Research
Research Projects
Dr. Zurqani's research projects varied from a regional/watershed-scale (Zurqani et al., 2018a; Zurqani et al., 2021; and Zurqani, 2023) to a state/country-scale (Zurqani et al., 2018b; Zurqani et al., 2019; Zurqani et al. 2021; Zurqani et al. 2022; and Zurqani et al. 2023). His research efforts focused on the development and applications of new technologies in the field of environmental information sciences, geo-intelligence (advanced geo-information science and earth observation, machine and deep learning, and big data analytics), remote sensing, sUAS/drones, spatiotemporal dynamics of climate change vulnerability at regional and global scales, land cover/land use mapping/modeling and validation, change detection and assessment of landscape degradation, monitoring and evaluating sustainable land management, pedology (i.e., soil genesis and classification), and geographic information system models.
The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Forestry Applications
Highlighted Topics
"Development of Digital Terrain Model Under High Dense Forest Cover Using USGS and Drone LiDAR Data"
"A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Interpolation Methods on Digital Terrain Models Under High Dense Forest Cover"
"UAV application in forest conservation management"
The objectives of this research study are to: 1) use UAV remote sensing data and in-situ field observations to characterize key indicators of urban forest health, 2) investigate statistical relationships between forest health (i.e., individual forest trees and species) and vegetation indices derived from UAV imagery, and 3) calculate the trees' heights and crown widths, and use this information to calculate the above-ground carbon stock.
Mapping and Monitoring the Spatiotemporal Dynamics variation of Drought and Its Impact on The Vegetation Cover: Geospatial Analysis and Applications on Regional and Global Scales.
Highlighted Topics
This research aims to understand the multidisciplinary impact of climate on natural resources and ecosystems at both regional and global levels, with a particular emphasis on the effects of drought and its impact on local vegetation, hydrology, and wildfire patterns.
Land Cover/ Land Use change, monitoring, and assessment
Highlighted Topics
"Mapping and quantifying agricultural irrigation in heterogeneous landscapes across the coastal plain region of South Carolina"
"Geospatial analysis of land cover/land use change in the Southern United States"
The objectives of this project are to: 1) determine the classes and the distribution of land cover in the region; 2) identify the spatial and the temporal change of the land cover that occurs as a consequence of land use change; and 3) discuss the potential effects of land use change in the area.
Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics
Highlighted Topics
"Soil Diversity (Pedodiversity) and Ecosystem Services"
"Using ecosystem services to underpin cost–benefit analysis in the Contiguous United States"
The primary objectives of this project are to: 1) assess SIC replacement cost value in the contiguous United States (US) considering different spatial aggregation levels (ie, state, region, land resource region (LRR) using the State Soil Geographic (STATSGO, and SSURGO) soil database; 2) demonstrate an approach for valuing non-constrained potential SIC sequestration from atmospheric Ca2+ and Mg2+ deposition based on the concept of the avoided social cost of carbon dioxide emissions (SC-CO2); and 3) to illustrate the monetary valuation of ecosystem services of soil systems (SS) with examples based on the organizational hierarchy of soil systems.
Soil Genesis and Classification (Pedology), and Soil Salinity
Highlighted Topics
"A Review of Libyan Soil Databases for Use within an Ecosystem Services Framework“
"Adaptation of Soil Judging (Evaluation) to Libya"
"Predicting the classes and distribution of salt-affected soils in Northwest Libya"
"Mapping salt-affected soils in Libya"
The main objective of this project is to study the characteristics of Libyan soil types.
Copyright © 2023 Hamdi A. Zurqani.