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RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research is in the broad area of Human-Environment Interaction. I contribute with a human geography approach and mastery of GIS, quantitative geospatial analysis, and social sciences to enhance the cutting-edge sciences addressing the challenges faced by nature and society in the 21st century.
I use integrative ways to examine spatial patterns of land change and agent decision-making with the goal of articulating production with sustainability and mitigation of environmental impacts in face of climate change. My research advances topics in global environmental change science, land change science, sustainability, and economic geography. You can see more of my projects and publications below.
PROJECTS
CSC+SCC - Improving Sustainability of Specialty Crop Agricultural Systems through Geospatial Digital Agriculture in California
This research aims to bring the benefits of climate change research to specialty crop farmers. The study of agricultural suitability incorporates multiple environmental data at diverse spatial scale. Deployment of new sensors and platforms hold the potential to transform the use of data in agricultural operations. However, methods developed for a type of data input needs to be adapted to benefit from new data. For agricultural suitability this implies the adaptation of using satellite data to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The overall objective of the proposed research is to develop a pipeline to model suitability using UAV and satellite data under current and future climate conditions. We will develop and apply the pipeline for three specialty crops, grapes, strawberries and citrus under current climate and 2021-2040, 2041-2060, 2061-2080, 2081-2100 conditions.
Funded by USDA/NIFA/AFRI 2022-67023-36150.
The project intends to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning modules to stimulate AI learning in students’ communities. The students will be trained how to identify social problems. The instructors will teach students AI concepts and applications through hands-on AI labs. The students will learn how to propose AI-powered solutions to address social issues considering both benefits and risks. The interdisciplinary AI For Social Good (AI4SG) modules will be implemented in the programs of management information systems, geography, and computer science at three California State University campuses.
As a human-environment geographer, I am looking for ways to use AI4SG to improve Geography majors and GIS minors skills on AI by applying it to spatial problems and data.
INTEGRATIVE MODELING OF FRESHWATER SUSTAINABILITY
In this project, I am advancing on the use of Values-Beliefs-Norms framework integrated with agent-based simulation to examine how environmental behaviors are influenced by cultural factors and perception of the environment.
More specifically, I focus on the sustainability of freshwater resources in a semi-arid agricultural region in Kansas where the community is skeptical of climate change and top-down environmental policy.
For this research, I use Python PyCX and econometric models to perform the ABM.
Part of the NSF CNH: Coupled Climate, Cultivation, and Culture in the Great Plains: Understanding Water Supply and Water Quality in a Fragile Landscape (CNH- 1313815)
CLIMATE CHANGE, LAND USE AND BIODIVERSITY
My research focuses on the impact of climate change on sugarcane ethanol production and biodiversity. This interdisciplinary study can contribute to the policy-making process regarding land use and alternative fuels production.
LAND DYNAMICS AND AGENTS DECISION
Few studies have focused on farmers’ land use decisions in the Cerrado, and even fewer on factors affecting farmers’ land use decisions and sugarcane expansion. Thus, understanding farmers’ crop choices is paramount to better inform policymakers and society on the advantages and impairments of sugarcane production in the Cerrado.
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY AND
REGIONAL STUDIES
The study of location decision for ethanol plants are an established topic in the literature, however, it remains unknown how this process occurs in new producing areas, such as the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil. The research group has also published on the vertical coordination and technical efficiency of the mills, and on the contractual relationship between mills and sugarcane producers.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DRIVERS OF BIOFUEL EXPANSION
The sugarcane ethanol industry in Brazil has increased its production capacity to meet rising domestic and international demand for ethanol by expanding into the Brazilian Cerrado.
The paper examining the drivers of sugarcane ethanol expansion into the new frontier of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul is published by GeoJournal . The paper is available for online read or download.
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