The Earth’s land areas and terrestrial ecosystems provide services and habitat for humans and terrestrial organisms alike. Unfortunately, in an era of climate change and rapid population expansion, the Earth’s land systems are increasingly under pressure and are changing rapidly. As a result, timely and accurate information from Earth Observations related to the nature, magnitude, and scope of change in global land cover and terrestrial ecosystems is critical. In support of this need, scientists at the Center for Remote Sensing are engaged in a wide variety of projects that range from basic algorithm development to real-time monitoring of ecosystem change.
Projects related to Atmosphere/Forest Interactions
Tracking Carbon Emissions and Removals by Time Series Analysis of the Land Surface: Prototype Application in Tropical MRV Systems Compliant with IPCC Tier 3 (NASA),
more information PI: P. Olofsson
Projects related to Land Use/Land Cover
A Moderate Spatial Resolution Data Record of 21st Century Global Land Cover, Land Use, and Land Cover Change (NASA, MEaSURE),
more information,
project website PI: M. Friedl; Co-I: C. Woodcock, P. Olofsson, T. Loveland
Dynamics of Global Rangelands: Modeling Vulnerabilities and Monitoring Impacts from Humans and Climate Change (NASA) PI: M. Friedl
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship to Radost Stanimirova Time-Series Measurements of Biomass Change from InSAR (TanDEM-X), MODIS, and LiDAR Observations (NASA) Co-I: A. Baccini
Comprehensive analysis of thirty years of land change in Georgia: patterns, carbon dynamics and drivers (NASA), more information PI: P. Olofsson
Projects related to Forest Change
Look-Up-Table Based Approach for the Estimation of Global Leaf Area Index and Fraction of Absorbed PAR from MISR Data (NASA/JPL)
PI: Y. Knyazikhin
Vegetation Hot Spot Signatures from Synergy of EPIC-DSCOVR and EOS/NPP Sensors to Monitor Changes and Biophysical Processes of Global Forests (NASA), BU News PI: R. Myneni; Co-I: Y. Knyazikhin
Supporting continuous monitoring and sample-based estimation of land change and forest degradation in West Africa (NASA SERVIR Applied Science Team) PI: P. Olofsson, more information
A pantropical monitoring system of carbon emission and removals from deforestation, forest degradation and forest recovery (NASA), more information, BU News PI: P. Olofsson
Projects related to Phenology (Greening)
An Operational Multisource Land Surface Phenology Product from Landsat and Sentinel 2 (NASA),
more information PI: M. Friedl; Co-I: J. Gray
Improved Understanding of Feedbacks between Ecosystem Phenology and the Weather‐Environment Nexus at Local‐to‐Continental Scales (NSF), more information PI: A. Richardson; Co-I: M. Friedl, T. Ault, S. Frolking
Projects related to Ecosystem/Human Health
New Opportunities Using the Landsat Temporal Domain: Monitoring Ecosystem Health, Condition and Use (USGS Landsat Science Team),
more information PI: C.E. Woodcock; Co-I: M. Friedl, P. Olofsson
Ecological Forecasts for Risk Management; Univ of Arizona (USGSprime) Co-I: V. Pasquarella
Building Collapse Detection Using Satellite Imagery After Earthquake Events: Collaborative Research with Tufts University and Boston University (USGS) Co-I: M. Koch
Projects involving Remote Sensing in Developing Countries
Research on using earth observation and data analysis tools in developing countries; Cooperative Agreement (USGS)
PI: P. Olofsson
Projects about Satellite/Sensor Data Calibration
Maintenance and Evaluation of Collection 6 Terra and Aqua MODIS LAI/FPAR Products (NASA) PI: R. Myneni; Co-I: Y. Knyazikhin
DSCOVR EPPIC VESDR product: algorithm refinement, validation and scientific exploration (NASA), BU News PI: Y. Knyazikhin
