Currently, Jonathan and Dr. Ellis are developing a system for rapid remote sensing of vegetation structure using computer vision technologies, similar to that used in the web-app Photosynth and as published under the name Bundler by Dr. Noah Snavely. The goal of this research is two-fold. The initial objective is to develop and vet a new system of remote sensing that makes use of computer vision technology using low-cost digital photos. Jonathan is currently spending most of his time working towards this goal. The long-term objective is to use this system to answer questions about human-environment interactions at the local scale of individual plots and human management of the landscape. Check out our 3D landscapes page, here, to see some of the reconstructed 3D landscape scenes we are working with. We think that such tools and techniques will be a useful addition to existing technologies in our increasingly carbon-conscious world as local and national land managers are charged with accounting of local sources and sinks of carbon. Here is a recent blog post about the state-of-the-art in remote sensing as related to carbon accounting and how we think our research ties in with that larger goal.
Jonathan is in his second year as a Ph.D. student in the UMBC Geography and Environmental Systems Department. He works in Dr. Erle C. Ellis' Anthropogenic Landscape Ecology lab and is developing his research interests in exploring the vegetation structure and land use/land cover patterns associated with human habitations/settlements. Jonathan is currently supported as an NSF IGERT Trainee through the Water in the Urban Environment IGERT implemented by CUERE. Jonathan received a B.S. in Geography and Environmental Systems with a certificate of GIS from UMBC in 2003. During that time he was a research assistant with Dr. Ellis on an NSF funded Long-Term Change project in China's village landscapes. Jonathan worked with GIS and remotely sensed imagery to help develop land use/land cover classifications at regional and local scales and managed spatial datasets while creating fine-scale ecotope maps. He also received an REU grant for 10 weeks of field work at study sites across China in the summer of 2003. After graduating, Jonathan spread his wings and explored the natural and professional world a bit. He spent “a few” months hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, worked for an architect in Washington D.C. for a few years, and was the primary GIS analyst at Philmont Scout Ranch in north-east New Mexico for over a year. Jonathan's current research interests are developing out of his background and experience with GIS, remote sensing and ecological analysis of human systems as he studies the disciplines of ecology, hydrology, climatology, forestry, and economics.
