Dean Gesch is a Research Physical Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Since 1992, Dean Gesch has worked at USGS/EROS on a variety of geographic science topics, with most related to research and development of topographic data, derivative products, and applications. Most of Gesch’s work has focused on large-area datasets and applications (global, national, regional, and local), and much of the work has been collaborative in nature, working with scientists from other USGS centers and other Federal agencies. He led the design and development of USGS baseline elevation datasets at the national scale (the National Elevation Dataset) and the global scale (GTOPO30 and GMTED2010). His research topics include large-area topographic change analysis and monitoring, hurricane storm surge mapping, elevation data accuracy assessment, and sea-level rise vulnerability assessment. He served as a guest editor for Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing for a special issue on: The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission – Data Validation and Applications, and was also a guest editor for Journal of Coastal Research for a special issue on: Advances in Topobathymetric Mapping, Models, and Applications. Gesch has served in leadership positions in several national and international forums, including the National Digital Elevation Program, the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Working Group on Global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Interoperability, and the Group on Earth Observations Global DEM Task. Currently at EROS he is the Principal Investigator leading the Coastal Changes and Impacts focus area in the Integrated Science and Applications Branch.
Professional Experience
2004 to present: Research Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center
1992 - 2004: Senior Scientist, Hughes STX / Raytheon / SAIC at USGS/Earth Resources Observation and Science Center
1989 - 1992: Programmer/Analyst, Hughes STX Corp., Lanham, MD
1986 - 1989: Member Technical Staff, Science Applications Research Corp. at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
1984 - 1986: Physical Scientist, Defense Mapping Agency, Bethesda, MD
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2006, Geospatial Science and Engineering, South Dakota State University, Dissertation: An inventory and assessment of significant topographic changes in the United States
M.A., 1984, Geosciences, Murray State University, Thesis: An analysis of the utility of Landsat Thematic Mapper data and digital elevation model data for predicting soil erosion: East Fork Massac Cree
B.S. (magna cum laude), 1982, Geography, Carroll College
Science and Products
A National Topographic Change Mapping and Monitoring System
Enhancing Stakeholder Capacity for Coastal Inundation Assessments in the Marshall Islands
Webinar: A Coastal Hazard Assessment with High-Resolution Data: A Pacific Island Case Study
Significant Topographic Changes in the United States
Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability
Supporting Sea-Level Rise Preparedness in Hawaiian National Parks
Evaluation and testing of standardized forest vegetation metrics derived from lidar data
Characterizing Inundation Risk for Majuro Atoll
Simulating and Projecting Future Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Majuro Atoll
Collecting Elevation Data to Understand Climate Change Effects in the Marshall Islands
Evaluating Sea-level Rise Impacts in the Northeastern U.S.
Science and Products
- Science
A National Topographic Change Mapping and Monitoring System
The three-dimensional (3D) form of the Earth’s surface results from both abiotic and biotic forces. Major abiotic forces, such as tectonic uplift, erosion, and climate, exert strong influence over land surface morphology. Biotic forces, including, significantly, humans, also shape the landscape, but often at different temporal and spatial scales and magnitudes than geologic forces. Because the pro...Enhancing Stakeholder Capacity for Coastal Inundation Assessments in the Marshall Islands
As a low-lying coastal nation, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is at the forefront of exposure to climate change impacts. The Republic of the Marshall Islands has a strong dependence on natural resources and biodiversity not only for food and income but also for culture and livelihood. However, these resources are threatened by rising sea levels and associated coastal hazards (storm surges, sWebinar: A Coastal Hazard Assessment with High-Resolution Data: A Pacific Island Case Study
View this webinar to learn how Pacific Islands CASC supported researchers are using high resolution data to assess the Pacific Islands vulnerability to coastal hazards.Significant Topographic Changes in the United States
The USGS has developed a national inventory of significant topographic changes based on seamless multitemporal elevation data and land cover data. The National Elevation Dataset (NED) and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data form a unique pair of seamless elevation datasets that can be used to detect and analyze 20th century topographic surface changes in the United States.Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability
The importance of sea-level rise in shaping coastal landscapes is well recognized within the earth science community, but as with many natural hazards, communicating the risks associated with sea-level rise remains a challenge.Supporting Sea-Level Rise Preparedness in Hawaiian National Parks
On August 21, 2017, Honolulu Harbor observed the highest hourly water level since tide gauge record collection began in 1905. Throughout the course of 2017, the gauge registered an unprecedented number of high-water events. These record high sea levels were the result of a series of compounding factors: ongoing sea-level rise, seasonally-elevated high tides, and a region of warm water combining wiEvaluation and testing of standardized forest vegetation metrics derived from lidar data
The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) is managing the acquisition of lidar data across the Nation for high resolution mapping of the land surface, useful for multiple applications. Lidar data is initially collected as 3-dimensional “point clouds” that map the interaction of the airborne laser with earth surface features, including vegetation, buildings, and ground features. Generally the product of...Characterizing Inundation Risk for Majuro Atoll
With an average elevation of just seven feet above sea level, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is acutely vulnerable to inundation from both episodic events such as storm surge and chronic conditions such as sea-level rise. Some projections estimate that future sea-level rise could exceed the average elevation of these islands by 2100. Already, residents are facing extreme high tides and 16 foSimulating and Projecting Future Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Majuro Atoll
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) spreads over 29 atolls and has a population of over 50,000 people; over 27,000 of those people live on the Majuro Atoll, RMI’s capital. Sea level rise threatens the very existence of RMI as high-end projections of sea level rise by the end of the century exceed the average elevation of these low atoll reef islands. Already, waves wash over Majuro during “...Collecting Elevation Data to Understand Climate Change Effects in the Marshall Islands
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that low-lying atolls (ring-shaped islands or island chains made of coral) in the Pacific Ocean are extremely vulnerable to high tide events (“king tides”), storm surge, tsunamis, and sea-level rise. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) spreads over 29 atolls and has a population of over 50,000 people with homes and communities that may b...Evaluating Sea-level Rise Impacts in the Northeastern U.S.
In 2010, 39 percent of the U.S.population lived near the coast. This population is expected to increase by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020. Coastal regions are also home to species and habitats that provide critical services to humans, such as wetlands that buffer coasts from storms. Therefore, sea-level rise and the associated changes in coastlines challenge both human communities and ecosystems. Und - Data
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