Waveform LiDAR concepts and applications for potential vegetation phenology monitoring and modeling: a comprehensive review

Title
Waveform LiDAR concepts and applications for potential vegetation phenology monitoring and modeling: a comprehensive review

Abstract
Researchers continually demonstrated through published literature how LiDAR could create unparalleled measurements of ecosystem structure and forest height. There are a number of studies conducted utilizing waveform LiDAR products for terrestrial monitoring, but those that deal specifically with the assessment of space-borne waveform LiDAR for monitoring and modeling of phenology is very limited. This review highlights the waveform LiDAR system and looks into satellite sensors that could link waveform LiDAR and vegetation phenology, such as the proposed NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) and the Japanese Experimental Module (JEM)-borne LiDAR sensor named MOLI (Multi-footprint Observation LIDAR and Imager). Further, this work examines the richness and utility of the waveform returns and proposes a spline-function-derived model that could be exploited for estimating the leaf-shooting date. The new approach may be utilized for ecosystem-level phenological studies.

Download the full paper via Geo-spatial Information Science.

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Postdoctoral Researcher for Environmental Data Science and Deep Learning

The University of Alabama Department of Geological Sciences is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher in the area of environmental data science and machine learning. This postdoc will join a multi-institutional group project focused on monitoring soil erosion in rangelands across the continental US. Research focuses on developing deep learning models of rangeland ecosystem characteristics and soil erosion processes.

Applicants should have a PhD in environmental science, data science, agronomy, hydrology, environmental or agricultural engineering, or a related field. Programming experience is required. Applicants without a PhD but with significant programming experience will be considered.
The position is open immediately and funded for two years conditional on satisfactory performance. This position has the option to work on campus at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa or remotely within the United States, with travel to project meetings several times per year.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV, and up to three letters of reference to geology@geo.ua.edu.

Employer:University of Alabama

Location: Tuscaloosa, AL or remote in the United States

Salary: $55,000

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Closes: May 14, 2020

Discipline: Earth and Space Science Informatics, Hydrology, Interdisciplinary/Other

Career Level: Postdoctoral

Education Level: PhD

Job Type: Full-time

Relocation Cost: No Relocation

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PhD Position at University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Geological Sciences at University of Texas at San Antonio (under ESE PhD Program) invites applications for a PhD Assistantship Position for the fall of 2020 (or Jan 2021), in the field of Soil Chemistry and Physics. For details of this advertisement, please visit our website at http://www.utsa.edu/geosci/faculty/DattaLab/.

Employe: University of Texas at San Antonio

Location: University of Texas at San Antonio

Posted: Apr 27, 2020

Closes: May 27, 2020

Ref: PhD in Soil Chemistry/Physics

Discipline: Biogeosciences, Geochemistry, GeoHealth, Hydrology, Interdisciplinary/Other

Career Level: Student / Graduate

Education Level: Masters

Relocation Cost: No Relocation

 

Applications are invited for a 3 year-paid fulltime PhD student at the Department of Geological Sciences at University of Texas at San Antonio (under College of Engineering’s Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program: Website: https://graduateschool.utsa.edu/programs/environmental-science-and-engineering-ph.d/index.html). 

 

The successful candidate will explore soil-water interactions, measuring soil nutrients in field, deploying graphene based sensors in field among other responsibilities. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary setting at UTSA, under Dr Saugata Datta and could collaborate with five other research groups in this international project: Prof. Suprem Das’s group at Kansas State University, Prof. Biswajit Ray’s group at University of Alabama at Huntsville, Prof. Adrien Chauvet’s group at University of Sheffield in UK, Prof. Natalia Martsinovich at University of Sheffield in UK, and Prof. Duncan Cameron at University of Sheffield in UK. 

 

It is critically important that the candidate has a strong leadership and activecommunication qualities to conduct the research by designing and critically analyzing the results and advocating for achieving the project goals. The candidate should also have excellent writing skills of technical reports and journal papers. An MSc in geological sciences/earth sciences, or relevant masters in engineering fieldsonrelevant topic(s)and/or additional experiences is necessary. 

 

The award of this funding is through a recently funded NSF proposal: “SitS NSF-UKRI: Real-time and Continuous Monitoring of Phosphates in the Soil with Graphene-Based Printed Sensor Arrays”. This award was made through the "Signals in the Soil (SitS)" solicitation, a collaborative partnership between the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) and the following United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils: 1) The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), 2) the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), 3) the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). 

 

Application Materials: 

If interested and to follow up on the details of this project and future roles of the PhD student, please send your primary interest letter or email, with one page research philosophy, and detailed curriculum vitae to Prof. Saugata Datta, at UTSA at saugata.datta@utsa.edu. After relevant discussion, you are welcome to apply through the above link.

 

Questions about this position may be directed to Dr Saugata Datta at saugata.datta@utsa.edu, or (210) 458 4752. 

 
UTSA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and actively seeks diversity among its employees.

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Full Professor Tenured Position in Conservation Science at University of California, Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara, invites applications for a tenured position at the level of Full Professor, with an anticipated start date of November 1, 2020.  We seek a highly creative and accomplished scholar who is conducting interdisciplinary research in the area of conservation and ecological field science and who is leveraging geographical information science and technology. In particular, we are interested in candidates who have a distinguished record of active scholarly engagement and teaching and who are capable of helping to shape the vision and immediately contributing to the intellectual impact of the emerging Point Conception Institute at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve in southwest Santa Barbara county https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2017/018606/preserving-nature, The Preserve was established in 2017 by a gift from Jack and Laura Dangermond. The 24,000-acre nature reserve protects 8 miles of coastline and is managed by the Nature Conservancy, a close partner with UC Santa Barbara in conservation and research efforts.

Recognized as one of the country's top 10 public research universities, UC Santa Barbara has a distinguished faculty that includes six Nobel Laureates as well as winners of the Breakthrough Prize, the Millennium Technology Prize, the Fields Medal and the Pulitzer. With a mission of teaching, research and public service, UC Santa Barbara is helping to shape the next generation of national and international leaders in science, social science, the humanities and fine arts.

In addition to engaging in the mission of the endowed chair, responsibilities of this position will include the continuation of an actively funded research program of the highest quality, teaching at undergraduate and/or graduate levels, recruitment, supervision, and mentorship of graduate students, and participation in university service and professional activities. Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent) in a related field by the time of application. A demonstrated record of teaching and research and active funding commensurate with a tenured position is desired, as is evidence of innovative leadership. Successful candidates will have a record of collaborative research, and will be able to leverage synergies across the Division and Campus. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching and service as appropriate to the position.

Applications should be submitted electronically and must include:
• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Research
• Statement of Teaching
• 3 samples of selected publications
• Applicants will need to provide contact information for 3 references; to be contacted only if candidate is under serious consideration

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an optional Statement of Contributions to Diversity. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at UC Santa Barbara. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. The department encourages all applicants to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and service.

Submit applications electronically to: https://apptrkr.com/1867478. Applications completed by April 20, 2020 will receive priority consideration; the position will remain open until filled.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Employer: University of California Santa Barbara

Location: Santa Barbara, California

Closes: Apr 11, 2020

Discipline: Earth and Space Science Informatics, Interdisciplinary/Other

Career Level: Faculty

Education Level: PhD

Relocation Cost: No Relocation

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Postdoctoral Research Scientist on Atmospheric and Climate Physics

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York, is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to work in the area of Atmospheric and Climate Physics. The Postdoctoral research scientist will be part of an international team working to improve the calculation of radiation in models of the earth’s atmosphere. The broader project seeks to provide users tools to make trade-offs between cost and accuracy across an application-specific range of conditions; the work at Lamont will focus on providing tools to summarize or parameterize calculations made at high spectral resolution and on applying those tools to novel environments (e.g. paleo-climates or idealized experimental setups).

We seek a data scientist, applied mathematician, or atmospheric/climate scientist with experience in some combination of optimization, statistical analysis of large data volumes, and/or radiative transfer. Experience in developing open-source tools in Python or similar languages, the development of workflows on a range of computing platforms, and the ability to collaborate well with local and remote colleagues are all an advantage. The Postdoctoral Research Scientist will join the vibrant research community at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Pincus and Prof. Lorenzo Polvani. The project involves collaborations with students, postdocs, and senior scientists at five institutions in the US and Europe. Interactions with NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies are also planned.

The researcher is expected to present findings at national or international scientific conferences, to prepare publications for submission to scientific journals, and to participate in other activities related to the project including the development of open-source tools.

Appointment will be for one year with potential renewal for two additional years contingent on progress and funding. Columbia University benefits are offered with this Officer of Research appointment.

Search will remain open to a least 30 days after the ad appears and will continue until the position is filled.

Please visit our online application site at:  http://pa334.peopleadmin.com/postings/5483 for further information about this position and to submit your application, cover letter, CV, and list of three references.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is committed to diversity.

Employe: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University

Locatio: Palisades, New York

Close: Apr 12, 2020

Ref:00001580

Discipline: Atmospheric Sciences

Career Level: Postdoctoral

Education Level:PhD

Job Type: Full-time

Relocation Cost:Negotiable

Sector Type:Academia

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Bluestone Investment Partners Announces Investment in Continental Mapping Consultants, LLC

MCLEAN, Va., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluestone Investment Partners, LLC ("Bluestone"), a McLean, Virginia-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the completion of an investment in Continental Mapping Consultants, LLC ("Continental Mapping" or the "Company"). Based in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Continental Mapping is a rapidly growing geospatial data analytics and mapping solutions provider to Defense, intelligence, federal and state government agencies, and commercial customers. The Company combines remote sensing technologies, proprietary technology, automation tools, commercial cloud services, and artificial intelligence capabilities to deliver products and solutions to its clients.

John Allen, co-founder and Managing Partner of Bluestone said, "We are excited about our partnership with Continental Mapping. The Company has a 20-year track record of successful delivery of complicated solutions, a great leadership team, a talented and technically differentiated workforce, and attractive clients. We look forward to helping the Company accelerate its growth and expand its capabilities."

"Our management team and 170 employees are energized about the next phase of growth for Continental Mapping. We look forward to leveraging the experience of Bluestone's principals to build our business through organic expansion and acquisitions," said Dave Hart, Chief Executive Officer of Continental Mapping.

Founded in 1999 by Chris Gross, President, and Dave Hart, Chief Executive Officer, Continental Mapping initially provided photogrammetric solutions to local clients in Wisconsin. Through investment in people, technologies, and capabilities, the Company grew to support operations for multiple government and commercial clients around the world. Today, the company maintains over 125 active production improvement tools, utilizes advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, and employs a highly credentialed employee base in Sun Prairie, St. Louis, MO, San Antonio, TX, and Northern Virginia.

Holland and Knight LLP acted as Bluestone's legal adviser in the transaction. Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP provided quality of earnings services for Bluestone. Morrison and Foerster LLP served as legal adviser to Continental Mapping. KippsDeSanto & Co. served as the investment banking adviser to Continental Mapping. Senior financing for the transaction was provided by EagleBank.

About Bluestone Investment Partners
Bluestone is a private equity firm investing exclusively in lower middle-market companies primarily in the defense and government services arena. Bluestone's principals have a long and successful track record owning, operating, investing in, and advising companies in the defense and government services sector.  Additionally, many of Bluestone's investors are industry luminaries who have successfully built, grown, and sold businesses to leading strategic buyers and private equity investors in the sector. Bluestone aims to leverage the industry expertise of its partners and investors to support both organic and acquisition-oriented growth strategies. Few private equity firms offer the combination of industry-focused intellectual and investment capital that Bluestone has assembled.
www.bluestoneinv.com.

About Continental Mapping Consultants, LLC
Established in 1999, Continental Mapping provides geospatial analytics to intelligence community, defense, federal government, state agencies, and commercial clients. The Company has provided products and solutions involving over 180 countries and on all seven continents. The Company was recently recognized for the second year in a row by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's fastest growing companies. The Company is headquartered in Sun Prairie (Madison area), Wisconsin. www.continentalmapping.com

SOURCE Bluestone Investment Partners

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