2026: Evaluating Extent and Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid with Remote Sensing
Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a critical threat to northeastern forests, intensified by climate change. This project leverages satellite imagery to map HWA infestations, evaluate control treatments, and identify hemlock-dominated stands. By combining remote sensing and data science, researchers will quantify HWA impacts and assess the effectiveness of management efforts. Students involved in the project will gain valuable technical skills while advancing understanding of forest health challenges. The outcomes will improve large-scale monitoring and inform strategies to protect temperate forests from pests and pathogens, contributing to more effective and adaptive forest management.
Faculty Lead: Xiangtao Xu (Cornell CALS / Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
Graduate Student Mentor: Cameron Reimer (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)