Biography
Diane is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources
at WCU. She uses remote sensing and geospatial analysis approaches to analyze patterns
of social and ecological processes that drive landscape changes affecting earth's
resources. Her current research utilizes a human-centered research approach focusing
on community engagement and capacity building activities designed to connect science
to climate adaptation and resilience challenges and opportunities in communities throughout
the globe. This is accomplished by using local knowledge gained through public participatory
GIS (PPGIS) processes to incorporate the values, meanings, and uses people have of
their local landscapes to improve the resilience of communities affected by climate-related
risks. Diane's areas of expertise include: LiDAR data analysis, object-based image
analysis (OBIA), MODIS and Landsat phenology and other time series analysis, multi-sensor
integration, forest ecology (structure and function), human ecology mapping, PPGIS,
air pollution effects on forest ecosystems, and dendroecology.
