Wanxiao Sun, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Geography and Planning

Grand Valley State University

1 Campus Drive

Allendale, MI 49401-9403, USA

Tel:  (616) 331-8521
Fax: (616) 331-2328


EDUCATIONS

 Post-doc, ESPM, University of California at Berkeley, USA, 2001 

 Ph.D., Geography (GIS & RS), University of Mainz, Germany, 1999

 M.S., Geography (GIS & RS), the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, 1989

 B.S., Computer Cartography, Nanjing University, China, 1986


RESEARCH INTERESTS
  • Remote Sensing and digital image processing algorithms

  • Methods for generating / improving global land surface products

  • GIS and remote sensing applications in land-use and environmental studies

  • Geographic information systems and geographic information science

  • 3-D visualization and simulation

  • Physical geography


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2006- present Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Grand Valley State University
2002-2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

2001-2002

Postdoctoral Research, Department of Environmental Science, Police and Management, University of California at Berkeley

2000-2001 Senior Research Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Mainz, Germany
1993-1999 Research Assistant, Department of Geography, University of Mainz, Germany
1989-1992 Research Associate, Nanjing Institute of Geography, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

TEACHING EXPERIENCES/SUBJECTS
  • Computer Cartography

  • Physical Geography

  • Introduction to Remote Sensing

  • Advanced Remote Sensing

  • Introduction to Geographic Information System

  • Analytical Cartography

  • Visualizing the Modern World

  • Computer in Geography

  • Introduction to Digital Image Processing (ERDAS IMAGINE)

  • GIS, 3-D Visualization and Simulation

GRANTS RECEIVED

Sun, W. (PI). 2004-2007. Improving Land Surface Products from Multiple EOS Data Sets Using Knowledge-based Expert Systems. NASA/University of Maryland, sub-grant. ($76,429).

Sun, W. (PI). 2005-2006. Mentor for Undergraduate Assistantship. Title of Position: Remote Sensing Research Assistant. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. ($5,200).

Sun, W. (PI). 2004-2005. Improving Remote Sensing Image Classification Accuracies by Using Texture Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks. Office of Research Development and Administration Faculty Seed Grant, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale ($16,262).

 

Williams, C., Sun, W. (Co-PI), & J. Shimp, 2004. Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Large Project Application for FY 2005: Inventory of Asian Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) Invasions in Southern Illinois. ($3,597)

 

Sun, W. (PI). 2004-2005. Mentor for Undergraduate Assistantship. Title of Position: Remote Sensing Research Assistant. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. ($4,800).

 

Sun, W. (PI). 2003-2004. Establishing an Efficient and Safe File Server in Geography’s Spatial and Environmental Analysis Lab. The Undergraduate Technology Fee, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale ($11,569).

 

Sun, W. (PI). 2002-2003. Modernization of Geography’s Spatial Environmental Analysis Lab. The Undergraduate Technology Fee, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale ($20,370).

 

Sun, W. (PI). 2000-2001. Applying 3D Visualization and Simulation Techniques on Sustainable Landscape Development in Landau/Pfalz, Germany. University of Mainz, Germany (€20,000).


HONORS

Sun, W. 2004. Summer salary, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Sun, W. 2003. Summer salary, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Sun, W. 2003. Travel money, Graduate school, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Sun, W. 1997-1999. The German Science Foundations Fellowship (DFG), Germany.


COMPUTER SKILLS

Programming: MATLAB, C, C++, FORTRAN,  AML, Avenue, SML, SQL

Software:         ArcGIS, Arc/Info, ArcView, ERDAS IMAGINE, PCI Geomatica, eCognition, Idrisi, SPSS,

                           AutoCAD, ArcCAD, GPS-Asset, Surveyor Data Collection,  GPS-PFINDER, MS Office

System:            Unix, Windows XP, Windows 2000, WinNT, DOS, Internet

Database:        dBASE, MS Access


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Book

Sun, W. 2004. Land-Use Classification Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery: A New Information Fusion Method – An Application in Landau, Germany. Johannes Gutenburg University Mainz, Germany. ISBN: 3-88250-049-2,  95pp.

Journal Articles

Sun, W., Xu, G., Gong, P., and Liang, S., 2006. Fractal analysis of remote sensing images: A review of methods and applications, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 27(22):4963-4990.

Sun, W., 2006. Three new implementations of the triangular prism method for computing the fractal dimension of image surfaces. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 72(4):373-382.

Sun, W., Kolappal, A., & Gong, P. 2005. Two computation methods for detecting anisotropy in image texture. Geographic Information Sciences, 11(2):87-96.

Sun, W., Kelly, M., & Gong, P. 2005. “Separation of Dead Tree Crowns from the Oak Woodland Forest Mosaic by Integrating Spatial Information.” Geocarto International, 20(2):15-20.

Sun, W., Heidt, V., Gong, P., and Xu, G. 2003. “Information Fusion for Rural Land-Use Classification with High Resolution Satellite Imagery”,  IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing,  41(4):883-890.

 

Sun, W. and Heidt, V. 2001. “Contribution of Spatial Information of High-resolution Satellite Imagery to Optimizing the Classification Method”, Research Magazine of Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 17: 46-51.

  

Sun, W. 1992. “Developing PC-Based GIS Using Landsat Imaginary as the Principal Data Source.” Memoirs of Nanjing Institute of Geography, Academia Sinica, 8:84-92.

Conference Procedings

Sun, W., Liang, S., Xu, G., and Fang, H., 2005.  Improving MODIS PFT product using multisource evidential reasoning. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Physical Measurements and Signatures in Remote Sensing, 1:225-227.

Conference Presentations

Liang, S., Fang, H., Townshend, J., Dickinson, R., and Sun, W. 2006. Remotely sensed land surface climatologies for climate studies. Presented at 2006 Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, American Geophysical Union. Beijing, China.

Sun, W. 2005. Three new implementations of the triangular prism method for computing the fractal dimension of image surfaces. Presented at the Annual Conference of Association of American Geographers, Denver, USA.

Sun, W., Kelly, M., & Gong, P. 2004. “Separation of Dead Tree Crowns from the Oak Woodland Forest Mosaic by Integrating Spatial Information,” presented at the Annual Conference of Association of American Geographers, Philadelphia, USA.

Blazevic, A, Sun, W., & Sengupta, R. 2004. “Using Location-Allocation to Maximize Coverage of Forest Fire Suppressant Aircraft,” presented at the Annual Conference of Association of American Geographers, Philadelphia, USA.

Sun, W. 2003. "Information Fusion for Land-Use Classification with High Resolution Satellite Imagery," presented at  the Annual Conference of Association of American Geographers, New Orleans, USA.

Heidt, V. & Sun, W. 2002. “A New Information Fusion Method for Land-Use Classification Using High-Resolution Satellite Imagery,” presented at the international conference of NATO/CCMS Pilot Study of Landscape Sciences for Environmental Assessment, Las Vegas, USA.

Sun, W., Heidt, V. 2001.  “Applying 3D Visualization and Simulation Techniques in Natural Resource Planning and Management,” presented at the annual Hannover Industry Exhibition, Hannover, Germany.  

  

Sun, W. 2001. “Improvement of Classification Accuracy for Satellite Imagery using GIS data,” presented at annual ESRI UserGroup SW, Germany.    

   

Sun, W. 2001. “Virtual Flight over the Region of South Vein Street, ” presented at annual ESRI UserGroup SW, Germany.

    

Sun, W. 1998. “Improve the Accuracy of Geometric Correction of High-resolution IRS-1C Satellite Imagery Using Differential GPS,” presented at the Research Forum of the University of Mainz, Germany. 

    

Heidt, V. and W. Sun. 1998. “GIS and Remote Sensing Applications in Landscape Planning in Southwest Germany.” Invited presentation at Nanjing Institute of Geography, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.

 

Heidt, V. and W. Sun. 1998. “Planning for Sustainable Regional Development Using GIS and Remote Sensing in Germany.” Invited presentation at the Northeast University of Economics and Business, Dalian, China.

 


RESEARCH PROJECTS

Improving Land Surface Products from Multiple EOS Data Sets Using Knowledge-based Expert Systems. NASA/University of Maryland.

Improving Remote Sensing Image Classification Accuracies by using Texture Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Fractal Approaches in Texture Analysis and Classification of Remotely Sensed Data. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Monitoring spatial and temporal soil organic carbon variation at regional level using remote sensing and GIS. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Using Location-Allocation to Maximize Coverage of Forest Fire Suppressant Aircraft. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Object-based Vegetation Classification with Airborne High Resolution Image. In collaboration with UC Berkeley.

Habitat Modeling to Assess the Risk of Invasion by Celastrus Orbiculatus on Public Lands Using Remote Sensing in Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Mapping and Monitoring Sudden Oak Death: Diagnosis and Management. In collaboration with UC Berkeley.

  • Interpreting suddenly died oak by using digital ADAR aircraft digital photos

  • Conduct oak change detection using two years of data  

  • Perform GIS analysis and mapping  

Planning for Sustainable Region Development in Southwest Germany: An Ecological and Landscape Protection Approach. Funded by the Ministry of Environment, the Rheinland-Pfalze State, Germany (2000-2001).

  • GIS analysis and mapping

  • 3D visualization and simulation

Developing New Approaches for Land-use Classification Using High-resolution IRS-1C Satellite Imagery. Funded by the Ministry of Environment, the Rheinland-Pfalze State and the University of Mainz, Germany (1996-1999).

  • Developed a software package (using C programming) for effective extraction of land-cover types from IRS-1C imagery

  • Used GPS for the geo-referencing of IRS-1C imagery

  • Produced maps and other spatial information outputs

Establishing a Biodiversity GIS for the City of Mainz. Funded by the Ministry of Environment, the Rheinland-Pfalze State, Germany (1995-1996).

  • Responsible for spatial database management

  • Performed C and FORTRAN Programming for data conversion and integration

  • Conducted GIS analysis and programming in Arc/Info, and produced a series of maps

Developing an ArcCAD-Systems Based GIS for Upgrading Landscape Planning in Sprendlingen-Gensingen and Nieder-Olm, Germany. Funded by the Ministry of Environment, the Rheinland-Pfalze State, Germany (1993-1994).

  • Conducted GIS analysis and programming in ArcCAD

  • Performed C programming for data conversion

  • Performed database management, and produced mapping outputs

Standardization of National GIS Systems of China. Funded by the Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1991-1992)

  • Participated in the design of cartographic and database standards

  • Developed GIS application software in PC environment using C and FORTRAN

  • Performed data transfer and conversions

GIS Applications in Urban Environment Engineering - A Case Study of Nanjing. Funded by the Science Foundation of China and the Urban Planning Bureau of Nanjing (1991-1992)

  • Responsible for database development and GIS analysis

  • Performed environmental modeling using PC ARC/INFO

  • Prepared graphic representations and maps

GIS Applications in Regional Development Planning for the Nanjing Economic Zone. Funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1989-1990)

  • Designed GIS spatial database

  • Wrote programs to generate user defined products

  • Assisted in setting up and operating digitizers, scanners and plotters