Jelena Vukomanovic

Dr. Jelena Vukomanovic is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University and a Faculty Fellow at the Center for Geospatial Analytics. She specializes in geospatial analytics to study human dimensions of landscape change and ecosystem services. Her work integrates participatory modeling, landscape simulation, and visualization to address challenges like exurban growth and wildfire management.

Her research focuses on developing tools for natural resource management in parks and protected areas, including decision support systems and fire risk forecasting. She collaborates with stakeholders to translate narratives into actionable models, emphasizing equity and community engagement. Current projects explore climate adaptation strategies for coastal landowners and energy equity issues.

Through the Land Change Lab, she leads interdisciplinary efforts combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Notable contributions include the OpenPlains platform, an open-source tool for geospatial participatory modeling, and studies on urbanization drivers and environmental justice. Her work bridges ecological science with human decision-making to foster sustainable landscapes.

Dr. Vukomanovic advises students at NC State’s Center for Geospatial Analytics, focusing on landscape change modeling and participatory approaches. She actively publishes on topics ranging from fire jurisdiction complexity to the impacts of noise pollution on bird populations.