Courses I Currently Teach
SSCI 265: The Water Planet
An exploration of earth's water, ranging from water properties, chemistry, and pollution, to groundwater dynamics, watershed processes, and oceanic-atmospheric circulation. Implications for past and future societies. Lecture and laboratory.
SSCI 585: Geospatial Technology Project Management
Concepts, principles and use of project management tool and the issues encountered in running GIS projects.
SSCI 587: Spatial Data Acquisition
Role of global positioning systems, maps, geocoding, and other kinds of sensors as geospatial data sources. Includes field data acquisition excursion on Catalina Island.
SSCI 579: Geospatial Intelligence Tradecraft
Typical geospatial intelligence tasks and their use in military operations, national and homeland security, international relief work and disaster management.
Graduates/Student Accomplishments
Post-Doctoral Fellows & Visiting Scholars Directed
2012-2015 Dr. KyoHyouk Kim, Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2011-2012 Dr. Yumin Chen, Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (Visiting Scholar, Center for Remote Sensing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China)
2007-2008 Dr. Jingfen Sheng, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2006-2007 Dr. Zaria Tatalovich, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2004-2005 Dr. Rania Bou Kheir, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California (Visiting Fulbright Scholar; Research Scientist, National Center for Remote Sensing, Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut, Lebanon)
1992-1993 Dr. Victor Wu, Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Dissertations & Theses Directed
Colin Mattison, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Does the Bay Area have an Urban Center?
Christian Joyner, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Simulating the Effects of Current Precipitation Trends on the Hydrological Network of Reservoirs in the Weber River Watershed
Annabel Lee Enriquez, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: A Collaborative Web-based Application for Documenting Historic Places in an Urban Context: The French Colonial Architecture in Hanoi
Chad Johnson, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Site Location Suitability Analysis for a Smartgrid Network
Reina Kahn, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Geospatial Analysis of Unintended Casualties during Combat Training, Fort Hunter, Liggett, California
Kathy Andrade, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Quantifying the Relationships Between Urban Forests and Hispanic Populations in Los Angeles County
Eric Tsay, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Quantifying Affordable Housing Dynamics in Los Angeles County
Kaveh Shahabi, Ph.D. Student, Computer Science, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Scalable Evacuation Routing in Dynamic Urban Environments
Nathan Nowak, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis title: Passive Acoustic Monitoring and Remote Sensing of Northeast Pacific Sperm Whale Habitats within the Central Gulf of Alaska
Jason Vignochi, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis title: At-Risk Populations: Modeling the Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in Colorado Using Biophysical and Socio-Economic Factors
Bennett Gaumitz, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: A Practical Map for Use in Precision Agriculture
Jenni Dorsey-Spitz, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Spatio-temporal Pattern Analysis: Nitrate Contamination on Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
Robyn Gray, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Evaluating Interpolation Methods to Create Subsurface Geology Raster Layers
Charles Hanley, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Using Object-based Extraction for Evaluating Persistent Vegetation Patterns in Very High Resolution Aerial Imagery to Discover Dormant or Relict Vernal Pools on the Historic Firing Ranges of Fort Ord, California
Outhong Praseuth-Gwilt, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: TBD
Joanne Seo, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Nikole Offutt, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Identifying Non-point Agricultural Source Pollution Sites for Mitigation to Improve Water Quality
Evan Lue, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Defining the Geospatial Needs of an Ubiquitous Disaster Relief Organization
Jennifer Johnson, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Firing Ranges and Social Capital: Spatial Analysis of Social Capital in Houston, Texas
Andrew Isner, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Habitat Suitability Modeling of Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) in Gila National Forest, New Mexico
Trinka Gillis, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Use of Remotely Sensed Imagery to Map Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora Ramorum) in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Joshua Harrell, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: An Evaluation of Soil Sampling Methods in Support of Precision Agriculture in Northeastern North Carolina
Lisa Sedano, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Consuming Landscape, Consuming Machine: State, Capital, and Outdoor Advertising in Los Angeles
Amanda Laur, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Modeling the Spatio-Temporal Variability of Solar Radiation on Buildings: A Case Study of Lewis Hall
Amanda Gray, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Spatial Delineation of Market Areas: A Proposed Approach
Trang VoPham, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Integrating Landsat and California Pesticide Exposure Estimation at Aggregated Spatial Scales: Accuracy Assessment of Rurality
Parisa Ghaemi, Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Generalized Optimal Location Planning
Stephen Gervais, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Out-of-School Suspensions by Home Neighborhood: A Spatial Analysis of Student Suspensions in the San Bernardino City Unified School District
Jeffry Harrison, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Onshore Wind Power Systems (ONSWPS): A GIS-Based Tool for Preliminary Site-Suitability Analysis
Holly MacGillivray, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Salt and Nutrient Contamination in Los Angeles County's Groundwater Basins
Su Jin Lee, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Effects of Home Modifications and Municipal Policies on Green Cover in Los Angeles County
Kevin Kelly, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Different Geographic Representations of Middle America
Thao Nyugen, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Uncertainty in Geomorphometry
Teri L Mooney, M.S., Geographic Information Science and Technology, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Predicting Hydromantes Shastae Occurrences in Shasta County, California
Daniel W Goldberg, Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Spatial Approaches to Reducing Error in Geocoded Data
Christina Q Li, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Neighborhood Greenspace's Impact on Residential Property Values: Assessing the Role of Spatial Effects
Jingfen Sheng, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Evaluating Hydroclimatic Systems across Large Metropolitan Regions
Chona E Sister, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Park and Open Space Resources in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Region: Who Gets What, Where?
Zaria Tatalovich, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Spatio-Temporal Modeling of Risk
Graeme Aggett, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Advanced Geospatial Technologies Applied to Gravel Bed River Mapping and Modeling
Yongxin X Deng, Ph.D., Geography, University of Southern California
Dissertation Title: Evaluating Input Data for DEM-based Environmental Analysis and Classification
Christine S Lam, M.S., Geography, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Comparison of Flow Routing Algorithms Used in Geographic Information Systems
Julie R Eurek, M.S., Geography, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Modeling Recreational Boat Traffic on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Yan Xu, M.A., Geography, University of Southern California
Thesis Title: Spatial Predictions of Population Growth and Habitat Change in the Santa Monica Mountain Area, California
Linda E Gillett, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: The Use of NDVI to Characterize Drought in the Northern Great Plains, 1988-1993
Ute Langner, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: GIS-based Crop Yield and Soil Productivity Modeling
Jonathan M Wheatley, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Using Terrain Attributes to Assist Remote Sensing Vegetation Mapping of Northern
Sara T Stillman, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: A Comparison of Three Automated Precipitation Simulation Models: ANUSPLIN, MTCLIM-3D, and PRISM
Philip L Repetto, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation: Estimation at the Landscape Scale Using GIS
Damian J Spangrud, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Sensitivity of Selected Soil and Terrain Attributes to Variations in the Number and Pattern of Input Data
Douglas L Wittren, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: A Viewshed Information System for Mountain Resort Areas
Wendi A Urie, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Environmental Factors Influencing Recreational Trail Condition
Janelle K Jersey, M.S., Soil Science, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Assessing the Vegetation and Hydrologic Characteristics of a Semi-arid Environment Using Geographic Information Systems and Terrain-based Models (Co-Advisor with J.S. Jacobsen)
Joseph P Seney, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Erosional Impact of Hikers, Horses, Off-Road Bicycles, and Motorcycles on Mountain Trails
John C Pings, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Spatial Variability of Soil Redistribution Processes in a Small Agricultural Watershed
Kristen E S Gerhart, M.S., Geography, Montana State University
Thesis Title: Evaluating the Performance of the Soil Productivity Index Model in Cascade County, Montana
John H Ruth, MS, Geology, Montana State University
Thesis Title: An Assessment of Streambank Erosion along the North Fork Flathead River