Spatial Data Analysis Lab

124 Davidson Hall
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

Ames, IA 50011
 
RESEARCH AREAS: 
Remote sensing for agriculture and hydrology

 

Investigating the use of satellite, aerial, and ground-based remotely sensed data to improve agricultural efficiency and protect natural resources.
Spatial variability of soil and hydrologic properties

 

Studying the impacts of spatial variability on our ability to measure and understand properties which impact crop development, runoff, soil erosion, and water quality.
Crop modeling

 

Using crop development models to understand the effects of spatially variable properties, and to explore linkages between agricultural production and environmental impacts.
Precision agriculture

 

Studying ways in which site-specific farming can optimize production and efficiency while minimizing negative effects on soil and water quality.
Hydrologic modeling

 

Using hydrologic models, in combination with field measurements, to understand the hydrological behavior of water management systems, and to study the influence of alternative management scenarios.
PERSONNEL: 

Dr. Amy Kaleita, Laboratory Director
Brian Gelder, PhD Student

 

Use of remote sensing for tillage and crop detection and integration into a land management database
Geetika Dilawari, MS Student

 

Spectral reflectance of soil under varying surface moisture, roughness, and crusting conditions
Ranvir Singh, Postdoctoral Scientist

 

Integration of DRAINMOD and DSSAT family of crop models
Lingyuan Yang, PhD Student

 

Spatial and temporal variability of field-scale soil moisture
Dr. Matt Helmers, Affiliated Faculty
FORMER PERSONNEL: 
Kelly Thorp, PhD. Postdoctoral Researcher, USDA ARS National Soil Tilth Lab

 

Integration of remote sensing and crop growth modeling for nitrogen management in corn
Kendall DeJonge, MS. Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers

 

Viability and impact on crop yield of various irrigation schemes in a central Iowa corn field
PUBLICATIONS: 

DeJonge, K.C., A.L. Kaleita, K.R. Thorp. In Review. Simulation of spatially variable precision irrigation and its effects on Iowa corn growth using CERES-Maize. Agricultural Water Management.

Thorp, K.R., W.D. Batchelor, J.O. Paz. In Review. Statistical procedures for validating CERES-Maize simulations of spatial corn yield variability. Transactions of the ASABE.

Thorp, K.R., B.L. Steward, A.L. Kaleita, W.D. Batchelor. In Review. Using aerial hyperspectral remote sensing imagery to estimate corn plant stand density. Transactions of the ASABE.

Kaleita, A. L., B. L. Steward, R.P. Ewing, D.A. Ashlock, M.E. Westgate, J.L. Hatfield. In Review. Detection of maize pollen shed from hyperspectral reflectance data. Transactions of the ASAE.

Thorp, K.R., W.D. Batchelor, J.O. Paz, B.L. Steward, P.C. Caragea. 2006. Methodology to link production and environmental risks of precision nitrogen management strategies in corn. Agricultural Systems. 89(2-3): 272-298.

Kaleita, A. L., J. L. Heitman, S. D. Logsdon. 2005.  Field calibration of the Theta Probe for Des Moines Lobe soils. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 21(5): 865-870.

Kaleita, A. L., L. F. Tian and M. C. Hirschi. 2005.  Relationship between soil moisture content and soil surface reflectance. Transactions of the ASAE. 48(5): 1979-1986.
 
Revised: 09/18/2006  

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