Famed Remote Sensing NASA Scientist J. Compton Tucker Visits SDSU

Dr. Janet Franklin recruited distinguished remote sensing scientist Dr Compton J. Tucker, from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to give a research seminar at SDSU on November 8 2024 entitled “A tool to address restoration efforts and the role of trees outside of forests in rural livelihoods: Mapping African semi-arid trees at the tree level south of the Sahara & north of the Equator.” Dr Tucker was Dr Franklin’s predoctoral NASA advisor in the 1980s and at that time was leading innovations in Earth resources remote sensing. Four decades later he is still leading innovations in collaborations that use cutting edge open source data and machine learning to develop data products that are stunning in their breadth and detail, and improve everything from international carbon accounting to rural livelihoods in Africa. Dr. Tucker was elected to the National Academy of Sciences this year. Dr. Tucker showcased an outstanding project using remote sensing technology to get a more accurate count of trees across the African continent, as well as estimating the carbon sequestration potential of those trees.

For more information about Dr. Tucker’s work, see his website at the University of Maryland