Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
A successful ecologist is adept at incorporating methods and resources from many fields of study into their own research questions. Remotely sensed data are becoming an increasingly common resource in ecology because of the ability to use imagery to ask questions at the landscape scale.
Below you will find links to learning modules that provide up-to-date and easily accessible lessons in remote sensing using Google Earth Engine that were developed by researchers in the
Evangelista Lab
specifically for ecologists in the GDPE community. Each HTML webpage will introduce the topics to be covered, review background information on the utilized concepts, and provide a demonstration of how to integrate remote sensing, ecology, and Google Earth Engine tools. The goal of these modules is to provide some basic understanding of remote sensing principles with ecological applications using the Google Earth Engine platform.
These modules cover some of the core concepts in remote sensing but should not be considered a full introduction to remote sensing. CSU offers more comprehensive and structured courses on this material (i.e. NR 503 & 504). In addition, while these 10 modules will cover much of the functionality and capabilities of Google Earth Engine, there remains a wealth of knowledge and expanded tutorial data on the official user guide
here
. It is highly recommended to bookmark and utilize this resource to help answer technical questions outside the scope of the modules.
Finally, discussion and troubleshooting are encouraged among peers and colleagues on the official GDPE Google Earth Engine Google Group forum.
Click here
to request access.
Module 1: Introduction to Google Earth Engine
Get acquainted with the user interface and visualize image differences before and after the High Park Fire.
Module 2: Exploring Datasets
Briefly overview numerous spatial datasets and associated metadata using the MODIS Snow Cover dataset.
Module 3: Raster Interpretation and Visualization
Use visualization methods to interpret Landsat and NLCD data over Montreal and Washington state.
Module 4: Moving Data In and Out of Google Earth Engine
Integrate daily weather data with GPS locations from a cougar to analyze how weather affects the cat’s movement.
Module 5: Raster Pre-Processing
Review dataset processing levels and perform cloudmasking over Quetico Provincial Park in southwest Ontario, Canada.
Module 6: Spectral Indices
Use crop data to identify remote sensing indices that can highlight irrigated lands in arid regions.
Module 7: Image Classification
Generate predictions of aspen presence and absence in western Colorado using the randomForest algorithm and Landsat data.
Module 8: Multi-temporal Analysis
Conduct a time series analysis to determine the effect of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill on algal productivity in the Gulf of Mexico.
Module 9: Ocular Sampling
Use remote sensing data to generate a set of potential sampling sites for a study on Elk herbivory.
Module 10: GUI Development
Build a graphical user interface that lets users view changes in vegetation over time for three major river deltas across the world.
Any use of trade, products, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by Colorado State University or any other collaborating individuals or agency. These modules were created for educational purposes and the data presented in these lessons may be incomplete or inaccurate.
The purpose of a degree committee is to make available to the student a broad range of knowledge and expertise. The committee provides general advising to the student and assists in planning the major elements of the academic program. The committee also evaluates student progress throughout the graduate program. The committee may provide assessments at various stages and it administers the PhD preliminary and MS/PhD final examinations. The committee is not responsible for reminding students of published deadlines, nor for monitoring procedural details. The student needs to work with GDPE and their advisor and monitor Graduate School deadlines.
Students should begin discussing the formation of their graduate committee as early as possible. Formal selection of the graduate committee must occur before the student registers for their fourth regular semester, or the student will be prevented from registering by the Graduate School.
Along with the GDPE and advisor guidance, the following are specifically required of GDPE graduate Committees:
The primary advisor must be a member of the GDPE advising faculty and have advising privileges in a CSU academic department. Criteria for advising eligibility may vary among departments.
Co-advisors must also be GDPE faculty members.
All members of the committee must maintain a current appointment with CSU in order to serve as a voting member of the committee. Scientists without an appointment at CSU may contribute to a committee but are not allowed to be voting members.
The GDPE Director serves as an ex officio member of all graduate committees.
Graduate committees for MS students in GDPE consist of at least three members, two of whom must be on the GDPE faculty. Graduate committees of PhD students will have at least one additional GDPE faculty member, making a total of four faculty members on a PhD committee.
The outside committee person may or may not be a member of the GDPE faculty but must be from outside the department of the major advisor. The outside committee member represents the Graduate School, ensuring that CSU’s expectations are met and that the student’s needs are being met by GDPE. For these reasons, the outside member may not hold an affiliate or temporary appointment only. If the primary advisor holds a joint appointment in two departments, the outside member must represent a third department.
The student, major advisor, and other committee members collaborate to develop a program of study (logistically, this entails agreeing upon coursework and submitting a GS6 form) and together are responsible for monitoring the progress toward completion. Each graduate committee is also responsible for determining whether satisfactory progress is being made toward completion of the degree according to CSU and GDPE requirements.
GDPE students often would like scientists without a CSU appointment to be on their committees. Students should work with their advisor to gain affiliate status for the scientist in their advising department. Once the scientist has affiliate status in an advising department, they may apply for GDPE faculty affiliate status (
http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/faculty-affiliation.aspx
), which will allow them to serve on committees. Such applications must be approved by the GDPE Executive Committee, which meets approximately monthly during the academic year.
If you have questions about committee composition, contact the GDPE Assistant Director or the advisor.
