Jonathan W. Chipman

I use remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and spatial analysis to study environmental and social systems. These tools (collectively referred to as "geospatial science and technology") can be applied to many types of problems. In recent years I've used them to assess changes in alpine ecosystems above treeline from satellite imagery, monitor the spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation cover in southern Africa, and develop tools for geographic data visualization. Working with colleagues in the social sciences, I've also used spatial analysis to map the evolution of exurbia in New England, classify neighborhoods based on demographic factors, and use landscape-scale spatial phenomena as a window onto economic policies.

As director of the Citrin Family GIS/Applied Spatial Analysis Laboratory, I act as a consultant for faculty and student research involving spatial information. During the past few years I've provided this kind of consultation to faculty in Geography, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Environmental Studies, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Anthropology, Economics, Government, Art History, Native American Studies, Sociology, Religion, and the Medical School, as well as assisting students from many departments across campus who are pursuing research projects that involve spatial analysis.

I periodically teach courses in Geovisualization, Environmental Applications of GIS, and Polar Science & Engineering. In previous years I've co-taught segments of the annual off-campus programs for the Earth Sciences department and Environmental Studies. Along with my colleagues Tom Lillesand and the late Ralph Kiefer, I am co-author of the textbook "Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation", now in its 7th edition.