloudCompare plugin, `qCompass`, introducing "Mapping Mode" and integrating various measurement tools. Their work involved restructuring the code for better tool management and GUI preparation. They implemented saving/loading behavior for the plugin and fixed several bugs. Additionally, they expanded the plugin's capabilities with features like XML export, the integration of Structure Normal Estimation and added several tools for geotechnical analysis, including fracture density and bulk strain estimation, increasing the functionality of the application.
computer-graphicscloudsurface3d-printingply
samthiele/website
Dec 2020 - Feb 2025
Contributions:47 pushes, 1 branch in 4 years 2 months
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