Tresidder Memorial Union, Oak Lounge West

Abstract: The monitoring and modeling of both biodiversity and ecosystem services is being transformed by a number of technological advancements. This transformation has been spurred in large part by the coincidence of three drivers: (1) new, globally available data, (2) novel statistical and modeling approaches, and (3) easier access to high-powered computing resources. This has allowed a number of technologies that were previously too difficult or expensive to employ at high resolution over large spatial extents to become mainstream, including Earth Observation and machine learning. This session will cover some of these advances and the novel ways they are being used to monitor and model biodiversity and ecosystem services, with discussion around future directions and applications.

Moderator: Stefano Ermon, Stanford University

Featured Speakers:

• Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University and University of Minnesota, “Earth observations for ecosystem services: frontiers for modeling nature and people”
• Christopher Anderson, Stanford University, “Precision biogeography: mapping tree species with airborne earth observations”
• Jeffrey Smith, Stanford University, “Old ideas, new tools: “Ecoregions as tools for conservation in a data rich world”
• Lisa Mandle, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, “Insights into infrastructure: Mapping dams and reservoirs with satellite imagery and artificial intelligence”