Hankui Zhang

Hankui Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences at South Dakota State University (SDSU), and a Research Scientist at the Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence. He holds a Ph.D. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2013), specializing in satellite image fusion. His research focuses on developing algorithms for medium-resolution satellite data processing (e.g., Landsat and Sentinel-2), including cloud masking, BRDF correction, and compositing. He also explores AI applications in remote sensing for land cover mapping and environmental monitoring. As a Landsat Science Team member, he contributes to global remote sensing initiatives.

Education:

• B.S. in Geographic Information Systems, Zhejiang University (2007)
• M.S. in Remote Sensing, Zhejiang University (2010)
• Ph.D. in Geography and Resource Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong (2013)

Research Interests: Deep learning applications in remote sensing, land cover dynamics, analysis-ready data development, and geospatial data harmonization. His work emphasizes operationalizing satellite data for environmental decision-making.

Grants & Awards: Over $2.5M in grants as PI/co-PI, including USDA and NASA-funded projects. Notable awards include the SDSU Wadsworth Research Award (2020-2021) and the Global Scholarship for Research Excellence from CUHK (2011-2012).

Professional Roles: Editorial board member for Remote Sensing of Environment and Remote Sensing; guest editor for special issues on deep learning in remote sensing. Top 20 reviewer for Remote Sensing of Environment (2020, 2022-2024).

Key Contributions: Published over 70 SCI papers, developed cloud detection algorithms (e.g., LANA), and pioneered analysis-ready data workflows for global monitoring. His work bridges satellite data science with practical environmental applications.