Diane M. Styers

Biography

Diane is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources at WCU. She uses remote sensing and geospatial approaches to analyze patterns of social and ecological processes that drive landscape changes affecting earth's resources. Her current research focuses on analyzing ecosystem structure and function and examining changes over space and time, particularly in response to natural and human disturbances. This information will help support her ultimate goal of mapping, quantifying, and valuing ecosystem services. Diane's areas of expertise include: LiDAR data analysis, object-based image analysis (OBIA), MODIS and Landsat phenology and other time series analysis, multi-sensor integration, forest ecology (structure and function), human ecology mapping, air pollution effects on forest ecosystems, and dendroecology.

Education

• Ph D, Auburn University Main Campus, Forestry
• MA, Georgia State University, Geography
• BS, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Human Development & Family Studies