Research Area:

My research is focused on bridging the gap between policy, management, and science through the development of affordable environmental monitoring tools for natural resource managers and policymakers. My research interests include development of new remote sensing techniques for spatiotemporal analysis of ecosystem dynamics, landscape change, and climate change impacts. I am interested in bridging the gap between science and "on-the-ground" resource management.

I am currently working on my Phd to examine spatiotemporal trends of wetlands in Eastern Washington using a combination of high resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR, satellite imagery and field data. The goal of this research is to characterize and model the response of wetland ecosystems to historic and future climate changes. The focus is to track changes in wetland function (hydroperiod), not just “net loss” of wetlands.

Bio:

My background is in conservation management. I spent five years working to improve detection and control of invasive species in the Hawaiian islands. I became interested in remote sensing as a way to improve detection efforts. I got my undergraduate degree at Western Washington University in Environmental Economics.

I recently graduated with a concurrent Master’s from the University of Washington - M.S. at the School of Forest Resources and a M.P.A. at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. For my thesis I used object based image analysis (OBIA) to delineate wetlands using true color imagery. The purpose of this project is to help TNC managers develop a strategy to conserve biodiveristy in this area.

Publications:

Halabisky, M., L. M. Moskal and S. A. Hall, 2011. Object-Based Classification of Semi-Arid Wetlands, Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 5(05351); p.13.

Moskal, L.M. , D. M. Styers and M. Halabisky, 2011. Monitoring Urban Forest Canopies Using Object-Based Image Analysis and Public Domain Remotely Sensed Data. Remote Sensing Special Issue on Urban Remote Sensing, 3 (10); 2243-2262.

CV (pdf)

Advisor: Dr. L. Monika Moskal

Professional Affiliations:

• UW Geospatial Club President
• Pacific Science Center Fellow since 2010
• Society of Wetland Scientists student member
• ASPRS student member