William (Bill) Christie
Remote Sensing AnalystAsheville, NC 28804-3454
william.m.christie@usda.gov
Current Research
Co-owner and lead developer for the 'High-resolution forest disturbance mapping' (https://hiform.org/) application. This customized forest disturbance mapping application uses freely available Google Earth Engine to access and process high-resolution (10m) and moderate (30m) satellite imagery.
Acting-SysAdmin and update development manager for the Unit’s “Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI)” application, used internationally for hydrologic modeling and scenario-based, ecosystems services.
Research Interests
Cloud-based satellite image processsing using Google Earth Engine scripting to map and assess near-tree-crown-resolution, near-real-time and long-term forest disturbance; mapping the occurrence, severity and monitoring recovery from biotic and abiotic agents, such as from severe weather, insects and disease, wildland and prescribed fire and timber harvests.
Why This Research is Important
Our emphasis is monitoring change in eastern US forests that result from severe weather, wildland fire, logging, and from insects and disease. Our hope is to refine ways that these new capabilities can be best adapted for managers, and to improve insights about eastern US forest dynamics more fundamentally.
Education
- Masters Of Science in Geography (Remote Sensing), 1984
- University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Awards and Recognition
- Director’s Award for Excellence in Science Delivery, 2019
- Forest Service, Southern Research Station, for “High-Resolution Forest Mapping (HiForm)” project mapping and outreach to State and Federal partners (https://hiform.org/about). Steve Norman, Ph.D., Research Ecologist and William Christie, RS/GIS Analyst.
- Director’s Choice Award: Benefits to the Public, 2019
- Forest Service, Southern Research Station, for “Improving hurricane damage assessments with new satellite technology and outreach” (https://hiform.org/). Steve Norman, Ph.D., Research Ecologist and William Christie, RS/GIS Analyst.
Publications
- Worley, Elijah ; Liu, Ning ; Sun, Ge ; Norman, Steven P.; Christie, William M.; Gavazzi, Michael ; Boggs, Johnny ; McNulty, Steven G. 2022. Impacts of Hurricane Michael on watershed hydrology: A case study in the Southeastern United States.
- Norman, Steven P.; Christie, William M. 2022. Precise mapping of disturbance impacts to U.S. forests using high-resolution satellite imagery.
- Norman, Steven P.; Christie, William M. 2020. Chapter 7 - Satellite-based evidence of forest stress and decline across the conterminous United States for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- Schwalbach, Monica J.; Pomara, Lars Y.; Christie, William M.; Zarnoch, Stanley J. 2018. Least tern (Sternula antillarum) population response to water levels on Cheyenne River and Oahe Reservoir, South Dakota, USA.
- Norman, Steven P.; Hargrove, William W.; Christie, William M. 2017. Spring and autumn phenological variability across environmental gradients of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA.
- Norman, Steven P.; Hargrove, William W.; Spruce, Joseph P.; Christie, William M.; Schroeder, Sean W. 2013. Highlights of satellite-based forest change recognition and tracking using the ForWarn System.
Research Highlights
- Improving Hurricane Damage Assessments with New Satellite Technology and Outreach (2019)
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Recent advances in satellite technology and collaborative exchange between USDA Forest Service researchers and state forestry agencies have given forest managers greatly improved insights into hurricane damage.