ANDREW
W. BALSER - CV
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AREAS
OF INTEREST
Spatial
data analysis and applications for landscape, aquatic and terrestrial
ecology: a) data fusion - active/passive remote sensing for landscape
classification & monitoring; b) linkages among watershed-level
landscape parameters and aquatic resources; c) multi-temporal SAR
analysis for thermokarst detection; d) fostering collaboration among
a multi-disciplinary, arctic research community; e) proactive scoping
and leadership for arctic spatial data infrastructure and observing
network intiatives; f) outreach to legislature, agencies and public
for landscape policy, management and awareness.
EMPLOYMENT
2001-
University of Alaska Fairbanks -Fairbanks, AK
GIS & REMOTE SENSING MANAGER - TOOLIK FIELD STATION, IAB
Responsible for design, oversight and execution of GIS and remote
sensing for Toolik Field Station. Duties include all aspects
of designing, creating and managing a comprehensive GIS with remote
sensing support for a multidisciplinary, international, arctic research
station.
2001
University of Alaska Fairbanks -Fairbanks, AK
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR - NRM 341, GIS ANALYSIS also
see NRM341
Designed and instructed mid-level course in GIS analysis including
lecture content and lab excercises/materials.
1998
- 2001 University of Alaska Fairbanks-Fairbanks, AK
GIS & REMOTE SENSING DIRECTOR - BOSNIA / HERCEGOVINA FOREST ASSESSMENT: A World Bank / University of Alaska Fairbanks Project also
see "PROJECTS"
Responsible for all aspects of spatial analysis and
presentation of analytical results.
Abstract
The war in Bosnia inflicted considerable damage upon the landscape
in addition to its immense human toll. Environmental consequences
of warfare must be taken into account in attempts to forge a sustainable
peace in the region. Ground-truthed satellite spectral images
identified the locations of damaged forests. Principal sources
of forest damage during the war were incendiary and fragmentation
detonations during combat and localized removal of forest cover from
intensive fuel wood cutting. Post war threats to forest resources
are pest and disease infestation in damaged forest stands and unregulated
harvesting which permits high grading and erosion. Landscape
level anthropogenic disturbances could jeopardize refugee repatriation
and political reconciliation if forest degradation impedes effective
economic reconstruction and development.
1998-2001
University of Alaska Fairbanks -Fairbanks, AK
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN – FOREST SOILS LAB, SALRM
Duties include collection and analysis of field samples for forest
ecology/forestry research and processing and classification of GIS
and remotely sensed data. Required skills include proficiency
in image analysis techniques and software including PCI, ARC/INFO
& ArcView, laboratory techniques for chemical analysis of organic
and soil samples, and detailed knowledge of field vehicles and equipment.
1997-8
McIntosh Trail Regional Development Center - Griffin, GA
GIS COORDINATOR
Responsible for GIS operations providing data, maps and consultation
to local governments within a five county region in middle Georgia.
Duties included data development, cartographic production and design,
and implementation of local government GIS.
1996
Widener University School of Law - Summer Law Program - Kenya
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Gave series of guest lectures on interpreting scientific research,
the theory behind scientific thought, and the role of research in
natural resources management and policy. The director of the
program indicated that ‘Adjunct Professor’ was the appropriate title
for this, though I did not teach any courses in their entirety.
1995-6
University of Alaska Fairbanks - Fairbanks, AK also
see "PROJECTS"
RESEARCH ASSISTANT - TANANA FLATS REMOTE SENSING PROJECT
Thesis research involving use of multi-temporal, ERS-1 SAR data both
alone and in conjunction with LANDSAT TM data to classify and
monitor boreal wetlands in interior Alaska, USA. Field
work included travel in remote areas primarily by airboat to obtain
a) GPS coordinates for ground truth, and b) vegetation data.
Twenty SAR scenes and two LANDSAT scenes, all co-registered, comprised
multi-temporal, multi-spectral data set. Analysis utilized ARC/INFO
and ERMAPPER software on a UNIX workstation, Solaris operating system,
relying primarily on standard Maximum Likelihood supervised classification
techniques.
1994-5
University of Alaska Fairbanks - Fairbanks, AK
TEACHING ASSISTANT - GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Included teaching the lab sections of two courses in GIS. Required
solid foundation in GIS concepts and proficiency with ARC/INFO software,
and the ability to clearly explain and demonstrate concepts and skills
to students. Also includes UNIX system/network administration
and maintenance, computer lab upkeep and grading of written material.
These responsibilities extended to helping develop and teach
several GIS workshops for the community at large.
1993-5
U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Institute of Northern Forestry - Fairbanks,
AK
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES TECHNICIAN
Worked on several research projects involving forest and wetland ecology
and the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, often in cooperative
efforts with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. Lab work included writing/adapting
statistical routines in SAS, performing chemical analyses on field
samples, development of a floodplain successional model, assisting
in report writing, data management, and analysis and presentation
of field data, model results and remotely sensed data using ARC/INFO.
EDUCATION
1994-6
University of Alaska Fairbanks - Fairbanks, AK
MASTER'S DEGREE - NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
Thesis - 'Combining Landsat TM and Multi-temporal ERS-1 SAR Imagery
to Improve Classification Accuracy and Detail in the Tanana Flats
Wetlands Complex, Interior Alaska'.
1989-93
Middlebury College - Middlebury, VT
BACHELOR'S DEGREE *HONORS* - NORTHERN STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY
1985-9
St. Paul's School - Concord, NH
DIPLOMA CUM LAUDE
PUBLICATIONS
2003
Walker, D. A., Epstein, H. E., Jia, G. J., Balser, A., Copass,
C., Edwards, E. J., Gould, W. A., Hollingsworth, J., Knudson, J.,
Maier, H. A., Moody, A., Raynolds, M. K. "Phytomass, LAI, and
NDVI in northern Alaska: Relationships to summer warmth, soil pH,
plant functional types, and extrapolation to the circumpolar Arctic"
J. Geophys. Res. Vol. 108 No. D210.1029/2001JD000986 31 January 2003
1994
Williams, C.L., E. Rignot, K. McDonald, L. Viereck, A. Balser,
and J. Way. “An Ecological Approach to Radar Mapping of Biomass in
Interior Alaska Boreal Forests” in IGARSS ‘94; International Geoscience
and Remote Sensing Symposium, Surface and Atmospheric Remote Sensing:
Techniques, Data Analysis and Interpretation, vol. III, pp. 1856-1859.
IEEE catalog # 94CH3378-7, Library of Congress catalog # 93-80348
BROAD SCOPE INITIATIVES
Alaska Surv & Map Conf – GIS Jam Coordinator |
2006 – 2007 |
The GIS Jam Sessions comprise about 35% of the annual Alaska Surveying & Mapping Conference Program. GIS Jam Coordinator is responsible for direction, planning and oversight of all components including scheduling, speaker contact, AAUG lunch, publicity, sponsor solicitation, panel discussions and moderator functions.
NEON - HLEO |
2005 – ongoing |
The High Latitude Ecological Observatory (HLEO) is a regional sub-group of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). NEON is designed both to answer regional to continental scale questions and have the interdisciplinary participation necessary to achieve credible ecological forecasting and prediction. Includes scoping of appropriate static and continuous data sets, data archiving and dissemination, and developing linkages among specific data collection nodes
BLM 2009 Land Transfer |
2004 – ongoing |
In accordance with ANILCA (1980) land selections, BLM plans to transfer tracts including parts of the Dalton Highway Corridor to State of Alaska Control by 2009. These tracts may include the Toolik Field Station and local research area. Includes legislative testimony, coordination with university/state/federal personnel, spatial analyses and data/information dissemination.
EarthSLOT Participant |
2004 – ongoing |
Earth Science, Logistics, and Outreach Terrainbase (EarthSLOT) is an interactive, 3D terrain and data visualization application designed to allow scientists, project managers, educators, and the public better understand our planet and the study of it.
North Slope Science Initiative |
2004 – ongoing |
Agency sponsored program to synthesize and coordinate research, results, data distribution and tools among academic, agency, public and private stakeholders on Alaska’s North Slope.
North Slope GIS Meeting |
2003 |
Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle, WA
NSF sponsored workshop to develop GIS data tools and infrastructure for Arctic Research Support and Logistics.
Arctic GIS Planning Group |
2003 |
Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle, WA
Scoping and strategy for ongoing regional and Arctic GIS infrastructure, data distribution & web-based spatial tools and services. Resulting white paper: “Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for Scientific Research” June 2004.
Bell Harbor Conference Center, Seattle, WA
NSF sponsored conference to scope GIS and spatial data initiatives and infrastructure for Arctic research, management and policy. Included circumarctic participation among academic, agency and private stakeholders. Resulting white paper: “Recommendations for a Geographic Information Infrastructure to Support Arctic Research: Outcomes of the Arctic GIS Workshop.”
PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETIES
Alaska
Arc Users Group (AAUG) - Vice President 2006 - present
American Geophysical Union (AGU) - 2006 - present
U.S. Permafrost Association (USPA) - 2007 - present
Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) - 2006 - present
American Society for Photogrammetry
& Remote Sensing (ASPRS) - 2003 - present
Northern Alaska Spatial
Data Users Group (NASDUG) - 2004 - present
