• Professor, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems
• Department Graduate Program Coordinator
• Graduate Program Coordinator, Forestry & General Natural Resources

Research

My research interests are divided almost equally between basic research on spatial data uncertainty/map accuracy and applied research applying the tools of remote sensing, GIS, and spatial data analysis to solving natural resource problems. These projects have included deer and bear habitat mapping, endangered plant habitat analysis, mapping forest change, fire and fuels management, and eelgrass mapping, to name just a few. Currently, I am conducting both basic and applied research on land cover/vegetation mapping and validation of New England forest cover types in Pawtuckaway State Park, NH using various sources of remotely sensed data and different automated image processing methodologies. My other large research project is an NSF-funded environmental science and education project called the GLOBE Program. I have been the principal investigator of the Land Cover component (one quarter of the GLOBE Program) for the last seven years. This research is international and involves developing scientific protocols and educational learning activities for GLOBE schools to perform land cover mapping and collect scientifically valid data. Over 15,000 schools in more than 90 countries participate in this program. Currently, we are working on land cover mapping in Dutchess County, NY and Southeastern Iowa. We are also evaluating land cover/vegetation change and restoration in Androscoggin County, ME and in selected areas of New Zealand.

UNH Globe Team

Graduate Students

M.S. Students
	Bob Champoux
	Christina Czarnecki
	Meghan Graham
	Brianna Heath
	Shawn Herrick
	Katie Hughes Jacques (co-chair)
	Sean Wadsworth
Ph.D. Students
	Alastair Lough
Alumni :: 2000-present
	Tina Cormier	December 2007	M.S.
	Jesse Bishop	September 2006	M.S.
	John Iiames	May 2006	Ph.D.
	Peter Tardie	December 2005	M.S.
	Michael Toepfer	December 2005	M.S.
	Mark Brennan	May 2005	Ph.D.
	Steven Lennartz	May 2004	M.S.
	David West	December 2003	M.S.
	Rosemarie Rowe	September 2001	M.S.
	Matthew Barrett	September 2000	M.S.
	Lucie Plourde	May 2000	M.S.

Primary Teaching Responsibilities

• NR 658: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
• NR 757/857, GEOG 757: Photo Interpretation/Photogrametry
• NR 759/859, GEOG 759: Digital Image Processing
• NR 760/860, GEOG 860: Geographic Information Systems
• NR 899: Master's Thesis
• NR 996: Natural Resources Education

View Natural Resources undergraduate course descriptions
View Natural Resources graduate course descriptions

Selected Publications

Martin, M., S. Newman, J. Aber, and R. Congalton. 1998. Determining forest species composition using high spectral resolution remote sensing data. Remote Sensing of Environment. Vol. 65, No. 3. pp. 249-254.

Congalton, R. and K. Green. 1999. Assessing the Accuracy of Remotely Sensed Data: Principles and Practices. CRC/Lewis Press, Boca Raton, FL. 137 p.

Mowrer, H. T. and R. G. Congalton. (eds.) 2000. Quantifying Spatial Uncertainty in Natural Resources: Theory and Applications for GIS and Remote Sensing. Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea, Michigan. 244p.

Congalton, R. 2001. Accuracy assessment and validation of remotely sensed and other spatial information. The International Journal of Wildland Fire. Vol 10. pp. 321-328.

Pugh, S. and R. Congalton. 2001. Applying spatial autocorrelation analysis to evaluate error in New England forest cover type maps derived from Landsat Thematic Mapper Data. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 67, No. 5. pp. 613-620.

Lunetta, R. J. Iiames, J. Knight, R. Congalton, and T. Mace. 2001. An assessment of reference data variability using a "virtual field reference database". Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 67, No. 6. pp. 707-715.

Zarin, D.J ., V.F.G. Pereira, H. Raffles, M. Pinedo-Vasquez, F.G. Rabelo and R.G. Congalton. 2001. Landscape changes in tidal floodplains near the mouth of the Amazon River. Forest Ecology and Management. Vol. 154. pp. 383-393.

Pereira, V., R. Congalton, and D. Zarin. 2002. Spatial and temporal analysis of a tidal floodplain landscape - Amapa, Brazil using geographic information systems and remote sensing. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 68, No. 5, pp. 463-472.

Wormstead, S., M. Becker, and R. Congalton. 2002. Tools for successful student-teacher-scientist partnerships: Lessons from GLOBE. Journal of Science Education and Technology. Vol. 11, No. 3. pp. 277-287.

Congalton, R., K. Birch, R. Jones, and J. Schriever. 2002. Evaluating remotely sensed techniques for mapping riparian vegetation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Vol. 37. pp. 113-126.

Plourde, L. and R. Congalton. 2003. Sampling method and sample placement: How do they affect the accuracy of remotely sensed maps? Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 289-297.

Thomas, N., C. Hendrix, and R. Congalton. 2003. A comparison of urban mapping methods using high-resolution digital imagery. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 69, No. 9. pp. 963-972.

Bjerklie, D., S. Dingman., C. Vorosmarty, C. Bolster, and R. Congalton. 2003. Evaluating the potential for measuring river discharge from space. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 278. pp. 17-38.

Education

Selected Service Activities

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

• Board of Directors, Northern California Region 1986 and 1987
• Vice President of Northern California Region, 1988 and 1989
• President of Northern California Region, 1990 and 1991
• National GIS Division Director, 1989-1991
• National Board of Directors, 1989-1991
• Board of Directors, New England Region 1995 - 1997
• National Workshop Director 1997 - present
• Vice President 2002 - 2003
• President-elect 2003 - 2004

Society of American Foresters

• Associate Editor for Remote Sensing & GIS, Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 1996 - 2000