Key contributions to GIScience and Geography (June 16, 2015)

Transcription

1 Key contributions to GIScience and Geography (June 16, 2015) Scholarship and Creative Accomplishments I am a broadly trained geographer with substantive interests in geographical information techniques. In particular, my research concentrates on 1) spatial data interoperability and Geospatial Semantic Web, which are important research topics/areas on Web GIS or GIS Cyberinfrastructure (CyberGIS), 2) development of Markov chain geostatistics, and 3) applications of spatial statistics and Web GIS/CyberGIS techniques in natural resource and environmental evaluation and mapping (e.g. land use/cover studies, environmental and soil predictive mapping). 1) Spatial data interoperability and Geospatial Semantic Web: Since finishing my PhD, much of my work has focused on one of the most important issues relating to GIS Cyberinfrasttucture, that is how to use highly heterogeneous spatial data for environmental modeling and decision making. In the past, many spatial databases have been developed by different programs and applications, but spatial data acquisition and sharing are still a big problem because no interoperability exists among the different databases. To achieve the goal of providing interoperable spatial data over the Internet for different applications, I and my collaborates (Drs. Zhao and Li) have been developing algorithms and prototypes towards implementing interoperable and intelligent GIS Cyberinfrastructure, which allows scientific research, particularly interdisciplinary research, to access a variety of different sources and resolutions of spatial data and processing tools over the Internet. I have published a number of important works in this area over many years (Zhang et al. 2003; Peng and Zhang 2004; Zhang et al. 2005; 2007; 2010 a, b, c) and have continued to make contributions right up to the present (Zhang et al 2015 a, b). These particular papers are very important because they make novel contributions in terms of algorithms/techniques for seamless spatial data integration, sharing, and exchange. These studies advance the state of art of geospatial information research by investigating how to allow the spatial data users directly locate, access, and make use of heterogeneous geospatial data sets in an open and distributed system. The research results benefit not only researchers in this field but also the public or other decision-makers. See our website for more information about our research on GIS Cyberinfrastructure ( ) I received NSF support from 2006 to 2008 for the development of a Geospatial Semantic Web framework to search, access, integrate, and visualize geographic information at the feature level for transportation network data. Currently, I am investigating several important issues faced by Geospatial Semantic Web. For example, I study how to retrieve the needed spatial information efficiently from geospatial knowledge bases with complex topological relationships in a Geospatial Semantic Web. For another example, I and my collaborators recently implemented a volunteered geographic information (VGI) system (voluntarily provided crowd sourcing spatial data) for emergency response and disaster management based on state-of-the-art Geospatial Semantic Web technologies. So far I have published more than 20 journal articles and book chapters on this topic I play a leading role in the research and I am the leading author for most of these articles. Most of these articles were published in top journals in GIS. For example, International Journal of

2 Geographical Information Science (2013 Impact Factor: 1.479), International Journal of Digital Earth (2013 Impact Factor: 2.212), GIScience & Remote Sensing (2013 Impact Factor 1.480), International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation (5-Year Impact Factor 2.809), Journal of Geographical Systems (2013 Impact Factor: 1.341). Although Cartography and Geographic Information Science (Impact Factor: 0.5) and Journal of Spatial Science (Impact Factor: 0.412) have relative low Impact Factors, they are well-recognized journals in GIScience community. In addition to my articles, my most recent work in this area is the co-authored monograph titled Geospatial Semantic Web (I am the first author, Dr Zhao and Dr. Li are coauthors) will be published in this June by Springer (have submitted the checked proof on May 19, 2015). This book builds on my previous work on Geospatial Semantic Web and summarizes my research on Web GIS or CyberGIS in the past 15 years. This book introduces the key concepts, theories, technologies, and applications of Geospatial Semantic Web, which is an emerging field and a well-recognized and important research area of GIS and computer science. This book also gives the relevant coding and tool examples to demonstrate how to prototype real-world applications of Geospatial Semantic Web. This book covers key issues related to Geospatial Semantic Web: 1) geospatial web services for spatial data interoperability; 2) geospatial ontology for semantic interoperability; 3) ontology creation, sharing, and integration; 4) querying knowledge and information from heterogeneous data sources; 5) Geospatial Semantic Web applications; 6) VGI (Volunteered Geographic Information) and Geospatial Semantic Web; 7) challenge issues of Geospatial Semantic Web. This book is the first book that systematically introduces the concepts and technologies of Geospatial Semantic Web, and is expected to make important contribution to this field in literature. This book is expected to expand my horizons and make a larger impact on the Web GIS or CyberGIS field. 2) Development of Markov chain geostatistics: My collaborator Dr. Li and I have been developing a new, nonlinear geostatistical approach called Markov chain geostatistics (i.e., the Markov chain random field (MCRF) approach), mainly for simulating categorical spatial variables, since This multi-dimensional Markov chain approach overcomes the limitations of the existing one dimensional Markov chain models such as only dealing with first-order processes, the incapability of accommodating higher-order effects, the lack of spatial dependence in one-step transition probability matrices, and the inability of incorporating spatial heterogeneity. Although Dr. Li led this research, my attendance and support during last more than one decade (from beginning to now) are indispensable. In our long-term exploration in effectively extending Markov chains to multi-dimensions for conditional simulation, we solved a series of critical issues in the last more than 10 years that prevented Markov chains from becoming a practical spatial statistics. A theoretical framework and a set of concepts with partial implementation for a nonlinear spatial statistics have been proposed. Preliminary simulation technology for simulating categorical spatial variables has been developed. So far we have developed multiple algorithms for MCRF simulation/cosimulation and two methods for joint modeling of experimental transiograms. For expanding the application scope of the Markov chain geostatistics, there are still many issues to tackle. So far we have applied the MCRF technology to predictive mapping and uncertainty analysis of soil classes and land cover classification. Further development will focus on expanding its application scope and solving other related issues, such as spatiotemporal simulation, three-dimensional simulation, and how to deal with multiple-point statistics. Prospectively, the MCRF approach may evolve toward a

3 versatile geostatistics with apparent advantages over other existing approaches for dealing with categorical variables. The Markov chain geostatistics represents a series of important and unique scientific progresses both in spatial statistical theory and application (see our website for the Markov chain geostatistics - Recently I received NSF support for two projects (one as PI and one as Co-PI), which include the task to develop a MCRF-based land use land cover change model for studying interaction between land use and climate prediction in West Africa, and interaction among land use change, economics, public policy, and invasive plants in Long Island Sound Watersheds. Since 2004, we have published 20 peer-reviewed journal papers on this topic. Most of these articles were published in top journals in GIS, applied statistics, soil science and environmental sciences. For example, Mathematical Geosciences ( year Impact Factor 1.753), Soil Science Society of America Journal (2013 Impact Factor: 2.0), European Journal of Soil Science (2013 Impact Factor: 2.387), IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing ( year Impact Factor: 3.39); Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment (2013 Impact Factor: 2.673); Soil Use and Management (2013 Impact Factor: 1.968); Environmental and Ecological Statistics (2013 Impact Factor: 0.972); Although Transactions in GIS does not have a high Impact Factor (1.0), it is a well-recognized journal in GIS community. The most recent work includes Li and Zhang (2011), Li and Zhang et al. (2012), Li and Zhang et al. (2013), and Li and Zhang et al. (2015). 3) Applications of spatial statistics and CyberGIS techniques in natural resource and environmental evaluation. My third research area is applications of geospatial statistics (e.g., classical geostatistics - kriging methods, local spatial statistics - geographically weighted regression (GWR), and Markov chain geostatistics) to natural resource and environmental evaluation, and restoration of missing data in remote sensing images, as well as applications of CyberGIS to transportation, natural protection zone, and disaster management. In this area, my research covers several aspects: (1) I have used classical geostatistics to fill the missing pixel information in remote sensing images caused by satellite mechanism problems (my paper published in 2007 is the first article in this respect), clouds (including cloud shadows), and contrails; (2) I pioneered the study of applying GWR to predictive mapping of soil and environmental attributes (e.g., soil organic matter, nitrogen, and trace metals) and plant quality (trace metal content in crop); (3) I also applied classical geostatistical simulation for ecological risk assessment of trace metals in soils, (4) I used the Markov chain geostatistical approach to soil texture predictive mapping, and (5) I also made a case study for using CyberGIS to the management of a natural protection zone in China (The Stone Forest National Park), and tested the possibility of using CyberGIS techniques to the management of transportation and disasters (using prototypes). Since 2007, I have published more than a dozen of journal articles in these aspects. Most of these articles have been published in top journals in Geography and Environmental sciences. For example, Applied Geography ( Year Impact Factor: 3.049), Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts (2013 Impact Factor 2.109), International Journal of Remote Sensing (2013 Impact Factor: 1.359), Human and Ecological Risk Assessment ( Year Impact Factor: 1.223), Ecological Informatics ( Year Impact Factor: 2.260); China Environmental Science (2013 Impact Factor: 1.922), Pedosphere ( Year Impact Factor:

4 1.735), Environmetrics (2013 Impact Factor: 1.486), Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (2013 Impact Factor: 2.133). The most recent work includes Zhang et al. (2013, 2014), Wang and Zhang et al. (2012, 2014), and Qu, Li and Zhang et al. (2013 a, b, c, d, e; 2015a, b). Presentations In support of my research, I have given presentations to major national and international audiences at many national and international GIS conferences. Among them, many conferences I participated are very selective for acceptance. For example, both the International Conference on GIScience and the GeoComputation International Conference are top GIS international conferences (both held one time every two years), which I have attended 5 times since 2004 (I attended all of the International Conferences on GIScience held in USA since 2004). For another example, I have been selected to make an oral presentation at the ACM International Symposium and International Conference on Geographic Information Science in 2007, which has an accepting rate below 30%. In recent years, I was selected to give oral presentations in UCGIS 2013, 2014, 2015 Symposiums through intensive competition. Grants I have been working very hard to write proposals to get grants for supporting my research. Although I wish I had a higher success rate, I have received several grants to support my research from both internal and external sources. I ve been involved in five NSF projects since I began my academic career one as PI (the most recent one), two as Co-PI, one as Senior Personnel, and one as GIS consult. Through many failures in all these years, I got many experiences and learned many lessons about how to write a successful grant proposal. The overall trend of my successful grantsmanship is increasing. Hopefully the successful rate of my grantsmanship will improve in the future so I can get more grants to support for my research. In summary, I have published 1 monograph, more than 60 journal articles (20 articles are first author and 24 articles are second author) in more than 20 different journals, 10 other academic articles (magazine papers and book chapters; 7 articles are first author), and almost 20 peer-reviewed conference proceedings (most are first author). Among them, many journals are important top journals in GIS or other related fields. All of my publications belong to the aforementioned three research areas: GIS Cyberinfrastructure, spatial statistics, and their applications in natural resource and environmental evaluation and mapping. Although my application studies may cover a relatively wide range and multiple disciplines due to different collaborators (with different backgrounds), they never deviate from geoinformatics. I have served as editorial board member for several journals and have reviewed manuscripts for two dozens of scientific journals in GIS and related fields. I also have served as committee chair or member for several international or national organizations in geospatial community such as AAG (Association of American Geographers), CPGIS (The International Association of Chinese Professionals in GIS), and UCGIS (University Consortium for Geographic Information Science). I have been invited to give presentations in many top universities in USA and other countries. I have received UCGIS/ESRI (University Consortium for Geographic Information Science/Environmental Systems Research Institute) Junior Faculty Award in 2009 and NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications) CyberGIS Fellowship award in Teaching

5 In my joint position here in Department of Geography and Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE), I have 2-course teaching load (see my CV for the courses I taught at UCONN for details). During most of the time here at UConn I have helped (I was asked) to build our graduate curriculum in GIScience. This meant that I taught graduate-level courses GEOG 5500 (Fundamentals of GIScience) regularly, as well as GEOG 5600 (Spatial Data Analysis) and GEOG 5610 (Spatial Statistics and Modeling). More recently, I've been rotating to teach some of the department s undergraduate courses Geog 1100/Geog 2000 Globalization. My teaching evaluations have been high. I have responded to suggestions for improving my courses and I have helped developing the online GIS program. I played an important role in establishing our Online GIS Certificate program. Geog 5500 Fundamentals of GIScience is one of the two required core courses for our Online GIS Certificate program and our Graduate GIS Certificate program. Recently, I received a congratulation letter from Dr. Mun Choi (UCONN Provost & Executive Vice President) for my recent teaching evaluations. I am among a selected group of faculty members who teach well. In terms of graduate advising, I have done much to help build the department s master and Ph.D. programs. I have served on the advisory committee for 4 master's students and 21 doctoral students. I have been the primary advisor for 4 masters and I currently am primary advisor for 4 full-time doctoral students. Although I haven t had a Ph.D finish since arriving at UConn, I have one who should finish soon and have two second-year doctoral students and one first-year doctoral student. I have mentored 5 international visiting scholars since 2010 and I will mentor another three next year. One of the things I'm very proud of are the number of independent students I have advised. I have worked with 8 different students for the 3-credit independent study. I am also pleased by the number of students who have published research with me. I have coauthored 20 journal articles with graduate students, who have been mentored by me as either major or associate advisor, and 3 journal articles with a visiting scholar. Services Professional services: I am an editorial board member for several major academic journals in my field as listed in my CV and I have been regularly reviewing articles for these and other journals. I served as member in the organizing committee or program committee for three International GIS conferences. I organized and chaired many sessions in AAG annual meetings. I was treasurer officer for CPGIS and I am Chair of CPGIS Social Events Committee and CPGIS Supporting Women in GIS Committee. I was also CPGIS BOD member and CPGIS Go Northeast committee. Recently, I am serving as AAG Research Grants Committee and Marble- Boyle undergraduate award committee. I am also serving as UCGIS communications committee. I received CPGIS Excellent Group Service award (Chair of Social Event Committee) in Department services: At department level, I am just finishing a 2-year term as chair of our Graduate Studies Committee, a committee on which I served as a member from I am currently serving in Geography PTR Committee, Curriculum committee, and Geography Merit Advisory Committee. I also was chair of search committee for the Assistant Professor position at department of Geography in 2013.

6 University services: At university level, I am Geography Representative to the Graduate Faculty Council (GFC) since I have been serving in Alternate of the University Interdisciplinary Courses Committee since I also have been serving as UCGIS Second delegate for UConn since I severed as member of Environmental Studies BA committee in Key contributions since being tenured In Summary, the following lists the major achievements I ve made since my promotion to the association professor level in 2011 (in the past four years): 1) Published 1 monograph as the first author, 2) Published 35 journal articles (most are in top journals) and submitted another 9 journal articles, 3) Published 2 book chapters and 3 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, 4) Made 14 national or international conference presentations, 5) Gave 5 invited presentations at top international universities/institutes, 6) Got one NSF grant as PI, one NSF grant as Co-PI, one NSF grant as Senior personnel, and also got several other small grants from both internal and other external sources, 7) Served as editorial board member for several journals, 8) Received CPGIS Excellent Group Service award (Chair of Social Event Committee) in 2012 and NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications) CyberGIS Fellowship award in 2014, 9) Served as Committee chair or member for several international or national organizations in geospatial community, 10) Served as Program Committee member or Organizing Committee member for several International GIS Conferences, 11) Reviewed manuscripts for many top journals and international conferences (each year I reviewed more than 20 manuscripts since my promotion), and reviewed numerous grants/scholarship applications for AAG Research Grant, 12) Served as 2-year term graduate program coordinator at Geography department. Future Plan for next 5 years Scholarship I will continue my research on Geospatial Semantic Web, Markov chain geostatistics, and their applications in various fields for the next 5 years: 1) Since the Geospatial Semantic Web is still at the initial stage of research, there are many challenges in implementing a workable Geospatial Semantic Web system to query, retrieve, integrate, and visualize heterogeneous geospatial data at the semantic level. There are several challenging issues faced by the geospatial community to implement the Geopsatial Semantic Web for different applications. These challenging issues include issues in service composition, natural language processing, ontology, performance, big data, and cloud computing. Based on my past research results, I will explore new approaches and develop new algorithms/tools towards resolving some of these challenging issues. 2) Although we have solved a series of basic issues that prevented Markov chains from becoming a practical spatial statistics, established the basic theoretical framework of Markov chain geostatistics, and developed preliminary techniques for conditional simulation and cosimulation of categorical spatial

7 variables, there are still many issues to tackle. At present, spatiotemporal simulation, threedimensional simulation and simulation with multiple-point statistics have not been developed or well developed for Markov chain geostatistics. Our further work will focus on developing the Markov chain geostatistical approach into a full-fledged, versatile, and new-generation spatial statistics, expanding its application scope to various spatiotemporal variables, and applying it to various areas in natural resources and environmental evaluation, predictive mapping and spatial uncertainty analysis. 3) Our current application researches are focused on landscape conservation, disaster management, and mapping spatiotemporal distributions of environmental variables such as land use/cover and soil types/attributes. While I plan to continue conducting research on mapping spatiotemporal distributions of environmental variables, I have interests to further expand our application research scopes (in Web GIS and spatial statistics) to mapping spatiotemporal distributions of other variables in other fields such as environmental health and pollutants, land resources, and social-economical variables. Teaching I plan to continue making contributions to our GIS curriculum and programs. Depending on department needs, I may develop hybrid undergraduate and graduate level GIS courses to richen our department curriculum. I may also teach other large enrollment GenEd courses to satisfy our department needs. I will continue my involvement in teaching and advising graduate students as primary advisor or associate advisor as I did in the past. I will continue making efforts to publish with graduate students. I also plan to get funding to strengthen our Online GIS Certificate program and our Graduate GIS Certificate program. Services I plan to make more commitment to the department, college, university, and GIS and geospatial community. I will make efforts to take the leadership role in major departmental, college, or university committees. I will also make efforts to become leader or active member of GIS professional organizations such as UCGIS Board of Directors or CPGIS president. While I will continue serving as external reviewers for scientific journals in my field, I will also make efforts to serve as Editor of a major GIS journal.