Remote Sensing, Big Data, and GeoAI: Exploring Applications with Geospatial Insights

Erin Bunting, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University (MSU) in the department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences. Additionally, she serves as the Director at Remote Sensing and GIS Research and Outreach services, a unique research group within the university. With a deep passion for geospatial technologies, Erin's research interests revolve around remote sensing, GIS, modelling, environmental management, and climate change/variability. Her extensive research experience spans Southern Africa, the Southwestern United States, South America, the Southeastern USA, and her home state of Michigan. Erin's role as the Director at RS&GIS involves overseeing a dynamic research group that operates like a consulting firm embedded within academia. This soft money research group engages in various projects and collaborations, providing expert advice and innovative solutions related to remote sensing and GIS applications.

Jane Southworth is Full Professor and current Department Chair at the University of Florida, Department of Geography. Professor Southworth’s research interests are based on the study of social-ecological systems within the field of Land Change Science, Geospatial Science and GeoAI. Her particular foci are: remote sensing of vegetation dynamics with a focus on time-series and AI approaches to remotely sensed analyses and linkages with climatic drivers; linking changes in land use and land cover change to their respective drivers with a focus on land change modeling; the implications of scale and scaling in remote sensing and modeling analyses; addressing linkages and drivers of change as they relate to people and parks; and modeling of the impacts of climate change and changing climate variability on human-environment systems and vegetation dynamics. Since her arrival at UF in 2002, Dr. Southworth has been part of over $18 million in funded interdisciplinary research projects, published 2 books, over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, and has successfully advised 24 PhD and 8 Masters students, with another 8 graduate students currently in progress.

Dr. Cerian Gibbes is an Associate Professor of Geography & Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS). Her work examines the social and ecological impacts of landscape change with a particular interest in understanding land change in spaces where agriculture and conservation intermingle. Dr. Gibbes’ research uses multi-scalar and mixed methods approaches with a focus on remote sensing and geospatial technologies. Her work is primarily situated in southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. She is a University of Colorado Presidential Teaching Scholar (PTSP). The PTSP honors faculty throughout the University of Colorado system who excel in both scholarship and teaching. Dr. Gibbes' contributions extend beyond academia. She utilizes a highly collaborative approach in which she actively engages with local communities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to foster sustainable practices in environmental management.

Dr. Hannah V. Herrero is a faculty member in the Department of Geography & Sustainability at the University of Tennessee. Her research interests are based on the study of human-environment interactions within the field of Land Change Science through the use of remote sensing and GeoAI technologies. All of her research is undertaken with highly interdisciplinary research teams, which involve both physical and social scientists. Within such interdisciplinary teams, her particular strengths lie in the remote sensing of vegetation dynamics and linkages to climate; land use and land cover change; people and parks; and the implications of scale and scaling in remote sensing and modeling analyses. Her work of understanding environmental change has a particular concentration on conservation of protected areas, as well as savanna science. While her work is applicable globally, she has a strong regional focus on southern Africa.