Berkeley
Speaker:
Vincent G. Ambrosia
Associate Program Manager, NASA Applied Science Program – Wildland Fire
Adjunct Faculty, California State University – Monterey Bay
Abstract:
Within the NASA Earth Science Division, the Applied Science Program (ASP) focuses on supporting applications development of EO data, information and technologies that bridge the gap in the research to operations community. One cross-cutting program element of the Applied Science Program is Wildland Fire. The intent of the Wildland Fire Program is to develop innovative and practical applications of Earth observations, technologies and models to inform decision-making and help build operational capacity within the wildfire management / operations communities. The Wildland Fire programs support developments of new capabilities to improve our understanding and management of wildfire events, and to work with partner agencies and organizations (local / national, international) to assist in transitioning those Earth observations, models, and information into operational use.
The NASA ASP Wildland Fire element addresses all three phases of fire management: pre-, active-, and post-fire management. NASA also participates in National (U.S.) and International working groups and organizations, focused on Wildland Fire science / policy such as GEO, GEOSS, GOFC-GOLD, IARPC and others, to develop cohesive / collaborative strategies for improving wildland fire observations from EO. These topical areas and future directions of the program will be highlighted in this seminar.
Biography:
Vince Ambrosia is a Senior Research Scientist / Adjunct Faculty Member at California State University – Monterey Bay, and the NASA Applied Science Associate Program Manager for Wildfire at NASA HQ, responsible for management of a portfolio of projects related to Earth Observations in support of wildland fire management. He currently supports the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) initiative as the NASA Wildland fire community representative, and since 2003, co-chairs the NASA / USFS Tactical Fire Remote Sensing Advisory Committee (TFRSAC). He has received numerous awards, including the 2009 NASA Outstanding Public Service Medal for supporting emergency wildfire observations with UAS / sensors; the 2009 Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, Interagency Partnership Award for improving national wildfire observations; and the 1999 ASPRS Best Remote Sensing Paper Award in Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing (PE&RS) for his article entitled: “”An Integration of Remote Sensing, GIS, and Information Distribution for Wildfire Detection and Management”. He has authored or co-authored over 140 papers, journal articles, and book chapters. He holds a BS in Geography from Carroll University (Waukesha, WI) and the MS from the University of Tennessee- Knoxville (1980), and has been at NASA-Ames in various positions since 1980.
Hosted by: Professor Tarek Zohdi, 6117 Etcheverry Hall, (510) 642-9172, zohdi@berkeley.edu