Increasing concerns over climate change, biodiversity loss,
and ecosystem disturbance have increased the demand for spatially explicit,
large area ecosystem characterizations. To meet this need, my research is
focused upon solving applied problems in ecosystem science and sustainable
forest management. I am particularly interested in developing methods to
quantify and monitor vegetation structure and composition across large spatial
extents, primarily via remote sensing and spatial modeling.
"Quantifying ecosystem composition and structure -in a spatially explicit manner- is paramount to the development and evaluation of effective sustainable forest management practices and policies"
I conduct research in a diversity of areas including LiDAR
remote sensing of forest structure, spatial modeling of forest species composition
and wildlife habitat suitability, as well as remote sensing of active fire
and post-fire effects, among others. Although each of the aforementioned
research areas are focused upon unique problems, there is one common thread
throughout; integrating cutting edge spatial technologies with fundamental
field measurements and established ecological theory to gain a better
understanding of the natural environment.
Specific Interests:
Remote sensing of vegetation structure and composition
LiDAR remote sensing
Forest mensuration and biometrics
Landscape ecology
Wildlife habitat modeling
Remote sensing of active fire and post-fire effects
Fire ecology
Spatial ecology
Statistics