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 analysis approaches to analyze patterns of social and ecological processes that drive landscape changes affecting earth's resources. Her current research utilizes a human-centered research approach focusing on community engagement and capacity building activities designed to connect science to climate adaptation and resilience challenges and opportunities in communities throughout the globe. This is accomplished by using local knowledge gained through public participatory GIS (PPGIS) processes to incorporate the values, meanings, and uses people have of their local landscapes to improve the resilience of communities affected by climate-related risks. 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, PPGIS, 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