RESEARCH & PROJECTS

Global Terrestrial Laser Scanning Database

Or team is leading the compilation of a core in-situ dataset built from a global network of terrestrial laser scanning data collected by multiple independent research groups and compiled by our team. You can join the effort by contributing to the database and staying up-to-date on the project.

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Map of Global TLS Database

Global Mangrove Height and Biomass

Our team has now created the highest-resolution (12 m) global mangrove height map. We are currently calibrating the map with GEDI and field data to have global high-resolution estimates of mangrove biomass. Stay tuned for updates and check the link below for our interactive Google Earth Engine Application to navigate the global mangrove height map.

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Understanding the 3D Signature of Biodiversity in Mediterranean Forests

We are improving understanding of spatial distributions of forest carbon and biodiversity in Mediterranean forests of the Iberian Peninsula by leveraging the Global TLS trait database and targeted field measurements matched to NASA remote sensing products. Specifically, we are:

1) Consolidating existing TLS datasets from the Global TLS Database, in-country collaborators, and targeted acquisitions of TLS data in Mediterranean forest biodiversity hotspots.
2) Systematically processing TLS data using an existing semi-automated workflow, deriving tree and plot-level structural metrics at the scale of species, site, and forest type.
3) Developing wall-to-wall trait and biomass maps by fusing TLS-informed traits, ~30,000 forest inventory plots, NASA remote sensing datasets, and freely available airborne LiDAR data.

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Understanding post-fire disturbance forest recovery in Mediterranean ecosystems using GEDI

We are using GEDI to assess post-fire change in Mediterranean forests of the Iberian Peninsula and evaluate degradation patterns from increasing fire recurrence and intensity. Our three main objectives are:

1) Consolidate a suite of datasets available through collaborators and publicly, including tens of thousands of in-situ forest plots, millions of GEDI footprints, wall-to-wall ALS datasets, forest type, and extensive maps of forest fire over the past two decades.
2)  Develop a space-for-time analysis based on GEDI footprints and auxiliary data to quantify forest disturbance, recovery, and sensitivity to fire frequency for different forest types and associated errors/uncertainty.
3)  Develop a wall-to-wall map of forest recovery rate based on GEDI footprints and a remote sensing datacube.

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BioREaCH: Biodiversity-Remote sensing for Estuarine and Coastal Habitat research

This project is uncovering the the drivers of biodiversity across the Land-Ocean-Aquatic-Continuum (LOAC) in South Africa with state-of-the-art remote sensing, and investigate the potential impacts of climate change on coastal biodiversity with three hypotheses: 1) Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) vary significantly between climates (cool and warm temperate), and terrestrial elevation is a secondary control; 2) Estuarine biodiversity trends are driven by a combination of major drivers, including tidal connections and landscape disturbance, freshwater inputs, and ecotones; 3) Estuaries with greater Plant Functional Type (PFT) diversity will demonstrate greater climate resilience. The study is split into three objectives:

1) Evaluate the diversity of plant functional type and essential biodiversity variables across estuaries representing diverse geomorphic settings with high-resolution airborne data (imaging spectroscopy and waveform LiDAR)
2) Determine drivers of biodiversity within the nine estuary classes.
3) Explore the impact of climate change on estuaries of the GCFR coastal biodiversity.

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Dig into the Science

Article for Sketchfab

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Sketchfab Blog – Using LiDAR to Measure Carbon in Forests In 2020, Sketchfab.com asked me…

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Cambio

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Cambio – Collaboration with Studio Formafantasma In 2019, I collaborated on an art installation focused…

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NASA ARSET Training

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NASA ARSET Training Capturing the structural component of wetland biodiversity with airborne LiDAR https://youtu.be/qmE7FTyw6H8?si=qE_Np9t7whTAPF8m&t=194

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Want to collaborate?

Interested in collaborating? I’m happy to discuss potential new projects.

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