Ramesh Sivanpillai

• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Renewable Resources, UW
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, UW
• Board of Directors, AmericaView, Inc., (2004-2007; 2007-2010)

• Ph D:   Forestry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2002
• M S:    Environmental Science & Policy, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, 1995
• M Phil: Environmental Science, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, 1992
• M Sc:  Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science & Technology, India, 1990
• B Sc:   Physics, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, India, 1987

• American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
• International Association of Landscape Ecologists (IALE)
• Society of American Foresters (SAF)
• IEEE Geoscience & Remote Sensing Society (IEEE-GRSS)

• Remote Sensing: Digital processing of satellite and aerial images, data fusion, image enhancement and classification. Mapping and monitoring land cover, forest, agriculture, rangeland, water bodies and natural resources. Change detection using satellite data. Time series analyses using AVHRR and MODIS data.
• Geographic Information Systems: Integration of GIS and remotely sensed data, analyzing spatial variability in natural resources.
• Landscape Ecology: Analyzing spatial patterns of land cover features and quantify their changes through time using landscape ecological models.
• Statistical Applications: Multivariate analyses, time-series analyses, design and analyses of experiments and geostatistics.

• Mapping Wyoming shrublands with aerial and satellite imagery
• Mapping locust habitats in Central Asia with satellite imagery
• Monitoring crop growth using high resolution aerial imagery
• Mapping commercial forest stands in east Texas using LANDSAT ETM+ imagery
• Mapping regional forest cover using LANDSAT ETM+ and AVHRR imagery

• Sivanpillai, R., Latchininsky, A.V., 2008. Can late summer Landsat data be used for locating Asian migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratoria, oviposition sites in the Amudarya River delta, Uzbekistan? Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (Accepted) doi: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2008.00719.x

• Sivanpillai, R., Booth, T.D., 2008. Characterizing rangeland vegetation using Landsat and 1-mm VLSA data in central Wyoming (USA) Agroforestry Systems 73(1):55-64 (doi: 10.1007/s10457-008-9115-8)

• Sivanpillai, R., Miller, S.N., 2008. Benefits of pan-sharpened Landsat imagery for mapping small water bodies in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management 13(1):69-76 (doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2007.00356.x)

• Latchininsky, A.V., Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., Wilps, H., 2007. Can early season Landsat image improve locust habitat monitoring in the Amudarya River Delta, Uzbekistan? Journal of Orthoptrea Research 16(2):167-173 (doi: 10.1665/1082-6467(2007)16[167:CESLII]2.0.CO;2)

• Sivanpillai, R., Latchininsky, A.V., 2007. Mapping locust habitats in Amudarya River Delta, Uzbekistan with multi-temporal MODIS imagery. Environmental Management 39(6):876-886 (doi: 10.1007/s00267-006-0193-y)

• Sivanpillai, R., Srinivasan, R., Smith, C.T., Messina, M.G., Wu, X.B., 2007. Estimating regional forest cover in East Texas using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation & Geoinformation 9(1):41-49 (doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2006.05.002)

• Sivanpillai, R., Latchininsky, A.V., Driese, K.L., Kambulin, V.E., 2006. Mapping locust habitats in River Ili Delta, Kazakhstan, using Landsat imagery. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 117(2-3):128-134 (doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2006.03.028)

• Sivanpillai, R., Smith, C.T., Srinivasan, R., Messina, M.G., Wu, X.B., 2006. Estimation of managed loblolly pine stand age and density with Landsat ETM+ data. Forest Ecology and Management 223(1-3):247-252 (doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2005.11.013)

• Sivanpillai, R., Smith, C.T., Srinivasan, R., Messina, M.G., Wu, X.B., 2005. Estimating regional forest cover in East Texas using Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data. Forest Ecology and Management 218(1-3):342-354 (doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2005.08.033)

• Wenger R.B., Harris, H.J., Sivanpillai, R., DeVault, D.S., 1999. A graph-theoretic analysis of relationships among ecosystem stressors. Journal of Environmental Management 57(2):109-122 (doi: 10.1006/jema.1999.0294)

• Sivanpillai, R., Claypool, D.A., Ellison, M., Sbatella, G.M., 2008. High resolution, no-cost AEROCam data promotes undergraduate remote sensing research in Wyoming. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 74(4):385-389, April 2008

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2007. Aerial views yield producer news: Remote sensing reaps data for farmers, ranchers. Reflections 41-43, June 2007

• Latchininsky, A.V., Sivanpillai, R., Wilps, H., 2007. Eye in sky peering at Central Asian habitat helps UW researchers ease locust monitoring. Reflections 26-29, June 2007

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2007. WyomingView: Bringing remote sensing to federal agencies. Geoworld 20(5):30-33, May 2007

• Latchininsky, A.V., Sivanpillai, R., Wilps, H., Gapparov, F.A., 2007. Satellite imagery helps to monitor locust habitats in Central Asia. Metaleptea: The newsletter of the Orthopterists' society 11-13, April 2007

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2007. WyomingView: Promoting remote sensing applications with no-cost satellite data. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 73(3):223-227, March 2007

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2006. Wyoming's new view on remote sensing. Geospatial Solutions 16(9):20-25, September 2006

• Sivanpillai, R., Thurow T.L., 2008. Hazard management lesson learned through mapping and assessing landslides triggered by Hurricane Mitch. Proceedings of the 15th International Congress of the International Soil Conservation Organization, Budapest, Hungary.

• Claypool, D.A., Sivanpillai, R., 2008. Utility of high resolution AEROCam images for developing management zones. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Denver, CO.

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2008. Five years of WyomingView: a review of accomplishments and future challenges. Proceedings of the 2008 ASPRS Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

• Sivanpillai, R., Latchininsky, A.V., Wilps, H., 2008. Remote sensing data for managing locust pest problems near Aral Sea, Central Asia. Proceedings of the 2008 ASPRS Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

• Latchininsky, A.V., Sivanpillai, R., Wilps, H., 2007. Optimizing locust monitoring in Central Asia using remote sensing tools. Proceedings of the XVI International Plant Protection Conference, Glasgow, UK.

• Miller, S.N., Griscom, H.R., Sivanpillai, R., Zou, L., Cicarelli, J., 2007. Identifying mosquito larvae habitat created by CBNG discharge waters using remote sensing. Proceedings of the 24th Annual American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Gillette, WY.

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2007. Remote sensing educational opportunities available through WyomingView. Proceedings of the 2007 ASPRS Annual Conference, Tampa, FL.

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K.L., 2006. Satellite data archive development and data distribution to promote research and applications in Wyoming. Proceedings of the 2006 ASPRS Annual Conference, Reno, NV.

• Baldyga, T.J., Miller, S.N., Driese, L., Sivanpillai, R., Maina-Gichaba, C., 2005. Enhanced Land Cover Classification in a Tropical Kenya Landscape. Proceedings of the Pecora 16 annual symposium, Sioux Falls, SD.

• Sivanpillai R., Driese, K.L., Latchininsky, A.V., 2005. Mapping locust habitats in Kazakhstan using landsat ETM imagery. Proceedings of the 2005 ASPRS Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD.

• Driese, K., Sivanpillai, R., 2004. The WyomingView program: A grassroots approach for promoting application of remotely sensed data. Proceedings of the 2004 ASPRS Annual Conference, Denver, CO.

• Sivanpillai R., Riley G.E., Wright W.N., Maggio R.C., Srinivasan R., 1999. Detection and Characterization of Land Cover Changes with NALC Data Sets. Proceedings of the 1999 ASPRS Annual Conference, Portland, OR.

• Sivanpillai, R., 2008. AmericaView - A state-based remote sensing initiative developing remote sensing applications through education, training, internships and pilot projects. Proceedings of the Twelfth Biennial USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

• Miller, S.N., Sivanpillai, R., 2008. Identification of Coalbed Natural Gas Discharge Reservoirs with ASTER Data and GIS in Powder River basin, Wyoming. Proceedings of the 2008 American Water Resources Association Spring Speciality Conference, GIS and Water Resources, San Mateo, CA.

• Sivanpillai, R., Latchininsky, A.V., 2007. Can potential locust egg-laying habitats be identified using satellite images? Proceedings of the 2007 Entomological Society of America Meeting, San Diego, CA.

• Sivanpillai, R., Claypool, D.A, 2007. Mapping Spatial Variability in Crop Growth Using High Resolution Aerial Photographs. EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 88(52), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract B11F-06.

• Driese, K.L., Sivanpillai, R., 2007. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices through remote sensing education and outreach. EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 88(52), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract B13D-1523.

• Latchininsky, A.V., Sivanpillai, R., Wilps, H., 2007. Locust surveys made easier with the use of remote sensing tools. Proceedings of the 91st annual meeting, Entomological Society of America, Pacific Branch, Portland, OR.

• Thompson, M.L., Ewers, B.E., Sivanpillai, R., 2007. Can high spatial resolution imagery characterize vegetation cover in sagebrush ecosystems? University of Wyoming Graduate Student Symposium, Laramie, WY.

• Thompson, M.L., Ewers, B.E., Sivanpillai, R., Pendall, E., 2006. Plot-Level evaluation of vegetation cover and high spatial resolution imagery in a sagebrush ecosystem. Proceedings of the 2006 American Geophysical Union fall meeting, San Fransisco, CA.

• Ellison, M., Claypool, D.A.,Sivanpillai, R., 2006. AEROCam data for analyzing wheat/weed growth in Wyoming. Presented at the 2006 UMAC annual meeting, Grand Forks, ND.

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K., Booth, T., Cox, S.E., 2004. Monitoring rangelands with multi-resolution remotely sensed data. Proceedings of the 2004 ASPRS Annual Conference, Denver, CO.

• Sivanpillai, R., Driese, K., 2003. WyomingView consortium: satellite images to spatial information. Proceedings of the 2003 Southwest Users Group Conference (SWUG) Conference, Jackson, WY.

• Sivanpillai, R., Maggio, R.C., Srinivasan, R., 1999. Detection and Characterization of Land Cover Changes with NALC Data Sets. Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of the International Association of Landscape Ecology, Snowmass, CO.

• Sivanpillai, R., Maggio, R.C., Wu, X.B., Sui, D.Z., 1998. Assessing the Extent and Spatial Configuration of Changes in Vegetative Cover for the Sahelian Region, Mali. Proceedings of the 1998 ASPRS-RT Annual Conference, Tampa, FL.

• Sivanpillai, R., Wu, X.B., Maggio, R.C., Coulson, R.N., 1998. Landscape Structure and Ecological Impact of Cattle Movement Routes in Sahelian Region, Africa. Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Landscape Ecology, East Lansing, MI.

• Sivanpillai, R., 1997. Classifying satellite imagery with automatically geo-referenced aerial videography. Proceedings of the 1997 ACSM-ASPRS-RT Annual Conference. Seattle, WA.

• Sivanpillai, R., 1997. Optimizing food production in Mali, Africa, with GIS-based planning tools. International Intergraph Users Group Conference, Huntsville, AL.

• Sivanpillai, R., Rodriguez, D.H., 1997. Development of infrastructure base maps and GIS educational materials for Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesti (ODTU) campus in Ankara, Turkey. International Intergraph Users Group Conference, Huntsville, AL.

• Sivanpillai, R., Wunneburger, D.F., Coulson, R.N., Maggio, R.C, 1997. Effects of remote sensor resolution on landscape element differentiation and mapping. Proceedings of the 12th Annual Symposium of the International Association for Landscape Ecology, Durham, NC.