A team of students led by Ph.D. student Yu Wei and assistant professor Tong Qiu from the Spatial Ecology and Environmental Data Sciences (SEEDS) lab will utilize cutting-edge remote sensing technologies—including hyperspectral imagery and airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)—combined with an advanced deep learning framework to enhance forest biodiversity monitoring. The students will identify key features beneficial for species identification, develop an AI-based tree species classification model, and create an interactive map of forest species in an eastern hardwood. This project will establish a foundational dataset for large-scale assessments of forest biodiversity responses to climate change, providing crucial insights for effective conservation planning and management strategies in evolving ecosystems under rapid global change.
Project Lead: Tong Qiu
Project Manager: Yu Wei
