Benjamin Fraser

Benjamin Fraser serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire, where he directs the Basic and Applied Spatial Analysis Lab and acts as AmericaView State Coordinator. With over a decade of experience, he specializes in applying geospatial technologies—GIS, remote sensing, and Unpiloted Aerial Systems (UAS)—to natural resource management across scales from individual trees to multi-million-acre landscapes. His work bridges technical innovation with practical conservation needs for agencies like the NH Division of Forests and Lands.

Dr. Fraser's research centers on spatial data science and geovisualization for forest ecology and environmental conservation. He develops cutting-edge UAS and deep learning methods to monitor forest health, track pest outbreaks like spongy moth, and assess water quality. His international consulting portfolio spans nine countries across three continents with organizations including USAID, Wildlife Conservation Society, and NASA's SERVIR-SEA, addressing challenges in sustainable development and wildlife conservation through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Analysis of his 10 publications (2018-2025) reveals consistent innovation in UAS applications, with dominant themes in individual tree detection, early pest identification, and cyanobacteria monitoring. His work demonstrates increasing integration of deep learning algorithms with multispectral imagery to enhance accuracy for land managers, particularly in temperate forest ecosystems.

No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. Dr. Fraser teaches core courses in Geographic Information Systems (NR 658), Remote Sensing (NR 757/857), and Digital Image Processing (NR 759/859) but has no listed advisees or grant details. He leads the Basic and Applied Spatial Analysis Lab, which develops spatial analysis methodologies for natural resource challenges, and coordinates AmericaView's state-level geospatial initiatives to support New Hampshire's environmental management needs through technology access and training.