Tawanda Gara

Assistant Professor - Geospatial Science

Tawanda Gara
(707) 826-3827
Natural Resources (NR) Building, Rm 213

My research interests lie in GIScience and Remote Sensing application in Natural Resources Management specifically forestry, agriculture and environment (FORAGE). I specifically use cutting-edge GIS and remote sensing methods to model spatial-temporal variations in biophysical parameters. Recently, I have been working on a unique set of tools of fusing ground measurements of vegetation traits; airborne and satellite imagery derivatives using machine learning and radiative transfer models. I have collaborated with Professors from the University of Maine on a NASA funded project on monitoring forest health and productivity using remote sensing. Currently I am a co-PI of a Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC) project on Eastern White Pine Health Monitoring Through Remote Sensing Assessment of Foliar Traits. Additionally, I’m interested in wildlife GPS monitoring and Species Distribution Modelling (SDM).  I have collaborated with Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on a project linking African elephant movement patterns to landscape fragmentation and forage abundance in the Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya. Detailed information on my research interests can be found in my publications.

 Professional Services

Specialty Area

Research Interest Areas:

  • Geographic Information Science
  • Remote Sensing

Education

Ph.D. – Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation (Vegetation Spectroscopy), University of Twente, Netherlands (2019)
M.S- Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management, University of Twente, Netherlands (2014)
M.Phil – Geography and Environmental Science, University of Zimbabwe (2012)
B.S - Geography and Environmental Science, University of Zimbabwe (2008)

Courses Taught

GSP 270 - Geographic Information Science

Publications

My publications are available on GoogleScholar or ORCID

Poster and Presentations

  • Xie, R., Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A.K., Heurich, M., Holzwarth, S., Gara, T.W. & Reusen, I., (2022) Gaussian Processes Regression and PLSR for mapping forest canopy traits from Fenix Airborne Hyperspectral Data 12th EARSeL Imaging Spectroscopy Potsdam, Germany
  • Ali, A.M., Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A., Gara, T.W., O’Connor, B., Roeoesli, C., Heurich, M. & Paganini, M (2020) Statistical and physical models for mapping canopy chlorophyll content from Sentinel-2 data. World Biodiversity Forum, Davos, Switzerland
  • Gara, T.W, Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A., Wang, T. & Heurich M (2019) Modelling leaf optical properties and retrieval of leaf traits across the canopy using PROSPECT, 11th EARSeL Imaging Spectroscopy. Brno, Czech Republic
  • Gara, T.W, Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A., Wang, T. & Heurich M (2018) Seasonal retrieval of leaf traits across canopy using PROSPECT model , Data Pool Initiative for the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem Workshop, Sumava Forest National Park, Czech Republic
  • Gara, T.W, Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A., Wang, T (2017) Impact of vertical canopy position on leaf spectral properties and traits across multiple species 10th EARSeL SIG Imaging Spectroscopy. Zurich, Switzerland
  • Gara, T.W, Darvishzadeh, R., Skidmore, A., Wang, T (2016) Leaf spectral properties track variability in leaf traits across the canopy vertical profile, Data Pool Initiative for the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem Workshop, Sumava Forest National Park, Czech Republic