New Research
Seeing the Earth for the Forests
Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. student Ian McGregor is using satellite imagery and time series modeling to help conservation agencies detect illegal logging in near real-time in protected forests. Find out more in his guest post on the NC Space Grant news blog.
New PoPS Border Simulation Supports Front Lines of Pest Detection
Software developers at the Center for Geospatial Analytics have released the first version of a pest or pathogen spread (PoPS) simulation that can quantify the effectiveness of inspections at ports of entry and reveal how many pests are missed.
Observing Long-Term Annual Land Surface Phenology at Medium Spatial Resolution
Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. student Xiaojie Gao has developed a new approach to track landscape-scale changes in plant life cycles using Bayesian methods and 30-m-resolution Landsat imagery.
Researchers Design Simulation Tool to Predict Disease, Pest Spread
A team led by Research Scholar Chris Jones developed a computer simulation tool called PoPS to predict pest and disease attacks on crops or forests, and to test when and where to apply pesticides or other management strategies to contain them.
Where There’s Smoke: Reducing Downwind Impacts of Prescribed Burns
New research by Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. student Kate Jones will use geospatial modeling and interactive data visualization to help fire managers consider the vulnerability of communities downwind of prescribed burns.
Analysis: Studies of U.S. National Parks Are Trending Down, Focused on Popular Parks
An analysis led by Faculty Fellow Jelena Vukomanovic finds that research conducted in U.S. national parks has focused largely on five iconic parks, and has dropped since 2013.
Forestry Student Overcomes Challenges to Shine as Research Assistant
Forestry and Environmental Resources senior Norman Urbanek is a shining example of how hard work, despite the struggles facing many students in today’s pandemic, pays off. His research with Faculty Fellow Jennifer Richmond-Bryant is exploring spatial patterns in air pollution and environmental justice.
Multi-Model Approach Could Help Farmers Prepare for, Contain PEDV Outbreaks
New research co-authored by Research Scholar Chris Jones and Faculty Fellow Gustavo Machado shows that a three-model approach could help farmers prevent the spread of PEDV in pigs. One of these models is the Center's signature PoPS (Pest or Pathogen Spread) model.
Noise and Light Pollution Impact Songbird Reproduction
A new study co-authored by Faculty Fellow Jelena Vukomanovic used national Nestwatch data for 142 species to reveal the impacts of noise and light pollution on nesting birds.
Meet Vaishnavi Thakar, Our Center’s Newest Assistant Teaching Professor
Assistant teaching professor Vaishnavi Thakar teaches a core course in our MGIST program, develops new courses, studies the spatial spread COVID-19 and is shaping the Center’s growing undergraduate offerings.