Yongwei Sheng
استاد · Geospatial Information Systems and Technologies
University of California, Los Angelesمعرفی
Professor Yongwei Sheng is a leading geospatial scientist in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), specializing in remote sensing, photogrammetry, and GIS applications for global environmental monitoring. His work focuses on lake dynamics in climate-sensitive regions like the Tibetan Plateau and Arctic, utilizing NASA and NSF-funded satellite data to address critical questions in global change research.
Education
- Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 2000
- M.E. in Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, China, 1991
- B.S. in Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, China, 1988
Research Focus
Dr. Sheng pioneers Geospatial Information Systems and Technologies (GIST) for environmental applications, with core expertise in geographic information acquisition, uncertainty modeling, and 3D information technologies. His current research analyzes lake dynamics under climate change through innovative use of satellite altimetry and thermal imagery, revealing critical patterns in Tibetan Plateau freshening and Arctic lake thermokarst processes. His methodological contributions enable large-scale monitoring where field data collection is impractical.
Publication Trends
Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate intense focus on SWOT mission applications, Tibetan Plateau hydrology, and glacier-lake interactions. Key themes include lake typology classification, reservoir impacts on river systems, and sediment dynamics in shallow lakes. His work increasingly integrates multi-sensor approaches (Sentinel, MODIS, ICESat-2) to quantify climate change impacts on global water bodies, with significant emphasis on Asian high-altitude regions.
Scientific Recognition
- Landsat Science Team Award (USGS, 2012)
- Faculty Career Development Award (UCLA, 2008)
- New Investigator Award (NASA, 2006)
- Top 100 Science Story (Discover Magazine, 2006)
- Service Excellence Award (CPGIS, 2001)
- William A. Fischer Remote Sensing Award (ASPRS, 1997)
Mentorship and Funding
Dr. Sheng has supervised Ph.D. students including Evan A. Lyons and Jida Wang on Arctic lake dynamics. His research is sustained by continuous major grants from NASA, NSF, and USGS for projects like Tibetan Plateau Lake Monitoring and Arctic Coastal Plain Thermokarst Studies, totaling over $5M in active funding for satellite-based environmental assessment.
Research Infrastructure
He directs UCLA's Geospatial Hydrology Lab, developing specialized tools like PaleoLakeR for paleo-lake reconstruction and LakeTime for seasonal lake mapping. His team maintains the SWOT Prior Lake Database and collaborates with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on algorithm development for next-generation satellite missions.
