Hi, I am Dr. Chen Zhang, currently a research assistant professor of GIS at Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems, George Mason University. As a geographer and computer scientist, I am specializing in applying state-of-the-art methods, technologies, and tools across multidisciplinary fields to discover, understand, and share geoinformation. My research areas encompass but are not limited to:
Throughout my career, I have contributed to over 10 research projects funded by U.S. federal agencies, published more than 80 peer-reviewed research articles, and served as a reviewer and editor for more than 30 journals and conferences.
I am also a full-stack software engineer with expertise in developing and enhancing a variety of geospatial data systems and applications. Some of my notable contributions include Crop-CASMA, AgKit4EE, iCrop, CropScape, VegScape, and GEOSS Information Exchange DataHub.
News:
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
2021
China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
2014
China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing, China
2011
* Here is a list of my latest publication as the first author. Please see Publication Page for abstract and full-text access.
* Full publication list and citations can be found on my Google Scholar Profile.
Zhang, C., Di, L., Lin, L., Zhao, H., Li, H., Yang, A., Guo, Li., and Yang, Z., 2023. Cyberinformatics tool for in-season crop-specific land cover monitoring: Design, implementation, and applications of iCrop. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 213, 108199. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2023.108199.
Zhang, C., Marfatia, P., Farhan, H., Di, L., Lin, L., Zhao, H., Li, H., Islam, M.D. and Yang, Z., 2023. Enhancing USDA NASS Cropland Data Layer with Segment Anything Model. The 11th International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics. doi: 10.1109/Agro-Geoinformatics59224.2023.10233404.
Zhang, C., Yang, Z., Di, L., Yu, E.G., Zhang, B., Han, W, Lin, L., and Guo, L., 2022. Near-real-time MODIS-derived vegetation index data products and online services for CONUS based on NASA LANCE. Scientific Data, 9, 477. doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01565-2.
Zhang, C., Di, L., Lin, L., Li, H., Guo, L., Yang, Z., Yu, E.G., Di, Y. and Yang, A., 2022. Towards automation of in-season crop type mapping using spatiotemporal crop information and remote sensing data. Agricultural Systems, 201, 103462. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103462.
Zhang, C., Yang, Z., Zhao, H., Sun, Z., Di, L., Bindlish, R., Liu, P.W., Colliander, A., Mueller, R., Crow, W. and Reichle, R.H., 2022. Crop-CASMA: A web geoprocessing and map service based architecture and implementation for serving soil moisture and crop vegetation condition data over US Cropland. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 112, 102902. doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2022.102902.
Zhang, C., Di, L., Hao, P., Yang, Z., Lin, L., Zhao, H. and Guo, L., 2021. Rapid in-season mapping of corn and soybeans using machine-learned trusted pixels from Cropland Data Layer. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 102, 102374. doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2021.102374.
Zhang, C., Di, L., Yang, Z., Lin, L., Zhao, H. and Yu, E.G., 2021. An Overview of Agriculture Cyberinformatics Tools to Support USDA NASS Decision Making. The 9th International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics. doi: 10.1109/Agro-Geoinformatics50104.2021.9530327.
Zhang, C., Yang, Z., Di, L., Lin, L., Hao, P. and Guo, L, 2021. Applying Machine Learning to Cropland Data Layer for Agro-Geoinformation Discovery. 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS). doi: 10.1109/IGARSS47720.2021.9554628.
* Here is a list of my ongoing research. Please see R&D Page for all research and development projects.
CropSmart - a digital twin for making wiser cropping decisions nationwide
NSF Convergence Accelerator Track J Phase 2, Grant #2345039 (PI: Dr. Liping Di)
Senior Personnel
2023 - present
Spatiotemporal Transfer Learning for Enabling Cross-country and Cross-hemisphere In-season Crop Mapping
NSF Info Integration & Informatics Program, Grant #2228000 (PI: Dr. Liping Di)
Senior Personnel
2022 - present
Hosting, maintaining, and enhancing the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) operational online geospatial applications Crop-CASMA and VegScape systems
Supported by USDA NASS
Software Engineer
2022 - present
Machine-learning-based In-season Crop Mapping and Associated Cloud-based Bigdata Cyberinfrastructure to Support USDA NASS Decision Making
USDA NIFA FACT Program, Grant #2021-67021-34151 (PI: Dr. Liping Di)
Senior Personnel
2021 - present
GGS 773: Interoperability of Geographic Information Systems
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Instructor
Spring 2024, Spring 2023
GGS 754: Earth Science Data and Advanced Data Analysis
(Lecture topic: Crop Type Mapping with Google Earth Engine)
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Guest Lecturer
Spring 2024
2023 Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
College of Science, George Mason University
Mentor
Summer 2023
GGS 787: Scientific Data Mining in Geoinformatics
(Lecture topic: Data Mining in Agro-Geoinformatics)
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Guest Lecturer
Spring 2023
GGS 366: Spatial Computing
(Lecture topic: Introductory Agro-Geoinformatics in Spatial Computing)
Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Guest Lecturer
Fall 2022
IEEE GRSS Washington, DC & Northern VA Chapter Virtual Seminar
(Lecture topic: Exploring Agro-Geoinformation for the United States Using the FAIR Cyberinformatics Tools)
IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society
Guest Lecturer
2022
Assistant Director, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems
2024 - present
Research Assistant Professor, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems
2022 - present
Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems
2015 - 2021
Research Assistant, Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems
2012 - 2014
Research Assistant, Department of Computer Science and Technology
2011 - 2014
Member, AGU
2020 - present
Member, IEEE
2020 - present
Member, IEEE GRSS
2020 - present
Member, OGC
2016 - present
Student Member, AAG
2018 - 2021
Student Member, ESIP
2016 - 2021
* Please see all verified reviews on Web of Science.
Advances in Space Research, Elsevier
Agricultural Systems, Elsevier
Agriculture, MDPI
Agronomy, MDPI
Alexandria Engineering Journal, Elsevier
Applied Sciences, MDPI
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, Elsevier
Atmospheric Science Letters, Wiley
Automatika, Taylor & Francis
Climate, MDPI
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Elsevier
Data in Brief, Elsevier
Earth System Science Data, Copernicus Publications
Earth Science Informatics, Springer
Ecological Informatics, Elsevier
Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Elsevier
Environmental Challenges, Elsevier
Environmental Modelling & Software, Elsevier
European Journal of Remote Sensing, Taylor & Francis
European Journal of Agronomy, Elsevier
Expert Systems with Applications, Elsevier
Field Crops Research, Elsevier
Forests, MDPI
Heliyon, Cell Press
Geocarto International, Taylor & Francis
Geodesy and Geodynamics, Elsevier
Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, Taylor & Francis
Geoscientific Model Development, Copernicus Publications
Geo-spatial Information Science, Taylor & Francis
GIScience & Remote Sensing, Taylor & Francis
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, IEEE
International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics, IEEE
International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), IEEE
International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, Elsevier
International Journal of Digital Earth, Taylor & Francis
International Journal of Remote Sensing, Taylor & Francis
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, MDPI
ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Elsevier
Journal of King Saud University - Computer and Information Sciences, Elsevier
Journal of Computational Science, Elsevier
Journal of Remote Sensing, AAAS
Local Environment, Taylor & Francis
PeerJ, PeerJ
PLOS ONE, PLOS
Remote Sensing, MDPI
Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, Elsevier
Remote Sensing Letters, Taylor & Francis
Remote Sensing of Environment, Elsevier
Science of the Total Environment, Elsevier
Scientific Data, Nature Portfolio
Scientific Reports, Nature Portfolio
Sensors, MDPI
Smart Agricultural Technology, Elsevier
Sustainability, MDPI
Technologies, MDPI
Water, MDPI