Eli Simonson Email & Phone Number

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

• Provide professional consultancy, research, and remote sensing analytics for various client groups
• Deliver industry grade GIS data products such as land cover classifications, suitability models, and vulnerability/risk assessments
• Implement experimental remote sensing and machine learning methodologies for automating and expediting mapping procedures
• Engage in product development of software modules and tech support
• Supervise and train high level graduate and undergraduate research assistants
• Contribute towards the development of graphics, presentations, and publications

Tallahassee, Florida Area

• Analyze remotely sensed data acquired from various image sources using spatial and statistical analysis software such as ArcGIS Pro, ENVI, Google Earth Engine and R.
• Investigate new platforms, tools, and methods that can be used to enhance land management and conservation decision making.
• Build web applications that enable end users to access, visualize, and analyze geospatial data.
• Document and develop results from both basic and applied scientific and technical research for use in technical reports and publications.
• Support any geospatial needs within the Tall Timbers Research Center.

Fort Collins, Colorado

Partnered with the USDA Agricultural Research Service to detect and map the distributions of crop wild relative (CWR) populations. Utilized Google Earth Engine for satellite imagery processing and R for training a multitude of models (Maximum Entropy, Random Forest) to build on existing modeling techniques used by the USDA.

Worcester, Massachusetts

Managed the lab section of an undergraduate environmental science course. Labs were conducted in the field and covered research methods relative to analysis of forest ecosystems. Responsible for lab preparation/organization, running lab exercises in the field, holding office hours, grading labs/exams, and providing feedback to students.

Hampton, Virginia

Partnered with Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to provide a more efficient method of measuring water clarity and its effect on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation within the Chesapeake Bay. Developed a methodology for assessing and mapping variations in turbidity through application of atmospheric correction/remote sensing techniques to high.

Worcester, Massachusetts

• Participated in a research fellowship that engaged in research on human-environment relationships in Massachusetts.
• Assessed tree-survivorship and evaluated current tree planting programs for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
• Applied several research methods such as GIS, remote sensing, geostatistical modeling, interviews and focus groups.
• Conducted independent research that looked at available tree planting locations throughout Worcester, MA. Used a GIS to develop a priority planting index for the City of Worcester and Massachusetts DCR.

Master Of Science - Ms, Geography

Teaching Assistant - Forest Ecology Independent Research for Wildlife Conservation Society - Forest Loss & Fragmentation

Bachelor'S Degree, Environmental Science & Conservation Biology

Human-Environment Regional Observatory (HERO) Research Fellow Conservation Commission Intern for the Town of Petersham, MA Net Impact.