Xiaoyang Zhang Lab Research Projects

Current Projects

Developing an enhanced geospatial tool for operationally monitoring crop-specific crop progress and growth condition in near real time from Geostationary Satellite Observations and Harmonized Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Time Series.

Zhang, X., Zhang, H., Maimaitijiang, M. and Yang, Z.

USDA, Sept. 1, 2023 - Aug. 31, 2027, $759,272.

Characterizing and monitoring changing fire regimes and the risk of extreme wildfire events in the United States using biophysical models and satellite observations.

Cochrane, M. and Zhang, X.

NASA, ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ, January 2024 - December 2026, $1,504,120.

Detection of Species-specific Plant Phenology from PlanetScope Time Series for Rangeland Management of the Western United States.

Zhang, X., Liu, Y., Boyte, S. and Xian, G.

NASA, Oct. 1, 2023 - Sept. 1, 2025, $299,651.

This proposal focuses on the detection of species-specific plant phenology from PlanetScope time series for rangeland management in the western United States. Rangelands in the United States (US) accounts for approximately 31% of the total land areas, which occur mostly in the western region. However, due to low vegetation signal-to-noise ratios, sparse vegetation cover with high soil background effects, high spatial heterogeneity in local areas, and irregular growing seasons, the detection of Land Surface Phenology (LSP) has been impeded in arid and semiarid rangelands from moderate or coarse satellite pixels. Thus, it is indeed urgently needed to develop an algorithm to accurately detect species-specific phenology in rangelands. This goal can be reached by leveraging PlanetScope observations at ~3 m pixels, which provide unprecedented opportunities for calculating species-specific phenology.

Expansion of RAVE Algorithm for Hourly Biomass Burning Emissions Estimation in Asia and Europe for Air Quality Forecast Applications.

Li, F. and Zhang, X.

NOAA, Sept. 1, 2023 - Aug. 31, 2025, $250,000.

Completed Projects

  • Maimaitijiang, M., Zeng, D. and Zhang, X. AI-powered near real-time crop damage detection using satellite remote sensing. NASA EPSCoR,  Sept. 2022 - Aug. 2024, $75,000.
  • Li, F. and Zhang, X. Enhancement of RAVE emissions algorithm and transition to operations. NOAA, Oct. 2022 - June 2024, $235,405.
  • Li, F. and Zhang, X. Fire Emissions Reprocessing Activities. NOAA, Oct. 2022 - June 2024, $188,324.
  • Henebry, G. and Zhang X. Maintenance, Evolution, and Validation of the Global Land Surface Phenology Product from Suomi NPP and JPSS VIIRS Observations. NASA, Sept. 2021 - Aug. 2024, $664,845.
  • Zhang, X. Investigation Of PlanetScope Time Series Observations for Detecting Land Surface Phenology In The Semiarid Western United States. NASA,  Jan. 2022 - July 2024, $198,495.
  • Gray, G., Zhang, H. and Zhang X. Development of Near Real-Time Land Surface Phenology Product by Fusing Geostationary Satellite and VIIRS Observations in Support of Agriculture and Land Management. NASA, Aug. 2020 - July 2023, $521,777.
  • Byamukama, E., Yang, Z. and Zhang X. Developing a new geospatial tool for USDA NASS monitoring of near real time crop progress and condition by fusing observations from both polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites. USDA, June 2019 - May 2024, $474,000.
  • Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product Maintenance and Refinement – from VIIRS I-Band Fire Detections. NOAA, Aug. 2021 - March 2024, $155,870.
  • Zhang, X. Reprocess of Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product in Support of Air Quality and Smoke Predictions. NOAA, Aug. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2023, $97,418.
  • Zhang, X. WF-3 Development and readiness of satellite products for fire and smoke forecasting -- A Unified Multi-Scale Biomass Burning Emissions Product. NOAA, May 2020 - April 2023, $310,000.
  • Cochrane, M., Eshleman, K. and Zhang, X. Effectiveness and monitoring of large-scale carbon-loss mitigation activities in Indonesia’s peatlands. NASA, Jan. 2020 - Dec. 2022, $1,442,946.
  • Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product Maintenance and Refinement –Migrating to Cloud System. NOAA, Aug. 2021 - March 2023, $41,667.
  • Ragi, S. and Zhang, X. Near real-time wildfire smoke detection and monitoring from satellite imagery using artificial intelligence. South Dakota NASA EPSCoR RIG Program, Oct. 2020 – Sept. 2022, $75,000.
  • Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product -Maintenance and Refinement. NOAA, Aug. 2020 - July 2021, $35,203.
  • Henebry, G., Liu, L. and Zhang, X. Maintenance and Refinement of a Global Land Surface Phenology Product from NPP VIIRS for EOS-MODIS Continuity. NASA, April 2018 - March 2021, $692,000.
  • Cochrane, M. and Zhang, X. Filling A Critical Gap in Indonesia's National Carbon Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Capabilities for Supporting REDD+ Activities: Incorporating, Quantifying and Locating Fire Emissions from Within Tropical Peat-Swamp Forests. NASA, July 2017 - Dec. 2020, $1,497,000.
  • Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions (GBBEP) Product and JPSS-1 Blended Biomass Burning. NOAA, July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2020, $230,000.
  • Zhang, X. Investigation of GOES-16 Active Wildfire Detections and FRP Measurement for Estimating Biomass Burning Emissions. NOAA/IMSG, Dec. 1, 2018 - Sept. 30, 2019, $95,000.
  • Gray, J. and Zhang, X. A Multi-Scale Satellite-Based Indicator of Climate Change Impacts on Land-Surface Phenology. NASA, July 2016 - June 2019, $434,000.
  • Friedl, M. A., Henebry, G. and Zhang, X. Development and Validation of a Global Land Surface Phenology Product from NPP VIIRS for EOS-MODIS Continuity. NASA, Nov. 2014 - Dec. 2018, $685,000.
  • Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions (GBBEP) Product (BG-133E-15-SE-1613). NOAA, Sept. 11, 2015 - March 31, 2017, $80,000.
  • Schaaf, C. B. and Zhang, X. Suomi NPP VIIRS BRDF/Albedo/NBAR Products to Extend the Long Term Consistent MODIS Standard Data Record. NASA, Aug. 2014 - July 2017, $592,000.
  • Yu, Y. and Zhang, X. Monitoring land surface vegetation phenology from VIIRS. NOAA JPSS Risk Reduction Programs, July 2013 - June 2016, $380,000.
  • Yu, Y. and Zhang, X. Real-Time Monitoring and Short-term Forecasting of Phenology from GOES-R ABI for the Use in Numerical Weather Prediction Models. NOAA, July 2014 - June 2017, $346,000.
  • de Beurs K. M., Henebry, G. and Zhang, X. Change in our MIDST: Detection and Analysis of Land Surface Dynamics in North and South America Using Multiple Sensor Data streams. NASA, July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2018, $1,100,000.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang, X. Develop Near Real Time Biomass Burning Emissions Product Covering the Whole Globe from Polar and Geostationary Satellites for NEMS-GFS-GOCART. NASA-NOAA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation, Aug. 2011 - June 2014, $610,000.
  • Didan, K. and Zhang, X. Vegetation phenology and enhanced vegetation index products from multiple long term satellite data records. NASA, Aug. 1, 2008 - July 31, 2013, $3,441,131.
  • Kondragunta S. and Zhang X. Biomass Burning Emissions Product from GOES-R ABI. NOAA Contract No. /Task No. DG133R-07-NC-1616, Mod 12/8407-003, Aug. 2011-July 2012, $53,000.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang, X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product (GBBEP) from a Constellation of Geostationary Satellites for Operational Use in NWS/NCEP GFS-GOCART. NOAA Contract No. / Task No. DG133R-07-NC-1616, Mod 12/8407-001, Aug. 2011 - July 2012, $50,000.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang X. Global Biomass Burning Emissions Product (GBBEP) from Multiple Geostationary Satellites. NOAA Contract No./Task No. DG133E-06-CQ-0030/N154-001, July 2010 - Dec. 2011, $200,000.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang X. Derive Biomass Burning Emissions from GOES WildFire Automated Biomass Burning (WF_ABBA) Fire Products. NOAA Contract No./Task No.  DG133E-06-CQ-0030/T102, April 2005 - Dec. 2011, $550,000.
  • Goldberg, M. and Zhang X. POES/METOP Product Validation--Assess AVHRR NDVI product through generation and validation of phenology applications. NOAA Contract No./Task No.  DG133E-06-CQ-0030/T140, Aug. 2009 - Oct. 2011, $40,000.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang, X. Develop GOES-R ABI Aerosol and Trace Gas Emissions Algorithm. NOAA Contract No./Task No. DG133E-06-CQ-0030/T124A, June 2009 - Dec. 2011.
  • Kondragunta, S. and Zhang, X. Adaptation of the GOES Emissions Algorithm to GOES-R ABI. NOAA SciTech Contract: DG133E-06-CQ-0030/8003-080, June 2007 - May 2009.
  • Tarpley, D. and Zhang, X. Analysis of AVHRR Climate-Quality Land Products. NOAA Contract No./Task No. DG133E-06-CQ-0030/8003-034, April 2005 - Dec. 2007, $150,000.
  • Friedl, M.A. and Zhang, X. Global land cover and land cover dynamics from MODIS: algorithm refinement in support of global change research. NASA, Jan. 2004 - Dec. 2006, $698,049.
  • Friedl, M.A. and Zhang, X. Real Time Estimation and Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Surface Properties for Numerical Weather Prediction Models. NOAA, June 2004 - May 2007, $454,987.
  • Friedl, M.A. and Zhang, X. Retrieval of Time-Varying Land Cover and Vegetation Properties from MODIS in Support of the NCEP-WRF Land Surface Mode. NOAA, Aug. 2003 - July 2004, $100,000.
  • Strahler, A.H. and Zhang, X. Land Cover/Land-Cover Change, Albedo, BRDF/Directional Reflectance and Spatial Structure Products from MODIS-N and MODIS-T. NASA, Jan. 1992 - Dec. 2003, $9,464,991.
  • Zhang, X. Remote Sensing for Estimating Rice Yield in Central China. Supported by Chinese National Eighth Five-Year Plan, 1990-1995.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Studies on Fishery Ecology in the Shallow Lake of Middle and Low Reaches of the Yangtze River. Supported by Eighth Five-Year Plan of the Chinese Academy of Science, 1992-1995.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Remotely Sensed Investigation of Natural Resources and Environment in China and their Dynamics. Supported by Five-Year Plan of the Chinese Academy of Science, 1992-1995.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Studies of Exploitation of Aquatic Biological Productivity and Improvement of Ecological Environment in Lake Honghu. Supported by Seventh Five-Year Plan of the Chinese Academy of Science, 1987-1990.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Relationship between Human Activities and Environmental Changes in Honghu Area. An International Joint Research with Liverpool University (UK), supported by the Chinese National Foundation of Natural Science, 1991-1994.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Studies of Natural Resources & Environment and Adjustment of Ecological Agriculture in Sihui District. Supported by Seventh Five-Year Plan of the Hubei Province, 1984-1990.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Effects of the Three Gorge Project on Lake Environmental Evolution, Potential Gleization, and Creation of Marshes in the North and South of Jingjiang River (Four Lake District). Supported by Chinese National Seventh Five-Year Plan, 1985-1991.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. Planning of Agriculture and Ecological Economy in Four Lake District. Supported by Seventh Five-Year Plan of the Hubei Province, 1986-1990.
  • Cai, S. and Zhang, X. The Evolution of Jianghan-Dongting Lakes. Supported by Chinese National Foundation of Natural Science, 1984-1987.