R. Douglas Ramsey

R. Douglas Ramsey is a Professor in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University's College of Natural Resources, where he has spent over 40 years applying remote sensing and GIS to ecosystem analysis across diverse landscapes including deserts, forests, and urbanized regions. His work spans the Western U.S., Mexico, Egypt, Iceland, India, Namibia, Uzbekistan, and China.

• PhD in Geography (Remote Sensing/GIS), University of Utah (1989)
• MS in Botany (Plant Ecology), Brigham Young University (1983)
• BS in Range Science, Brigham Young University (1982)

His research focuses on digital remote sensing applications for ecosystem modeling, landscape condition assessment, and resource management, with particular expertise in:

• Land cover classification
• Rangeland monitoring
• GIS database development
• Sagebrush steppe analysis
• Wildlife habitat modeling
• Climate change impacts

Key publication trends reveal a 35-year trajectory in multiscale ecological monitoring using Landsat, MODIS, and airborne video data, with recent work addressing climate-livestock interactions and global rangeland sustainability. His awards include the William T. Pecora Award (2021) and ASPRS Outstanding Service Award (2009), recognizing both technical innovation and mentorship excellence.

Award highlights:

• Cazier Professor Lifetime Achievement Award Nominee (2024)
• QCNR Faculty Service Award (2023)
• U.S. Forest Service Chief's Award (2016)
• NASA Mentor Award (2004)
• ERDAS/ESRI Best GIS Paper Awards

As Director of the Remote Sensing and GIS Laboratory, he has mentored 22 graduate students while teaching courses like Applied Remote Sensing (WILD 5750/6750) and Introductory GIS (WILD 1800). His lab's collaborative framework produced large-scale projects including the Southwest Regional Gap Analysis Program and NASA Earth Science applications.