Brian Wardlow

Title	Center for Advanced Land Management and Information Technologies (CALMIT) Director
Address	316 South Hardin Hall 3310 Holdrege Street Lincoln NE 68583-0973
Phone	402-472-6729
FAX	402-472-2946
E-mail	bwardlow2@unl.edu
Vitae	Download file

I joined UNL as a research assistant professor in 2006 and led the GIScience program at the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) for six years. I have also been a faculty fellow with the Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies (CALMIT). I worked on a range of research projects that analyzed satellite-based Earth observations to incorporate information about vegetation health, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration into drought monitoring, both in the United States and internationally. In March 2012, I became an associate professor in the School of Natural Resources (SNR), where I teach remote sensing courses, maintain my current research program, and expand my remote sensing work through new collaborations within SNR and UNL. In April 2018, I became a full professor in SNR.

Research Interests

My selection of a career path in the field of remote sensing stems from interests in agriculture and natural resources that I developed growing up in small-town Nebraska, and during my academic training in environmental geography and GIScience. The remote sensing perspective from satellites and aircraft offers a unique vantage point to study key ecological and environmental patterns and processes across the landscape. As a result, my primary research focus has been to apply remote sensing as a tool to acquire critical information needed to better understand and address agricultural, environmental, and natural resource issues.

My current remote sensing research is centered on three predominant themes:

1. classifying and mapping land use/land cover (LULC) patterns of agricultural landscapes,
2. characterizing vegetation dynamics such as phenology and biophysical characteristics, and
3. drought monitoring and early warning.

Research Activities

I have been involved in a number of remote sensing projects that investigate how new types of satellite observations and innovative modeling techniques can improve drought monitoring systems. My research has been funded by various federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A prime example is the development of the Vegetation Drought Response Index, or VegDRI, online at http://vegdri.unl.edu/, which integrates satellite, climate, and biophysical data to depict drought-related vegetation stress across the United States.

VegDRI map for July 25, 2011 depicting the severe to extreme agricultural drought conditions over the south-central United States. VegDRI is becoming increasingly used by the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), National Weather Service, and individual states as part of their operational drought monitoring activities.

I have also collaborated with NASA scientists to apply soil moisture and groundwater information from land surface models, which integrate satellite-based gravity information, into the operational USDM. Weekly maps from this project are published on the NDMC's website: http://drought.unl.edu/MonitoringTools/NASAGRACEDataAssimilation.aspx. I am also working with USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to develop remote sensing-based drought indices related to evapotranspiration for drought assessments. These new tools are being increasingly adopted by state-of-the-art drought monitoring systems, such as the USDM, and attempts are underway to extend them to other parts of the world. In addition to monitoring, I have worked with faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Nevada-Reno to use historical remote sensing observations, climate data, and bird surveys, to better understand the impact of drought and heat waves on avian populations over the United States. This study is one of the few to focus on the ecological impacts of these natural hazards. It provided new insights into both the positive and negative impacts that droughts and heat waves can have on bird population dynamics, which can be used for natural resource and wildlife management.

My research associated with characterization of agriculture-related LULC patterns and vegetation dynamics has involved projects such as classification of irrigated cropland, and estimation of crop phenology from both close range and satellite. I had the privilege to host and work with Dr. Toshihiro Sakamoto, a Japanese visiting scientist at SNR from the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES). We worked on developing new satellite-based methods to estimate critical crop stage dates for corn and soybeans. These dates can be used to detect inter-annual, local variations in crop phenology across large regions such as the U.S. Corn Belt, to better understand the interplay between climate, phenology, and crop yields. This work was also extended to develop cost-efficient digital camera methods to capture field-level crop phenology information, as well as satellite-based approaches, to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) on crops in collaboration with Carbon Sequestration Program faculty at UNL. I have also worked with USGS scientists to develop methods to rapidly classify and map irrigated cropland across the United States (http://earlywarning.usgs.gov/Usirrigation/). This improved LULC data helps various water resource management and environmental modeling efforts.

A 250-meter crop map derived from multitemporal MODIS vegetation index (VI) data and multispectral 30-meter Landsat imagery over southwest Kansas. Field-level crop patterns and conditions can be mapped and monitoring using time-series MODIS VI data for detect changes in land use/land cover patterns, assess crop conditions, monitor crop phenology, and estimate biophysical characteristics of crops.

Teaching

Outreach and education on the use of remote sensing and GIS for drought-related applications has been a major component of my work over the past six years. I have presented the use of these geospatial technologies to students and scientists from various disciplines - at national conferences and international workshops - in countries such as Argentina, China, Mali and Turkey. In addition, I have been involved in hands-on technical training with scientists from Canada, the Czech Republic and India. I also serve as the co-advisor for the Geography Student Organization (GSO) and Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) geographic honor society at UNL. My teaching responsibilities include remote sensing courses offered at UNL such as Introduction to Remote Sensing, Digital Image Analysis, Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Natural Resources, and special topics.

Selected Publications

Bayissa, Y. A., Tadesse, T., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Poulsen, C., Swigart, J., van Andel, S. J. 2019. Developing and evaluating a satellite-based combined drought indicator to monitor agricultural drought: A case study for Ethiopia. GIScience Remote Sensing. 56(5): 718-748. Online

Bumann, E., Awada T., Wardlow B., Hayes M., Okalebo J., Helzer C., Mazis A., J. Hiller J., and Cherubini, P. 2019. Assessing Responses of Betula papyrifera to Climate Variability in a Remnant Population along the Niobrara River Valley in Nebraska through Dendroecological and Remote Sensing Techniques. Canadian Journal of Forest Science. 49: 423-433. Online

Hua, L., Sui, H., Wang, H., Wardlow, B., Hayes, M. J., Wang, J. 2019. Mapping the spatial-temporal dynamics of vegetation response lag to drought in semi-arid region. Remote Sensing. 11, 1873: 2-22. Online

Jeffries, G.R., Griffin, T.S., Fleisher, D.H., Naumova, E.N., Koch, M., Wardlow, B. 2019. Mapping sub-field maize yields in Nebraska, USA by combining remote sensing imagery, crop simulation models, and machine learning. Precision Agriculture. Online

Podebradská, M., Wylie, B., Hayes, M. J., Wardlow, B., Bathke, D., Dahal, D., Bliss, N. 2019. Monitoring Drought Impacts on Annual Forage Production in Semi-arid Grasslands: Nebraska Sandhills Case Study. Remote Sensing. 11(18), 2106. Online

Podebradska, M., Wylie, B., Hayes, M.J., Wardlow, B., Bathke, D. 2019. Developing a Tool to Monitor Drought Impacts on Semi-Arid U.S. Grasslands: Nebraska Sandhills Case Study. Washington, D.C.: ESA. Online

Podebradska, M., Wylie, B., Hayes, M.J., Wardlow, B., Bathke, D. 2019. Drought Impacts on Annual Forage Production in Semi-arid Grasslands. AGU. Online

Podebradska, M., Wylie, B., Hayes, M.J., Wardlow, B.D., Bathke, D.J., Bliss, N.B., Dahal, D. (2019) Monitoring Drought Impact on Annual Forage Production in Semi-Arid Grasslands: A Case Study of Nebraska Sandhills. Remoste Sens. 11(18), 2106 Online

Zhang, X., Chen, N., Sheng, H., Ip, C., Yang, L., Chen, Y., Sang, Z., Tadesse, T., Lim, T. P. Y., Rajabifard, A., Bueti, C., Zeng, L., Wardlow, B., Wang, S., Tang, S., Xiong, Z., Li, D., Niyogi, D. 2019. Urban Drought Challenge to 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Science of the Total Environment. 693, 133536. Online

Zhang, X., Chen, N., Sheng, H., Ip, C., Ynag, L., Chen, Y., Sang, Z., Tadesse, T., Lim, T. P. Y., Rajabifard, A., Bueti, C., Zeng, L., Wardlow, B., Wang, S., Xiong, Z., Li, D., Niyogi, D. 2019. Urban drought challenges to 2030 sustainable development goals. Science of the Total Environment. 693(25): 1-11. Online

Bayissa, Y. A., Tadesse, T., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Poulsen, C., Swigart, J., van Andel, S. J. 2018. Developing a satellite-based combined drought indicator to monitor agricultural drought: a case study for Ethiopia. GIScience & Remote Sensing. 56(5): 718-748. Online

Bijaber, N., El Hadani, Driss, Saidi, M., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Hain, C. R., Poulsen, C. C., Yessef, M., Rochdi, A. (2018). Developing a Remotely Sensed Drought Monitoring Indicator for Morocco. Geosciences, 8(2), 18pp.

Cai, Y., Guan, K., Wang, S., Li, Z., C. Seifert, Wardlow, B. (2018). A high-performance and time-lead classification system of field-level crop types using time-series Landsat data and deep learning approach for the U.S. Corn Belt: a case study in Champaign County, Illinois. A high-performance and time-lead classification system of field-level crop types using time-series Landsat data and deep learning approach for the U.S. Corn Belt: a case study in Champaign County, Illinois(210), 35-47.

Gamon, J., Hmimina, G. Y., Miao, G., Guan, K., Springer, K., Wang, R., Yu, R., Gholizadeh, H., Moore, R., Walter-Shea, E., Arkebauer, T., Suyker, A., Franz, T., Wardlow, B., Wedin, D. A. (2018). Imaging spectrometry and fluorometry in support of FLEX: what can we learn from multi-scale experiments. IGARSS Proceedings

Mariano, D. A., dos Santos, C. C., Wardlow, B., Anderson, M. C., Schiltmeyer, A. V., Tadesse, T., Svoboda, M. (2018). Use of remote sensing indicators to assess effects of drought and human-induced land degradation on ecosystem health in Northeastern Brazil. Remote Sensing of Environment/Elsevier, 213, 129-143.

Nam, W.-H., Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B., Hayes, M. J., Svoboda, M., Hong, E., Pachepsky, Y., Jang, M.-W. (2018). Developing the Vegetation Drought Response Index for South Korea (VegDRI-SKorea) to assess the vegetation condition during drought events. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 39(5), 1548-1574. Online

Trnka, M., Hayes, M. J., Jurecka, F., Bartosova, L., Anderson, M., Brazdil, R., Brown, J., Camarero, J., Cudlin, P., Dobrovolny, P., Eitzinger, J., Feng, S., Finnessey, T., Gregoric, G., Havlik, P., Hain, C., Holman, I., Johnson, D., Kersebaum, K., Ljungqvist, F., Lutenbacher, J., Micale, F., Hartl-Meier, C., Mozny, M., Nejedlik, P., Olesen, J., Ruiz-Ramos, M., Rotter, R., Senay, G., Vincente Serrano, S., Svoboda, M., Susnik, A., Tadesse, T., Vizina, A., Wardlow, B., Zalud, Z., Buentgen, U. (2018). Priorities in multidisciplinary drought research. Climate Research, 75, 241-260.

Yang, Y., Anderson, M., Gao, F., Suyker, A., Wardlow, B., Hain, C., Otkin, J., Sun, L., Delaney, W. (2018). Field-Scale Mapping of Evaporative Stress Indicators of Crop Yield: an Application over Mead, NE. Field-Scale Mapping of Evaporative Stress Indicators of Crop Yield: an Application over Mead, NE, 210, 387-402.

Aegerter, C., Wang, J., Ge, S., Irmak, S., Oglesby, R. J., Wardlow, B., Yang, H., You, J., Shulski, M. (2017). Mesoscale modeling of the meteorological impacts of irrigation during the 2012 central plains drought. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 56, 1259-1283. Online

Demisse, G., Tadesse, T., Atnafu, A., Hill, S., Wardlow, B., Bayissa, Y. A., Shiferaw, A. (2017). Information Mining from Heterogeneous data sources: a case study on drought predictions. Information Mining from Heterogeneous data sources: a case study on drought predictions, 8. Online

Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B., Demisse, G., Bayissa, Y., Champagne, C., Hadwen, T., Brown, J. (2017). Building the Vegetation Drought Response Index for Canada (VegDRI-Canada) to monitor agricultural drought. GIScience and Remote Sensing, 54(2), 230-257. Online

Wardlow, B., Anderson, M., Hain, C., Otkin, J., Crow, W., Tadesse, T., AghaKouchak, A. (2017). Advancements in Satellite Remote Sensing for Drought Monitoring. In Donald Wilhite, Roger S. Pulwarty (Ed.), Drought and Water Crisis (pp. 223-249). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Online

Ambika, A.K., B.D. Wardlow, and V. Mirsha. 2016. Data Descriptor: Remotely sensed high resolution irrigated area mapping in India for 2000 to 2015. Nature 3:160118. Online

Krishnankutty, A., Wardlow, B., Mishra, V. (2016). Remotely sensed high resolution (250 m) irrigated area mapping in India (2000-2015). Scientific Data. 3:160118. Online

Otkin, J., Anderson, M. C., Hain, C., Svoboda, M., Johnson, D. M., Mueller, R., Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B., Brown, J. (2016). Assessing the evolution of soil moisture and vegetation conditions during the 2012 United States flash drought. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 218-219: 230-242. Online

Wang, J., Kessner, C., Aegerter, C., Sharma, A., Judd, L., Wardlow, B., You, J., Shulze, M., Irmak, S., Kilic, A. 2016. A multi-sensor view of the 2012 Central Plains drought from space. Journal of Applied and Theoretical Meteorology, 4:1-13. Online

Zambrano, F., Wardlow, B., Tadesse, T., Lillo-Saavedra, M., Lagos, O. 2016. Evaluating satellite-derived long-term historical precipitation dataset for drought monitoring in Chile. Atmospheric Research. 186: 26-42. Online

Zeng, L., Wardlow, B., Wang, R., Shan, J., Tadesse, T., Hayes, M. J., Li, D. 2016. A Hybrid Approach for Detecting Corn and Soybean Phenology with Time-Series MODIS Data. Remote Sensing of Environment. 181:237-250. Online

Zeng, L., Wardlow, B., Wang, R., Tadesse, T., Shan, J., Hayes, M. J., Li, D. 2016. A hybrid approach for detecting corn and soybean phenology with time-series MODIS data. Remote Sensing of Environment. 181: 237-250. Online

AghaKouckak, A., Farahmand, A., Teixeira, J., Wardlow, B., Melton, F., Anderson, M., Hain, C. (2015). Remote sensing of drought: progress, challenges, and opportunities. Reviews of Geophysics. 53: 452-480. Online

Nam, W.H., T. Tadesse, B.D. Wardlow, MW Jang, and S.Y. Hong, 2015. Satellite-based Hybrid Drought Assessment using Vegetation Drought Response Index in South Korea (VegDRI-SKorea), Journal of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers, 57(4):1-9;

Otkin, J., M. Shafer, M. Svoboda, B. Wardlow, M.C. Anderson, C. Hain, and J. Basara. 2015. Facilitating the use of drought early warning inform ation through interactions with stakeholders. Bulletin of the American Me teorology Society (BAMS).96(7):1073-1078 Online

Otkin, J., Shafer, M., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Anderson, M., Hain, C., Basara, J. (2015). Facilitating the Use of Drought Early Warning Information through Interactions with Agricultural Stakeholders. American Meteorological Society. 96(7), 1073-1078. Online

Tadesse, T., B.D. Wardlow, J. Brown, M. Hayes, M. Svoboda, B. Fuchs, and D. Gutzmer, 2015. Assessing the vegetation condition impacts of the 2011 drought across the U.S. Southern Great Plains using the Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI), Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 54 (1):153-169. Online

Trnka, M., Brazdil, R., Mozny, M., Stepanek, P., Dubrovsky, M., Zahradnicek, P., Balek, B., Dobrovolny, P., Semaradova, D., Hlavinka, P., Eitzinger, J., Wardlow, B., Svoboda, M., Hayes, M. J., Zalud, Z. (2015). Soil moisture trends in the Czech Republic between 1961 and 2012. Intenational Journal of Climatology. 35(13), 3733-3747. Online

Zeng, L., B.D. Wardlow, T. Tadesse, J. Shan, M. J. Hayes, D. Li, and D. Xiang, 2015. Estimation of Daily Air Temperature Based on MODIS Land Surface Temperature Products over the Corn Belt in the US, Remote Sensing, 7(1):951-970; Online

Zeng, L., Wardlow, B., Tadesse, T., Shan, J., Hayes, M. J., Li, D., Xiang, D. (2015). Estimating daily maximum and minimum air temperature using both daytime and nighttime MODIS land surface temperature products over the Corn Belt in US. Remote Sensing, 7, 951-970.

Harms, S., T. Tadesse, and B.D. Wardlow, 2014. Improving drought risk modelling: Using multiple periods of satellite data with ensembles of data mining algorithm, International Journal of Society Systems Science, 6 (2):143-158.

Harms, S., Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B. (2014). Improving drought risk modeling: using multiple periods of satellite data with ensembles of data mining algorithms. International Journal of Society Systems Science. 6: 143-158.

Hunt, E., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Hubbard, K., Hayes, M. J., Arkebauer, T. (2014). Monitoring the effects of rapid onset of drought on non-irrigated maize with agronomic data and climate-based drought indices. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology/AMS, 191, 1-11. Online

Wardlow, B., Callahan, K. (2014). A Multi-scale Accuracy Assessment of the MODIS-irrigated agriculture data-set (MIrAD) for the State of Nebraska, USA. GIScience & Remote Sensing. 51, 575-592.

Anderson., M. C., Hain, C., Otkin, J., Zhan, X., Mo, K., Svoboda, M., Wardlow, B., Pimstein, A. (2013). An intercomparison of drought indicators based on thermal remote sensing and NLDAS-2 simulations. Journal of Hydrometeorology. 14: 1035-1056. Online

Trnka, M., Kersenbaum, C., Eitzinger, J., Hayes, M. J., Hlavinka, P., Svoboda, M., Dubrovsky, M., Semeradova, D., Wardlow, B., Pokorny, E., Mozny, M., Wilhite, D., Waltman, W., Zalud, Z. (2013). Consequences of climate change for the soil climate in central Europe and central U.S. Climatic Change. 120: 405-418.

Sakamoto, T., A.A. Gitelson, A.L. Nguy-Robertson, T.J. Arkebauer, B.D. Wardlow, A.E. Suyker, S.B. Verma, & M. Shibayama, (2012) An alternative method using digital cameras for continuous monitoring of crop status. Agriculture and Forest Meteorology. 154-155: 113-126. Online

Sakamoto, T., Gitelson, A., Wardlow, B., Arkebauer, T., Verma, S., Suyker, A., Sibayama, M. (2012). Application of day and night digital photographs for estimating maize biophysical characteristics. Precision Agriculture. 13, 285-301.

Swain, S., D. Rundquist, T. Arkebauer, S. Narumalani, and B. Wardlow. 2012. Non-invasive estimation of relative water content in soybean leaves using infrared thermography, Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 60: 25-36.

Wardlow, B.D., T. Tadesse, K. Callahan, S. Swain, and E. Hunt, 2012. The Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI): an integration of satellite, climate, and biophysical data. Drought Mitigation Center Faculty Publications. 107 Online

Swain, S., B. Wardlow, S. Narumalani, T. Tadessse, and K. Callahan. 2011. Assessing Vegetation Response to Drought in Nebraska Using Terra-MODIS Land Surface Temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. GIScience & Remote Sensing, 48 (3): 432-455. Online

Tadesse, T., B.D. Wardlow, M.J. Hayes, M.D. Svoboda, and J.F. Brown, 2010. The Vegetation Condition Outlook (VegOut): A New Method for Predicting Vegetation Seasonal Greenness. GIScience and Remote Sensing, 47(1):25-52. Online

Albright, T., A. Pidgeon, C. Rittenhouse, M. Clayton, C. Flather, P. Culbert, B. Wardlow, and V. Radeloff, 2009.. Effects of drought on avian community structure. Global Change Biology, In review.

Wardlow, B.D. and S.L. Egbert, 2009. A comparison of MODIS 250-m evi and ndvi data for crop mapping in the U.S. Central Great Plains. International Journal of Remote Sensing, In press. Online

Wardlow, B.D., M.J. Hayes, M.D. Svoboda, T. Tadesse, and K.H. Smith, 2009. Sharpening the Focus on Drought – New Monitoring and Assessment Tools at the National Drought Mitigation Center. Earthzine, In press.

Brown, J. F., B. D. Wardlow, T. Tadesse, M. J. Hayes, and B. C. Reed. 2008. The Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI): A new integrated approach for monitoring drought stress in vegetation. GIScience and Remote Sensing 45 (1):16-46. Online

Gu, Y., E. Hunt, B.D. Wardlow, J.B. Basara, J.F. Brown, and J.P. Verdin, 2008. Evaluation and validation of modis ndvi and ndwi for vegetation drought monitoring using Oklahoma mesonet soil moisture data. Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2008GL035772.

T. Tadesse, M. Haile, G. Senay, B. D. Wardlow, and C. L. Knutson (2008) The need for integration of drought monitoring tools for proactive food security management in sub-Saharan Africa, Natural Resources Forum, 32:4, pp. 303-316 Online

Tadesse, T., B. Wardlow, and M. Hayes, 2008. The application of data mining for drought monitoring and prediction. Data Mining Applications for Empowering Knowledge Societies, Idea Group Publishers, New York, NY, pp. 280-291. Online

Tadesse, T., M. Haile, G. Senay, B.D. Wardlow, and C. Knutson, 2008. Building integrated drought monitoring and food security systems in sub-Saharan Africa. U.N. Natural Resources Forum, 32(4):303-316. Online

Tadesse, T., M. Haile, G. Senay, C. Knutson, and B.D. Wardlow, 2008. Building integrated drought monitoring and food security systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Natural Resources Forum, 32, 265-279. Online

Wardlow, B.D. and S.L. Egbert, 2008. Large-area crop mapping using time-series MODIS 250 mndvi data: an assessment for the U.S. Central Great Plains. Remote Sensing of Environment, 112:1096-1116. Online

Gitelson, A.A., B.D. Wardlow, G.P. Keydan, and B. Leavitt, 2007. Green leaf area index estimation in crops using MODIS 250 meter data. Geophysical Research Letters, 34, L20403, doi:10.1029/2007GL031620. Online

Wardlow, B.D., S.L. Egbert, and J.H. Kastens, 2007. Analysis of time-series MODIS 250-meter vegetation index data for crop discrimination in the U.S. Central Great Plains. Remote Sensing of Environment, 108, 290-310. Online

Podebradska, M., Wylie, B., Hayes, M.J., Wardlow, B., Bathke, D. 2019. Developing a Tool to Monitor Drought Impacts on Semi-Arid U.S. Grasslands: Nebraska Sandhills Case Study. Littleton, Co: Society for Range Management. Pp. 74. Online

Swain, S., Wardlow, B., Narumalani, S., Rundquist, D., Hayes, M. J. (2013). Relationships between vegetation indices and root zone soil moisture under maize and soybean canopies in the U.S. Corn Belt: a comparative study using close-range sensing approach. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 34

Educational Background

• BS - Northwest Missouri State University, Geography (1994)
• MS - Kansas State University, Geography (1996)
• PhD - University of Kansas, Geography (2005)

SNR Program Area(s)

• Applied Climate and Spatial Science

Affiliations (index)

• Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies, UNL
• National Drought Mitigation Center
• Water For Food Global Institute

Notable Websites

• Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies
• National Drought Mitigation Center
• UNL Geography Bachelor of Arts Major

Areas of Interest

• Remote Sensing
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Land Use/Land Cover Characterization
• Vegetation-Climate Interactions
• Drought Monitoring
• Biogeography
• Landscape Ecology
• Remote Sensing/GIS Applications for Agricultural and Natural Resource Management/Monitoring
• Geography

Currently this page only displays grants that were awarded on 1/1/2009 to the present. If a grant was awarded prior to 1/1/2009 and is still active, it will not be displayed on this page.

Grant Title	Development of a Global Evaporative Stress Indes Based on Thermal and Microwave LST towards Improved Monitoring of Agricultural Water and Vegetation Stress
Starting Date	1/17/2020	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	3/31/2020
Funding Level	$56,019.00
Funding Source	NASA

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development and Operations (additional funding)
Starting Date	9/18/2019	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	9/17/2020
Funding Level	$23,500.00
Funding Source	US Dept of Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Drought Risk Management in South Africa
Starting Date	6/7/2019	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Cody Knutson Tsegaye Tadesse Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	8/15/2020
Funding Level	$40,000.00
Funding Source	World Bank Group

 

Grant Title	Drought Impacts on Grasslands
Starting Date	3/15/2019	Principal Investigators Mike Hayes Co-PIs Deb Bathke Marketa Podebradska Mark Svoboda Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	9/14/2019
Funding Level	$84,995.00
Funding Source	US Department of Interior - GS

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development and Operations (additional funding)
Starting Date	9/18/2018	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	9/17/2019
Funding Level	$23,500.00
Funding Source	DOI-AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Development of a Global Evaporative Stress Index Based on Thermal and Microwave LST towards Improved Monitoring of Agricultural Water and Vegetation Stress
Starting Date	7/11/2018	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	3/31/2020
Funding Level	$27,750.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Global ESI (Additional Funding)
Starting Date	4/1/2018	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	3/31/2019
Funding Level	$24,114.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautic and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	High Resolution Land Cover for Nebraska and Windbreak Assessments for the Northern Plains (additional funding)
Starting Date	7/20/2018	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	9/30/2018
Funding Level	$14,895.00
Funding Source	Forest Service

 

Grant Title	High Resolution Land Cover for Nebraska and Windbreak Assessments for the Northern Plains (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/17/2017	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	5/31/2019
Funding Level	$39,989.00
Funding Source	Forest Service

 

Grant Title	High Resolution Land Cover for Nebraska and Windbreak Assessments for the Northern Plains (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/20/2017	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	10/31/2017
Funding Level	$13,492.00
Funding Source	Forest Service

 

Grant Title	CALMIT GIS Support (Additional Support)
Starting Date	4/1/2017	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	3/31/2018
Funding Level	$10,000.00
Funding Source	Nebraska Department of Agriculture

 

Grant Title	Integrating GRACE and GRACE Follow On Data into Flood and Drought Forecasts for the Continental U.S. (Additional Funding)
Starting Date	1/5/2017	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	12/10/2018
Funding Level	$51,878.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	High Resolution Land Cover for Nebraska and Windbreak Assessments for the Northern Plains
Starting Date	7/20/2016	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	12/31/2017
Funding Level	$54,421.00
Funding Source	US Forest Service

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development and Operations (additional funding)
Starting Date	7/1/2016	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	6/30/2017
Funding Level	$23,500.00
Funding Source	DOI-AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Decadal Drought Risk Assessment and Scenario Development for Food and Bio-Fuels Agriculture in Four Sub-Basins in the Missouri River Basin
Starting Date	8/1/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	7/31/2017
Funding Level	$129,051.00
Funding Source	Center for Research on Changing Earth Systems

 

Grant Title	MENA Regional Drought Management
Starting Date	1/1/2016	Principal Investigators Mike Hayes Co-PIs Cody Knutson Mark Svoboda Christopher Neale Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	3/31/2017
Funding Level	$1,025,440.00
Funding Source	ICBA

 

Grant Title	NASA GRACE Follow On Drought/Flood (Additional Funding)
Starting Date	2/12/2016	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/10/2018
Funding Level	$50,451.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	UCGIS Annual Membership
Starting Date	3/1/2016	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	2/28/2017
Funding Level	$1,000.00
Funding Source	ARD Strategic Funding

 

Grant Title	Ecological Spectral Information System (ESIS): Integration of Spectral Data with Measurements of Vegetation Functional Traits (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/3/2013	Principal Investigators Art Zygielbaum Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	6/14/2016
Funding Level	$16,375.00
Funding Source	University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Grant Title	Developing Operational VegDRI Model
Starting Date	11/9/2015	Principal Investigators Tsegaye Tadesse Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	3/18/2016
Funding Level	$21,297.00
Funding Source	Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Grant Title	PhenoCam Project (additional funding)
Starting Date	9/1/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Rick Perk Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	1/31/2017
Funding Level	$1,000.00
Funding Source	U. S. Department of the Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Predicting Climate Extreme GHA (additional funding)
Starting Date	12/2/2015	Principal Investigators Tsegaye Tadesse Co-PIs Gui Baigorria Mike Hayes Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	1/13/2017
Funding Level	$277,065.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	ET Mapping Over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	11/10/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$29,916.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development and Operations (additional funding)
Starting Date	7/1/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	6/30/2016
Funding Level	$23,500.00
Funding Source	Department of the Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Development of a Multi-Scale Remote-Sensing Based Framework for Mapping Drought over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/21/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$5,960.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	The Quick Drought Response Index (QuickDRI): An Integrated Approach to Maximizing the Use of NASA Data Sets for Rapid Response Drought Monitoring (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/15/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2016
Funding Level	$58,113.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	StateView Program Development and Operations for the State of Nebraska
Starting Date	9/16/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	6/30/2015
Funding Level	$24,900.00
Funding Source	US Department of Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Development of a Multi-Scale Remote-Sensing Based Framework for Mapping Drought over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/16/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$10,731.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	The Quick Drought Response Index (QuickDRI): An Integrated Approach to Maximizing the Use of NASA Data Sets for Rapid Response Drought Monitoring (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/25/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2016
Funding Level	$93,169.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Development of a Multi-Scale Remote-Sensing Based Framework for Mapping Drought over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	2/27/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$10,731.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	CALMIT GIS Support
Starting Date	4/1/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Karin Callahan
Ending Date	3/31/2016
Funding Level	$20,000.00
Funding Source	Nebraska Department of Agriculture

 

Grant Title	Integrating GRACE and GRACE Follow On Data into Flood and Drought Forecasts for the Continental U.S. (additional funding)
Starting Date	12/11/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/10/2018
Funding Level	$15,156.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Monitoring Phenology in the North Central Region of the United States (additional funding)
Starting Date	2/15/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Rick Perk Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	8/31/2015
Funding Level	$4,850.00
Funding Source	US Department of Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Downscaling of GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Observations and Applications to Global Drought Monitoring
Starting Date	3/11/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	3/10/2018
Funding Level	$20,830.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	The Quick Drought Response Index (QuickDRI): An Integrated Approach to Maximizing the Use of NASA Data Sets for Rapid Response Drought Monitoring (additional funding)
Starting Date	2/27/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2016
Funding Level	$93,169.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Integrating GRACE and GRACE Follow On Data into Flood and Drought Forecasts for the Continental U.S. (additional funding)
Starting Date	12/11/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/10/2018
Funding Level	$15,157.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Task Order 2: Mapping Irrigated Lands Across Nebraska
Starting Date	2/1/2015	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	11/1/2015
Funding Level	$68,067.00
Funding Source	Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

 

Grant Title	Integrating GRACE and GRACE Follow On Data into Flood and Drought Forecasts for the Continental U.S.
Starting Date	12/11/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/10/2018
Funding Level	$20,208.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Goodard Space Flight Center

 

Grant Title	The Quick Drought Response Index (QuickDRI): An Integrated Approach to Maximizing the Use of NASA Data Sets for Rapid Response Drought Monitoring (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/15/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2016
Funding Level	$124,225.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Development of a Multi-Scale Remote-Sensing Based Framework for Mapping Drought over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	12/13/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$14,308.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Seasonal Prediction of Hydro-Climatic Extremes in the Greater Horn of Africa under Evolving Climate Conditions to Support Adaptation Strategies (additional funds)
Starting Date	1/14/2014	Principal Investigators Tsegaye Tadesse Co-PIs Gui Baigorria Shimelis Beyene Mike Hayes Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	1/13/2017
Funding Level	$343,462.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	ET Mapping Over North America (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/21/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$5,960.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Crop Type Classification
Starting Date	8/15/2014	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	12/31/2016
Funding Level	$25,000.00
Funding Source	Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

 

Grant Title	Ecological Spectral Information System (additional funding)
Starting Date	6/15/2013	Principal Investigators Art Zygielbaum Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	12/31/2015
Funding Level	$43,835.00
Funding Source	University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development 2013 (additional funding)
Starting Date	12/13/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	6/30/2018
Funding Level	$1,000.00
Funding Source	US Department of Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	ESI Rapid Drought Onset (additional funding)
Starting Date	9/1/2014	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	8/31/2015
Funding Level	$21,300.00
Funding Source	US Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	Monitoring Phenology in the North Central Region of the United States
Starting Date	9/1/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	8/31/2015
Funding Level	$3,998.00
Funding Source	US Department of Interior - AmericaView

 

Grant Title	Predicting Climate Extreme GHA
Starting Date	11/1/2013	Principal Investigators Tsegaye Tadesse Co-PIs Gui Baigorria Shimelis Beyene Mike Hayes Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	10/31/2016
Funding Level	$987,767.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	NebraskaView Program Development 2013
Starting Date	12/1/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	9/15/2014
Funding Level	$23,673.00
Funding Source	US Department of the Interior

 

Grant Title	Developing VegDRI-Canada-Phase 2
Starting Date	11/15/2013	Principal Investigators Tsegaye Tadesse Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	3/31/2014
Funding Level	$21,943.00
Funding Source	Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Grant Title	Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Support for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Starting Date	10/1/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Karin Callahan
Ending Date	3/31/2014
Funding Level	$10,000.00
Funding Source	Nebraska Department of Agriculture

 

Grant Title	ET Mapping Over North America
Starting Date	12/31/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	12/12/2016
Funding Level	$106,576.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Rapid Response Drought Monitoring (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/14/2012	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Brian Fuchs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2016
Funding Level	$324,564.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	2013 Workshop on Remote Sensing for Drought Monitoring and Water Resources Applications
Starting Date	8/15/2013	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	10/1/2013
Funding Level	$24,553.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Collaboration WI: Facilitating Adaptive Management under Conditions of Rapid Drought Onset using the Goes-Based Evaporative Stress Index
Starting Date	8/1/2013	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	7/31/2015
Funding Level	$20,737.00
Funding Source	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	Ecological Spectral Information System
Starting Date	6/1/2013	Principal Investigators Art Zygielbaum Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	6/14/2014
Funding Level	$75,665.00
Funding Source	University of Wisconsin

 

Grant Title	Nebraska Update PAD
Starting Date	9/15/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Milda Vaitkus
Ending Date	9/14/2014
Funding Level	$20,000.00
Funding Source	US Department of the Interior - Geological Survey

 

Grant Title	Moisture into NLDAS (additional funding)
Starting Date	9/1/2013	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	8/31/2014
Funding Level	$37,491.00
Funding Source	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	ET Mapping Over North America
Starting Date	6/22/2012	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda Brian Fuchs Tsegaye Tadesse Karin Callahan
Ending Date	6/21/2013
Funding Level	$29,144.00
Funding Source	University of Maryland

 

Grant Title	Evapotranspiration & Drought Monitor
Starting Date	8/24/2012	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	8/22/2013
Funding Level	$8,864.00
Funding Source	US Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	Rapid Response Drought Monitoring
Starting Date	8/14/2012	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mike Hayes Mark Svoboda Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	8/13/2013
Funding Level	$121,082.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	Moisture in to NLDAS (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/1/2012	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	8/31/2013
Funding Level	$36,519.00
Funding Source	US Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	Dual Assimiliation of Microwave and Thermal-Infrared Satellite Observations of Soil Moisture
Starting Date	9/1/2011	Principal Investigators Brian Wardlow Co-PIs Mark Svoboda
Ending Date	8/31/2012
Funding Level	$4,365.00
Funding Source	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 

Grant Title	Mitigation of Ag Drought Models
Starting Date	10/1/2010	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	7/31/2012
Funding Level	$20,383.00
Funding Source	University of Alabama

 

Grant Title	Integrating Enhanced GRACE Water Storage Data (additional funding)
Starting Date	8/6/2008	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow Brian Fuchs Soren Scott
Ending Date	8/5/2011
Funding Level	$77,006.00
Funding Source	National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Grant Title	A GOES Thermal-Bases Frought Early Warning Index for NIDIS
Starting Date	8/1/2009	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	7/31/2012
Funding Level	$62,441.00
Funding Source	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OAR

 

Grant Title	Drought Mitigation, Nebraska Project
Starting Date	7/15/2009	Principal Investigators Mike Hayes Co-PIs Mark Svoboda Cody Knutson Brian Wardlow
Ending Date	7/14/2010
Funding Level	$437,243.00
Funding Source	US Department of Agriculture - CSREES

 

Grant Title	Incorporating Remote Sensing Information into the U.S. Drought Monitor
Starting Date	2/1/2007	Principal Investigators Mark Svoboda Co-PIs Brian Wardlow Tsegaye Tadesse
Ending Date	9/30/2010
Funding Level	$54,824.00
Funding Source	US Department of the Interior - Geological Survey

 

Undergraduate Majors	Bachelor of Science in Geography Bachelor of Arts in Geography
Graduate Program(s)	Master of Arts in Geography Master of Science in Natural Resource Sciences including specializations in Climate Assessment & Impacts Geographic Information Systems Remote Sensing Doctor of Philosophy in Geography Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resource Sciences including specializations in Climate Assessment & Impacts

Courses Taught
Course Number	Course Title	Fall Even Years	Fall Odd Years	Spring Even Years	Spring Odd Years	Summer Session	Cross Listing
GEOG 419	Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Natural Resources			X	X		AGRO/GEOG/GEOL 419/819, NRES 420/820
GEOG 420	Remote Sensing III - Digital Image Analysis						GEOG 420/820
GEOG 818	Introduction to Remote Sensing	X	X				GEOG/NRES 418/818
GEOG 819	Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Natural Resources			X	X		AGRO/GEOG/GEOL 419/819, NRES 420/820
GEOG 820	Remote Sensing III - Digital Image Analysis						GEOG 420/820
NRES 418	Introduction to Remote Sensing	X	X				GEOG/NRES 418/818
NRES 420	Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Natural Resources			X			AGRO/GEOG/GEOL 419/819; NRES 420/820
NRES 427	Introduction to the Global Positioning System (GPS)	X	X	X	X		GEOG/NRES 427/827
NRES 818	Introduction to Remote Sensing	X	X				GEOG/NRES 418/818
NRES 820	Applications of Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Natural Resources			X	X		AGRO/GEOG/GEOL 419/819, NRES 420/820
NRES 827	Introduction to the Global Positioning System (GPS)	X	X	X	X		GEOG/NRES 427/827