GIS and Remote Sensing Research Laboratory
The Lab supports research activities of faculty and graduate students involving geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing techniques. The research with the Lab primarily focuses on studying GIS/remote sensing-based methods for ecological assessment and biogeographic studies. The faculty and students with the Lab also conduct studies in relation to bioinformatics and urban issues. Recent and current projects have been funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Lab also supports international research collaboration.
Lab personnel
Dr. Wei (Wayne) Ji, Lab Director and Associate Professor
Rima A. Wahab. Research Assistant (full time).
Karen Underhill, Ph.D. candidate (Interdisciplinary studies in geosciences and social sciences)
Guohua Xiao, Ph.D. student (Interdisciplinary studies in geosciences and computer science),
Jia Ma, Ph.D. student and research assistant (Interdisciplinary studies in geosciences and computer science).
Patrick Kline, undergraduate research assistant
Recent funded projects
(1) "GIS-based approach for assessing the ecological impacts of potential human-induced alternations on aquatic ecosystems.” 2001-2004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Wetland Development Program).
(2) “Ecological trend assessment using spatial decision support GIS.” 2001 - 2004; additional funds will be awarded annually for 2002-03 and 2003-04. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Regional Geographic Initiative Program).
(3) “A prototype GIS database for the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit Review Application.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Special Research Program). Completed in May 2002.
Recent collaborative projects
(1) GIS-based approach for assessing the conservation status of genetic diversity (with Dr. Paul Leberg, University of Louisiana)
(2) Remote sensing studies of climate and vegetation changes in China (with Dr. J. Y. Fang's group, Peking University, China).
Recent publications (since 2000)
(1) Piao, S., J. Fang, Q. Guo, M. Henderson, and W. Ji. Annual Trends of Seasonal NDVI in Relation to Climate in China from 1982 to 1999. Journal of Geophysical Research (accepted).
(2) Zhao, S., J. Fang, W. Ji, and Z. Tang. Lake Restoration from Impoldering: Impact of Land Conversion on Riparian Landscape in Honghu Lake Area, Central Yangtze. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Elsevier (in press).
(3) Ji.W. and R. Wahab. 2002. A Prototype GIS Database for the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit Review Applications. Final project report, submitted to U.S.EPA. 67 p.
(4) Ji, W. and R. Li. Marine and Coastal GIS: Science or Technology Driven? [The Guest Editorial for the Special Issue of Marine and Coastal GIS of Marine Geodesy, Taylor & Francis; it will be published in Marine Geodesy 26 (1-2), 2003.]
(5) Ji, W. (guest editor) and R. Li (guest associate editor). 4th Special Issue of Marine and Coastal GIS of Marine Geodesy, Taylor & Francis, an international journal for marine and coastal surveys, mapping, and remote sensing. [It will be published in 26 (1-2), 2003]
(6) Ji, W., R. A. Wahab, and J. Ma. A Decision Support GIS for the Clean Water Act Permit Review Analysis. In Proceedings of the International Environmental Modeling and Software Society Conference 2002, Lugano, Swiss. June 24-27, 2002.
(7) Ji, W. and P. Leberg. 2002. A GIS-based Approach for Assessing the Regional Conservation Status of Genetic Diversity--- An Example from the Southern Appalachians. Environmental Management, Elsevier. Vol. 29:4, 531-544.
(8) Ji, W. and K. Underhill. Remote Sensing Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Change as Indicator of Urban Sprawl in Kansas City Area. In Proceedings of Annual Conference of American Society for Photogrammetry Engineering and Remote Sensing, St. Louis, Missouri, April 2001.
(9) Fang, J., S. Piao, Z. Tang, C. Peng, and W. Ji. 2001. Interannual Variability in Net Primary Production and Precipitation. Science, Vol. 293, online version. (The study used a remote sensing approach).
(10) Ji, W. and C. Jeske. 2000. Spatial Modeling of the Geographic Distribution of Wildlife Populations --- a Case Study in the Lower Mississippi River Region. Ecological Modeling 132 (2000) 95-104, Elsevier.
Recent conference presentations (abstracts)
(1) 2002. Ji, W., R. Wahab, and J. Ma. A GIS Approach for the Clean Water Act Permitting across Spatial Scales. Presented and in Proceedings of the US-International Association for Landscape Ecology 17th Annual Symposium, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 23-27, 2002.
(2) 2002. Ji, W., K. Underhill, and R. Wahab. An Across-Scale Spatial Analysis of Land Cover Change in the Metropolitan Kansas City. Presented and in Proceedings of the US International Association for Landscape Ecology 17th Annual Symposium, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 23-27, 2002.
(3) 2002. Xiao, H. and W. Ji. Characterizing Landscapes to Assess the Pollution Potential of Non-point Source Mining Wastes. Presented and in Proceedings of the US-International Association for Landscape Ecology 17th Annual Symposium, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 23-27, 2002.
(4) 2002. Ji W., R. Wahab, and J. Ma. Data Layers for Section 404 Permit Review Using GIS-based Decision Tools. US-EPA Regional Wetlands and Water Resources Meeting: Navigating the New Waterscape, Kansas City, Missouri, April 2-4, 2002.
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