Research Interests and Activities - Dr. Xiaobing Zhou - Department of Geological Engineering

Xiaobing Zhou, Ph.D. Professor of Geophysics

My primary research interests are in satellite and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) remote sensing and applied geophysics (aerogravity and aeromagnetci techniques) and their applications. Specifically,  my research interests are in remote sensing theory, applied geophysics, instrumentation, algorithm development, image processing, and applications in  hydrology, ecology, snow and ice, environmental monitoring, and geophysical mineral exploration. These include (1) remote sensing instrumentation (ground and UAS based instrument and sensor development), data collection, analysis and interpretation; (2) gravity and magnetic modeling and inversion for geological characterization of sedimentary basins and mineral exploration; (3) radiative transfer modeling (including scattering theory) of optical sensors and polarimetric radar data; (4) algorithm development for science data product derivation from optical sensor and radar data; (5) air-borne and space-borne remotely sensed image processing and interpretation; (6) applications of remote sensing in hydrology, cryspheric science (snow, sea ice, and glaciers), ecology, climate changes, and mineral exloration. Past activities mainly focused on field instrumentation, measurement and analysis of snow, vegetation, mineral, and soil  physical parameters and radiative quantities, satellite data validation using ground truth and GIS database, GIS database establishment from remotely sensed data, and radiative transfer modeling of satellite signals. Recent interests also include the radiative response (optical reflection ) of vegetation to water availability in semiarid regions; relationship among snow cover, stream flow, and climate change within mountainous river basins using both ground-based and remote sensing data; algorithm development for the derivation of liquid water content in snow and soil from radar data, remote sensing of precipitation; development of UAS based instrument like magnetic gradiometer and electromagnetic inductor for geophysical exploration. 

Research activities and topics include:

  • Development of UAS base flux-gate magnetic gradiomter and electromagnetic inductor (EMI) for mineral and ground water exploration 
  • Hyperspectral remote sensing for mineral exploration and heavy metal identification in abandoned mine lands
  • Combination of spectral and aeromagnetic techniques for characterizing mineral ore desit sites and mineral exploration
  • Derivation of liquid water content in soil and snow from radar backscattering coefficent
  • Gravity modeling and inversion for geological characterization  of sedimentary basins 
  • Drought Condition Monitoring within Vegetation using Multispectral and Hyperspectral Optical Sensor and Thermal Infrared Radiometer
  • Snow Cover, Rainfall, Stream flow, and Climate Change in alpine basins: Relationship Observed from Space
  • Validation of MODIS Snow Product: from Reflectance to Snow Cover 
  • Snow Albedo from Field Measurement to Radiative Transfer Modeling
  • Electromagnetic Scattering in Dispersive Medium: Theory for Remote Sensing (GOMsphere codes)