Mark Altaweel, Author at GIS Lounge

A green choropleth map of the United States showing social vulnerability to natural hazards.

Mapping Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards

Geospatial technology can be used to map social vulnerability to natural hazards, which can aid in disaster planning and response.

A view of an aspen forest showing yellow and green leaved trees with a hill and a ridge in the background.

New Techniques for Measuring Biodiversity With Remote Sensing

by Mark Altaweel

New satellite imagery techniques make it easier to observe plant biodiversity and map changes over time, allowing conservationists to plan for the future.

Campaign GPS antenna on Kīlauea's south flank at Pu‘ukapukapu inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Improving the Accuracy of GPS and GNSS

by Mark Altaweel

To improve accuracy and signaling of GPS and GNSS, a new technique that depends on ground-based systems has been developed.

Nukuhou coastal wetland. A tidal wetland with grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) and salt marsh threatened by sea level rise. At Ohiwa Harbor, North Island, New Zealand.

Mapping Coastal Ecosystem Change

by Mark Altaweel

A new collaboration initiative, called coastTrain, helps to provide data so that scientists can better address challenges coastal regions face.

A four-paneled diagram showing a vertical slice of a satellite imagery with forest damage, a second panel with land use change, a third panel symbolized to show the date of changes, and the fourth panel shows the magnitude of the change.

Mapping Long-term Land Use Change with Remote Sensing Data

by Mark Altaweel

The USGS’ Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) initiative is helping to better monitor the Earth and long-term land use change.

Screenshot of a mapping application showing satellite imagery with areas that have hurricane damage outlined in orange.

Using Geospatial Technologies to Map Hurricane Response

by Mark Altaweel

Using satellite data and artificial intelligence, researchers have developed a way to rapidly map hurricane destruction.

A map of a statistical surface with a gradient of mostly yellow and shades of orange.

GIS and Spatial Interpolation Methods

by Mark Altaweel

The use of spatial interpolation methods in GIS have proven vital from areas such as public health to interpreting weather patterns.

An owl sitting in a tree in a leafy forest.

Mapping Forest Resources

by Mark Altaweel

Machine learning, satellite imagery, and data on forest ecology can be brought together to create better information for resource managers by mapping forest resources.

A group of tan colored jellyfish against a deep blue background.

Mapping Jellyfish

by Mark Altaweel

Mapping swarms of jellyfish has significantly improved due to a combination of remote sensing data, UAV and satellite data, and algorithms that estimate jellyfish migration based on current data.

A shaded orange map showing areas of the United States with higher than normal carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Remote Sensing for Carbon Offsetting

by Mark Altaweel

Remote sensing and geospatial technologies are being harnessed for carbon offsetting efforts.

A remote sensing image showing surface temperatures across a section of Paris. The hottest temperatures are in red and the coolest temperatures are in green.

Mapping Heat Vulnerability from Satellite Data

by Mark Altaweel

Satellites are being used to measure heat not only on urban heat islands, but also on farms and other locations where rising temperatures are having an impact.

An artistic rendition of a satellite collecting data from a strip of land and ocean.

Mapping the Earth’s Freshwater Bodies

by Mark Altaweel

Over 95% of the world’s lakes, rivers, and freshwater reservoirs will be measured by a new satellite mission called Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT).