Photo: Merle C. Prunty, Jr. Professor and Associate Head Director, Center for Geospatial Research (CGR) Director, UGA Small Satellite Research Laboratory (SSRL) Contact info Email: dmishra@uga.edu Office: Geography, 212B Geography, 313 Lab phone: 706-542-9169 Research Interests: Coastal environments have been steadily subjected to natural and anthropogenic events such as hurricanes, coastal development, sea-level rise, and overfishing. These changes have resulted in wetland loss, water quality degradation, loss of barrier islands, reduced storm surge protection, and decline of fisheries. Continuous monitoring and restoration of the fragile ecosystems are fundamental to life along the coast. Geospatial technologies provide the tools to monitor these ecosystems at large spatial scale and in a timely fashion. My research includes combining field-based remote sensing (field spectroscopy) with satellite remote sensing to study inland and coastal water resources. Current projects focus on: (1) Developing satellite based decision support tools for Coastal salt marsh conservation and restoration; (2) Modeling and mapping the spatio-temporal distribution of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in inland and coastal waters; (3) Combining flux tower and satellite datasets to study long-term changes in gross and net primary productivity, and carbon sequestration in tidal wetlands; (4) Sea Level Rise and coastal resources; (6) Seagrass mapping and coral disease detection using remote sensing; (7) Developing a cyberinfrastructure by combining social, computational, and sensor clouds for monitoring coastal marshes and inland water quality, and (8) Small satellite development for Space AI applications. SSRL CGR Other Affiliations: UGAMI GII Georgia Space Grant Consortium The Institute for Artificial Intelligence, UGA Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER CyanoTracker Education Education: PhD (2006), University of Nebraska, Lincoln Natural Resources M. Tech (2002), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur Civil Engineering Grant Support Grants: 60. Perceptive and reactive autonomous navigation in challenging environments, (Role: PI, Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy, G. Lu, I. Kim, and others), Army Research Lab, $4,741,644. 11/01/2023-10/31/2026 59. Advanced GeoAI for terrain analytics in cold regions, (Role: PI, Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy, G. Lu, I. Kim, and others), USACE, $2,987,011. 09/01/2023-08/31/2025 58. Detection, driver-response analysis, and forecasting of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in inland waters under a changing climate, (Role: PI, Student Investigator: C. Maniyar), NASA, $149,208. 09/01/2023 - 08/31/2026 57. Synoptic assessment and spatio-temporal characterization of rapidly evolving CyanoHABs in large freshwater systems, (Role: PI), NASA, $625,633. 07/01/2023-06/30/2026 56. Leveraging earth observation for ecosystem service accounting in large-scale levee setback decisions, (Role: Co-PI, PI: C. van Rees, Co-Is: D. Crane, M. Dixon, R. Jacobson, and S. Wenger), NASA, $604,962. 10/01/2023-09/30/2026 55. Continual and robust terrain awareness through advanced fusion and analytics on multi-modal and multi-sensor data streams, (Role: PI, Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy, S. Bhandarkar, and I. Kim,), USACE, $859,762. 09/23/2022-09/22/2023. 54. CESU-Remote sensing to characterize threat of cyanobacterial blooms on Bull Sluice Lake within the CHAT watershed, (Role: PI), NPS. $60,000. 04/01/2023-09/30/2024. 53. ESLR 2021 Coastal Resilience: Evaluating risk of tidal marsh inundation and monetizing services to prioritize management actions, (Role: Co-I, PI: L. Sutter, Co-Is: N. Weston and Y. Hashida), NOAA, $1,420,729. 09/01/2022-08/31/2026. 52. LTER: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems IV, (Role: Senior Personnel, PI: M. Alber, Co-Is: numerous), NSF, $6,762,000. 12/01/2018-11/30/2024 51. Multi-view Onboard Computational Imager, (Role: Co-PI, PI: D. Cotten, Co-Is: numerous), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – University Nanosat Program (UNP), Phase-B, $750,650, 04/01/2018-03/31/2024. 50. A tidal and species based MODIS GPP product for estimating marsh blue carbon across the southeastern United States, (Co-Is: J. O’Connell and D. Cotten), NASA, $994,963. 03/01/2017-03/31/2023. 49. Design and assembly of a vibration table for CubeSat testing at UGA, (Role: PI), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 07/01/2022-06/30/2023. 48. Developing and testing a new hyperspectral backscattering instrument to improve harmful algal bloom detections from space, (Role: Co-I; PI: S. Rivero-Calle), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 07/01/2022-06/30/2023. 47. Design and assembly of a Helmholtz Cage for orbital magnetic simulations and CubeSat testing at UGA, (Role: PI), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 08/01/2021-07/31/2022. 46. A CubeSat-based deep learning model for Georgia’s marine environments, (Role: PI and Mentor, Fellowship Proposal), GA Space Grant Consortium, $15,300. 08/01/2021-07/31/2022. 45. Satellite image and remote sensing analysis for highway asset management, (Role: Co-I, PI: S. Kim, Co-Is: J. Yang, S. Durham, and M. Chorzepa), GDOT, $145,000. 11/1/2021-10/31/2023. 44. SitS: AweSOMSense: Multi-modal sensing and analytics framework for modeling belowground SOM in salt marsh wetlands, (Role: Co-I, PI: S. Kim, Co-Is: I. Kim and L. Sutter), NSF/USDA, $1,123,905. 01/01/2021-12/31/2023. 43. Design and assembly of a Helmholtz Cage for orbital magnetic simulations and CubeSat testing at UGA, (Role: PI), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 08/01/2021-07/31/2022. 42. A CubeSat-based deep learning model for Georgia’s marine environments, (Role: PI and Mentor, Fellowship Proposal), GA Space Grant Consortium, $15,300. 08/01/2021-07/31/2022. 41. RAPID: COVID-19 quarantine impacts on urban-source nutrient deposition into UNESCO’s Belize Barrier Reef Reserve World Heritage site, (Role: Co-I, PI: R. Griffin, Co-Is: E. Cherrington and N. Gomez), NASA, $50,000. 08/01/2020-07/31/2022. 40. Testing and operationalizing a fully built ground station at UGA for use by students, (Role: PI, Co-I: D. Cotten), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 08/01/2020-07/31/2021. 39. Enhancing CubeSat based remote sensing capabilities by utilizing advanced simulations and analytics, (Role: PI and Mentor, Co-I: D. Cotten; Fellowship Proposal), GA Space Grant Consortium, $15,300. 08/01/2020-07/31/2021. 38. Eutrophication of water bodies and land use changes in Uruguay: An evaluation at the basin level using remote sensing, (Role: Co-I, PI: M. Vallejos, Co-Is: V. Ciganda and F. Gallego), National Research Institute for Agriculture (INIA) of Uruguay, $14,000. 01/01/2020-06/30/2021. 37. Enhancing inter satellite communication for swarms, (Role: PI and Mentor, Co-I: D. Cotten; Fellowship Proposal), GA Space Grant Consortium, $18,560. 08/01/2019-07/31/2020. 36. Progressing towards a radiation hardened high performance computer, (Role: PI, Co-I: D. Cotten), GA Space Grant Consortium, $21,440. 08/01/2019-07/31/2020. 35. Developing an effective and targeted monitoring system for tracking toxic harmful algal blooms across Georgia, (Role: PI, Co-PI: S. Wilde), GWRI, $55,299. 03/01/2019-02/29/2020 34. Climate-influenced Nutrient Flows and Threats to the Biodiversity of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, (Role: Co-I, PI: R. Griffin, Co-Is: E. Cherrington, C. Lee and A. Tewfik), NASA, $724,390. 12/01/2018-11/30/2022 33. Advancing space-based GPU computer vision algorithms, (Role: PI, Co-I: C. Cotten), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,000. 08/01/2018-07/31/2019 32. Board development for space based processors, (Role: Mentor, Fellowship for Mr. Caleb Adams), GA Space Grant Consortium, $20,147. 08/01/2018-07/31/2019 31. Persistent hydrological consequences of hurricane interactions with the Georgia coastline, (Role: Co-I, PI: P. Miller, Co-I: T. Mote), GA Seagrant, $10,000. 01/01/2018-12/31/2018 30. EAGER: A sensor cloud-based community-centric approach for analyzing and mitigating Urban Heat Hazards, (Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy and A. Grundstein), NSF, $238,399. 09/15/2016-09/14/2020 29. A multi-sensor approach to enhance the prediction of mangrove biophysical characteristics in Chilika Lagoon and Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India, (Role: faculty advisor), NASA DEVELOP. 09/12/2016-04/01/2017 28. Digital orbital analysis of water resources for Georgia, (Co-Is: numerous) NASA, $467,218. 06/22/2016-06/21/2020 27. GeorgiaSat-1, (Co-Is: numerous), AFRL/Space Dynamics Laboratory, $147,466. 01/01/2016-12/31/2017. 26. Understanding the trajectory of coastal salt marsh structure, function, and processes in the face of sea level rise: a synthesis from historical imagery, biophysical processes, and hierarchical modeling, (Co-Is: P. Biber, W. Wu, and G. Carter), National Academy of Sciences, $506,619. 01/01/2016-12/31/2019. 25. A novel hybrid approach for mapping belowground productivity and carbon sequestration potential within Georgia salt marshes, (Co-Is: J. O’Connell, M. Alber, and K. Byrd), GA SeaGrant, $212,808. 02/01/2016-01/31/2018. 24. Utilizing NASA earth observations and proximal remote sensing for mapping spatio-temporal distribution of Hydrilla, (Role: faculty advisor), NASA DEVELOP. 05/15/2015-07/31/2015. 23. Understanding and managing the risk from cyanobacteria toxicity in farm ponds due to land management and climate interactions, (Co-Is: L. Kramer, and S. Wilde), NIFA/USDA- NNF, $36,000. 08/01/2015-07/31/2017. 22. CyberSEES: Type 1: Meghdoot: A Multi-Cloud Infrastructure for Enhancing Sustainability via Effective Monitoring of Inland Waters and Coastal Wetlands, (Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy, and S. Bhandarkar), NSF, $399,912. 10/01/2014-09/30/2019. 21. A MODIS biophysical parameters centered framework for monitoring carbon sequestration potential of Gulf Coast salt marshes, NASA, $441,413. 09/01/2014 - 08/30/2017. 20. Implications of eutrophication and climate change in promoting toxic cyanobacterial blooms in agricultural ponds across Georgia, (Co-Is: S. Wilde), USGS/Georgia Water Resources Institute, $54,320. 08/01/2014-07/31/2015. 19. Developing a cyanobacteria detection tool for Georgia inland waters using NASA Landsat-8 OLI data for water quality protection and restoration, (Role: faculty advisor), NASA DEVELOP. 06/15/2014-11/30/2014. 18. Parametrization of a bio-optical model for deriving inherent optical properties in tropical reservoirs in Brazil: Nova Avanhandava and Barra Bonita (Sao Paulo State), (Co-Is: E. Alcantara), Science without Borders: CNPq/MCTI, Govt. of Brazil, R$323,287. 08/11/2013-08/10/2016. 17. Preliminary research and data gathering for resubmission of the NSF-CyberSEES proposal- CyberSEES: Type 1: Meghdoot: A multi-cloud infrastructure for effective monitoring of inland waters and coastal wetlands sustainability, (Co-Is: L. Ramaswamy, and S. Bhandarkar), UGA OVPR, $10,000. 01/01/2014-05/15/2014. 16. Transformational approach to monitoring water quality sustainability of coastal ecosystems from satellite remote sensing, (Co-I: B. Schaeffer), NRL. 11/1/2012-12/31/2014. 15. Model to separate water column chlorophyll and benthic vegetation signals from HICO data, (Co-I: H. J. Cho), NRL. 11/1/2012-12/31/2014. 14. RAPID: Quantifying the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on the health and productivity of Louisiana salt marshes, (Co-I: J. Cho), NSF, $199,703. 13. Strengthening global climate change education through remote sensing application in coastal environment using NASA satellite data and models, (Co-PI: J. Cho), NASA, $320,977. 12. Physics-based ocean-color algorithms for water-quality products of coastal and inland waters, (Co-I: Z. Lee), NASA, $194,550. 11. A MODIS based decision support tool for Gulf Coast salt marsh conservation and restoration, (Co-Is: D. Reed and A. Gitelson), NASA, $395,439. 10. A regional partnership for climate science literacy in the southeastern United States, (Co-Is: K. McNeal, R. Smith, D. Hare, D. Rutherford, U. Nair, J. Cho, V. Anantharaj, J. Paz), NSF, $998,998. 9. Comprehensive study of the impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill on the health and productivity of Gulf Coast salt marshes, (Co-Is: K. McNeal, A. Mercer, and B. Cooke), NGI Phase-2, $193,775. 8. How healthy is this marsh? Employing innovative remote sensing techniques for assessing marsh health in restoration projects involving high school students and teachers, (Co-I: Diane Maygarden), Louisiana Sea Grant, $149,987. 7. Developing a tool for remote detection of cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom in Mississippi waters: A tangible step toward an early warning system, Henry Fund-Mississippi State University, $10,000. 6. Field sampling to study the impact of Deepwater horizon oil spill on the health and productivity of Gulf Coast salt marshes, (Co-Is: K. McNeal, A. Mercer, and B. Cooke), Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, $80,876. 5. Developing a geospatial tool to quantify the effectiveness of the previous and current marsh restoration efforts, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, $75,000. 4. Comprehensive study of the impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill on the health and productivity of Gulf Coast salt marshes, NGI Phase-1, $60,000; 05/202010 - 12/2010. 3. Measuring 2005 land loss in the Pontchartrain Basin using high resolution color infrared aerial photography at a scale of 1/12,000: Hurricane impact, NOAA, $89,128. 2. Mapping, quantifying, and predicting current and future invasive plant species spread along the North Platte River corridor In Nebraska (PI: S. Narumalani), USDA, $45,000. 1. Natural resources mapping of Camp Ashland Training Site, Ashland, NE, using high density LIDAR (PI: S. Narumalani), Nebraska Army National Guard, $69,000. Of Note Of note: Member, Committee on Long Term Environmental Trends in the Gulf of Mexico, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020-2022, https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/a-report-series-on-long-term-environmental-trends-in-the-gulf-of-mexico Section Editor-in-Chief: MDPI Remote Sensing Letter, 2019-present Associate Editor: