Research

Highlighted Topics

• Evaluating the performance of various interpolation techniques on digital elevation models in highly dense forest vegetation environment

• Development of Digital Terrain Model Under High Dense Forest Cover Using USGS and Drone LiDAR Data

• UAV application in forest conservation management

The objectives of this research study are to: 1) use UAV remote sensing data and in-situ field observations to characterize key indicators of urban forest health, 2) investigate statistical relationships between forest health (i.e., individual forest trees and species) and vegetation indices derived from UAV imagery, and 3) calculate the trees' heights and crown widths, and use this information to calculate the above-ground carbon stock.

Highlighted Topics

• Mapping and monitoring spatial and temporal variability of drought and its impact on vegetation cover in Arkansas, USA

• Google Earth Engine application for mapping and monitoring drought patterns and trends: A case study in Arkansas, USA

• Spatiotemporal monitoring of agricultural and meteorological drought indices relationships using Google Earth Engine: A case study in Arkansas, USA

This research aims to understand the multidisciplinary impact of climate on natural resources and ecosystems at both regional and global levels, with a particular emphasis on the effects of drought and its impact on local vegetation, hydrology, and wildfire patterns.

Highlighted Topics

• High-Resolution Forest Canopy Cover Estimation in Ecodiverse Landscape Using Machine Learning and Google Earth Engine: Validity and Reliability Assessment

• Mapping and quantifying agricultural irrigation in heterogeneous landscapes using Google Earth Engine

• Geospatial analysis of land cover/land use change in the Southern United States

The objectives of this project are to: 1) determine the classes and the distribution of land cover in the region; 2) identify the spatial and the temporal change of the land cover that occurs as a consequence of land use change; and 3) discuss the potential effects of land use change in the area.

Highlighted Topics

• Characterization of FOAgREC Soils and Development of Fine-Scale Soil Properties Maps

• Applications of Machine Learning Techniques in Predicting Selected Soil Properties in Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Green Tree Reservoir

The objectives of this project are to: 1) explore the effectiveness of various DSM approaches in creating high-resolution soil properties maps, 2) integrate LiDAR data and high spatial resolution imagery with laboratory-derived soil data to establish reliable models for estimating unmeasured soil properties, and 3) create detailed, site-specific soil properties maps that can provide helpful information for establishing a regional soil health indicator.

Highlighted Topics

• Soil Diversity (Pedodiversity) and Ecosystem Services

• Using ecosystem services to underpin cost-benefit analysis in the Contiguous United States

The primary objectives of this project are to: 1) assess SIC replacement cost value in the contiguous United States (US) considering different spatial aggregation levels (ie, state, region, land resource region (LRR) using the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO, and SSURGO)  soil database; 2) demonstrate an approach for valuing non-constrained potential SIC sequestration from atmospheric Ca2+ and Mg2+ deposition based on the concept of the avoided social cost of carbon dioxide emissions (SC-CO2); and 3) to illustrate the monetary valuation of ecosystem services of soil systems (SS) with examples based on the organizational hierarchy of soil systems.

Highlighted Topics

• The Soils of Libya

• A Review of Libyan Soil Databases for Use within an Ecosystem Services Framework

• Adaptation of Soil Judging (Evaluation) to Libya

• Predicting the classes and distribution of salt-affected soils in Northwest Libya

The main objective of this project is to study the characteristics of Libyan soil types.