Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Condition and Resilience
Satellite imagery provides a powerful tool to enhance our understanding of how landscapes respond to agents of change, such as extreme climate events, wildfire and other disturbance events, and human land use activities. This research integrates multiple sources of satellite imagery with ancillary datasets to explore how ecosystems respond to and recover from mechanisms of change. Current research is focused on (1) how changes in wetlands and surface water storage inform downstream water availability, (2) improving our capacity to integrate remotely sensed surface water data into decision-making, (3) characterizing patterns and trends in post-wildfire condition and recovery, and (4) evaluating the effectiveness of wildfire risk management actions such as fuel treatments, prescribed fires, and post-fire plantings.
Why this Research is Important
Extreme events like droughts, floods, and fires have large impacts on the health and safety of nearby communities. We use data from satellites to help us understand how these extreme events produce changes in water quantity, quality and distribution, as well as the extent of fire damage and post-fire revegetation, information that can help us manage natural systems and protect communities. The analysis of satellite imagery enables us to provide cutting edge science in a cost-efficient manner to both support the needs of local communities and scale easily to support national or global priorities.
Collaboration
Collaborations with research partners are a key component of this project. Currently we are actively collaborating with partners from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tall Timbers Research Station, and Academic partners.
It matters when you measure it: Using snow-cover Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to isolate post-fire conifer regeneration It matters when you measure it: Using snow-cover Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to isolate post-fire conifer regeneration
Time series of high-resolution images enhances efforts to monitor post-fire condition and recovery, Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, USA Time series of high-resolution images enhances efforts to monitor post-fire condition and recovery, Waldo Canyon fire, Colorado, USA
Efficient delineation of nested depression hierarchy in digital elevation models for hydrological analysis using level-set method Efficient delineation of nested depression hierarchy in digital elevation models for hydrological analysis using level-set method
Applying high-resolution imagery to evaluate restoration-induced changes in stream condition, Missouri River Headwaters Basin, Montana Applying high-resolution imagery to evaluate restoration-induced changes in stream condition, Missouri River Headwaters Basin, Montana
Wetlands inform how climate extremes influence surface water expansion and contraction Wetlands inform how climate extremes influence surface water expansion and contraction
Modelling surface-water depression storage in a Prairie Pothole Region Modelling surface-water depression storage in a Prairie Pothole Region
Satellite imagery provides a powerful tool to enhance our understanding of how landscapes respond to agents of change, such as extreme climate events, wildfire and other disturbance events, and human land use activities. This research integrates multiple sources of satellite imagery with ancillary datasets to explore how ecosystems respond to and recover from mechanisms of change. Current research is focused on (1) how changes in wetlands and surface water storage inform downstream water availability, (2) improving our capacity to integrate remotely sensed surface water data into decision-making, (3) characterizing patterns and trends in post-wildfire condition and recovery, and (4) evaluating the effectiveness of wildfire risk management actions such as fuel treatments, prescribed fires, and post-fire plantings.
Why this Research is Important
Extreme events like droughts, floods, and fires have large impacts on the health and safety of nearby communities. We use data from satellites to help us understand how these extreme events produce changes in water quantity, quality and distribution, as well as the extent of fire damage and post-fire revegetation, information that can help us manage natural systems and protect communities. The analysis of satellite imagery enables us to provide cutting edge science in a cost-efficient manner to both support the needs of local communities and scale easily to support national or global priorities.
Collaboration
Collaborations with research partners are a key component of this project. Currently we are actively collaborating with partners from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tall Timbers Research Station, and Academic partners.