The 2007 GeoEye Award recipients are Govinda Basnet, Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens; Tim De Chant, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley; and James Kellner, Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens. The award will be given to the recipients in May at the ASPRS 2007 Annual Conference in Tampa, Florida.
This annual award is presented by the ASPRS Foundation and consists of a grant of satellite imagery data up to 100 square kilometers (a potential value of over $5,000), and a certificate inscribed with the recipient’s name and his/her institution. Funding for this award is provided by GeoEye. The purpose of the award is to support remote sensing education and stimulate the development of applications of high-resolution digital satellite remote sensing data through the granting of GeoEye imagery for applied research by undergraduate or graduate students.”
Following the theme of studies on reciprocal interaction of institutional arrangements and environmental outcomes, Basnet conducted a two-year dissertation field research titled “The Struggle for Water Rights in Contested Commons: Changing Institutional Landscape in Upper Mustang, Nepal.” His research project aimed at investigating the dynamics of the struggle for water rights in irrigation systems and the resulting modification of the institutional and environmental landscape. This research employed both comparative and historical approaches integrating qualitative, quantitative and spatial methods. With the use of spatial analysis methods, his study aims to further investigate how different water rights systems influence local land management decisions, by integrating field-collected spatial and qualitative information with high resolution satellite imagery provided by the ASPRS GeoEye Award.
The title of De Chant’s study is “Scaling from Trees to Landscapes: Using High-spatial Resolution Satellite Imagery to Assess the Impacts of Disturbance on Oak Physiology.” He plans to use the imagery obtained from the ASPRS GeoEye Award to complete the following objectives:
1. assess the accuracy of Ikonos imagery in the identification of natural forest gaps and urban edges;
2. assess the utility of Ikonos imagery in object-based image analysis (OBIA) of forest canopy gaps; and
3. uniquely identify and track changes in forest gaps through time using Ikonos imagery and historical aerial photographs and link those changes to the physiological responses of neighboring trees.
Kellner’s project title is “Short Term Population Dynamics for a Rain Forest Canopy Tree Using Time Series Satellite Remote Sensing.” His proposal aims to test the capacity of current-generation satellite remote sensing for characterizing population growth and survival of rain forest canopy trees. It adds Ikonos to multi temporal QuickBird data and an innovative application of ‘capture-mark-recapture’ modeling to estimate demographic rates. The development of this capacity has wide-reaching applications in basic ecological research, conservation and management
Any student at the undergraduate or graduate level who is enrolled full-time at an accredited United States or Canadian college or university with image processing facilities appropriate for conducting the proposed work may submit a proposal for this award. Applicants must be members of ASPRS.
GeoEye is the world’s largest operator of commercial imaging satellites. The company also collects aerial imagery through its wholly owned subsidiary M.J. Harden in Mission, Kansas. GeoEye was formed as a result of ORBIMAGE’s acquisition of Space Imaging in January 2006. The company is the premier provider of geospatial data, information and value-added products for the national security community, strategic partners, resellers and commercial customers. GeoEye operates Earth imaging satellites including the IKONOS satellite, possesses an international network of regional ground stations, a robust image archive, and advanced geospatial imagery processing capabilities. GeoEye maintains a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) and has achieved corporate-wide ISO accreditation. For more information, visit www.geoeye.com.
Founded in 1979, The ASPRS Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501 (c) 3 organization established to provide grants, scholarships, loans and other forms of aid to individuals or organizations pursuing knowledge of imaging and geospatial information science and technology, and their applications across the scientific, governmental, and commercial sectors. The Foundation is the primary funding source for all non-sponsored awards and scholarships recognized by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,000 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.