In this posting, I had planned on evaluating the Carnegie Airborne Observatory website. While Googling Mr. Asner I found another research group he heads the Laboratory for Regional Ecological Studies. I will therefore look at each website and see what we can glean.
Carnegie Airborne Observatory
“The Carnegie Airborne Observatory combines advanced spectroscopic imaging and waveform laser remote sensing technologies to study ecosystems anywhere in the world. The CAO mission is to understand how changes in land use, climate, and natural disturbances affect the structure, composition, and functioning of ecosystems and how these changes alter the services provided by ecosystems to people.” There are separate pages for video gallery and image gallery where you can see the output of remote sensing data collection. It is very cool to say the least. [One of my favorites is an upload dated 6/18/08. This video combines “hyperspectral imaging and LiDAR into a single measurement.” Although the image is a 3-D representation of vegetation, the video image is surreal like a Salvador Dali painting of early spring daffodil leaves sprouting through the soil.]
There is a listing of publications that are available on request. The CAO systems page is enlightening and I am once again going to quote the website “the CAO is the first fully integrated 3-D laser scanner and imaging spectrometer system designed for ecological research. The CAO can fly in two distinct modes, depending upon science questions. The CAO-Alpha system can map at a spatial resolution of 0.1 – 1.5 meters. The CAO-Beta system is intended to fly larger regions with more complete spectral sampling at 3-4 meters spatial resolution.” There is further explanation of CAO system as well as the AToMs system. The AToMs system is under development and a cross section schematic is posted. The final two pages of the website discuss the facilities in California and Hawaii, and the contact information with a staff list.
http://cao.stanford.edu/
Laboratory for Regional Ecological Studies
The homepage welcomes and briefly explains that they “study how ecosystems and the services they provide to people are changing at regional levels. [The] group consists of ecologists, remote sensing specialists, biogeochemists and land-use modelers working together scientifically to support conservation management, and policy development.” There are links to recent news and lab highlights. The publication page list includes 18 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 book reviews and 2 technical reports. There is a note that all publications are available by emailing the publication manager. The Projects page lists the current projects at the Laboratory and their sponsors; there are 8 projects including:
Airborne studies of vegetation-animal-fire dynamics in Kruger National Park. Sponsored by the Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Forest disturbance and selective logging throughout Borneo. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Institute.
Effects of invasive species on ecosystem structure and function: Combining airborne imaging spectroscopy and field studies in Hawaii. Sponsored by NASA.
The people page lists the staff and their research areas. It is interesting to note that all the researchers including the students have more than one area of research. Some of the areas of research are remote sensing, ecology, anthropology, terrain modeling, cultural geography, biogeochemistry, and computer programming.
http://asnerlab.stanford.edu/
Thoughts
So have we learned anything from looking at these websites? Regarding information seeking habitats of Mr. Asner – we have learned nothing, but we have learned that the two organizations he is affiliated with do share their publications. Are there interdisciplinary aspects to their work? Most definitely, the articles discussed in the previous blog, the research areas of the scientists, the nature of the projects themselves all confirm that Mr. Asner and his colleagues work is interdisciplinary. Remove any aspect of their work and the picture (or video) would be incomplete.
Next posting – Mid Blog Checkup
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Absolutely, if organizations share information then they must surely be working together if only passively. That's a good idea. I'll see if I can't find something similar.
ReplyDeleteOh, I also wanted to comment on the ability to view free images and videos on that site. That can be very useful and constructive. I'll go take a look myself.Also, have gone to Clusty.com yet? I know there are some interesting articles there.
ReplyDeleteI think you did learn something about your scientists information seeking habits in a round about way. If he belongs to organizations that take pride in their pledges to share information, your scientist must feel the same way and depend, somewhat, on the availibility of open access materials. It's just a theory of mine, but I would think that whatever type of sources he attaches himself to, would also help determine what he looks for. ....I think that made sense....I'll have to come back and read it again later just to make sure I said what I wanted to....
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