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  International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
127, Sunil Mawatha, Pelawatte,
Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Tel:(94) 11 2787404
Fax:(94) 11 2786854

Time Zone:GMT + 5:30

 
 


 
 
Prasad S. Thenkabail (PhD)
Principal Researcher; Head, Remote Sensing/GIS Unit; Group Leader, Global Research Division
Member of LANDSAT SCIENCE TEAM.

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
PO Box 2075,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka.

Tel : (94) 11 2880000
Fax : (94) 11 2786854
Email : thenkabail@gmail.com

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Prasad S. Thenkabail, an American Citizen, has 23+ years experience working as an well recognized International expert in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (RS\GIS) and its applications to natural resources management, sustainable development, and environmental studies. Prasad has worked in over 25 Countries in Africa, Asia, Middle-East, and North America.

Over last 4+ years, Prasad is working as a principal researcher of the Global Research Division and Head of the Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (RS\GIS) at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Prior to joining IWMI, for 6 years, he was an Associate Research Scientist (a research faculty position) at Yale Center for Earth Observation (YCEO) at the Yale University, USA. Earlier to this, for nearly 5 years, he lead the Remote Sensing programs at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) mostly working in West and Central Africa based in Nigeria and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) working in the Hindu-Kush Himalayas based in Katmandu, Nepal. Earlier to these positions, Prasad worked as a scientist with the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Department of Space, and Government of India. He started his career as a lecturer in hydrology, water resources, hydraulics, and open channel flow in the Bangalore and Mysore University affiliated colleges in India.

Currently at IWMI, Prasad provides leadership in spatial data applications in various IWMI projects and Thematic Research. The projects he has lead, scientifically, include global irrigated area mapping (GIAM), droughts (remote sensing component), wetland mapping, knowledge base systems for Sri Lanka (KBS-Lanka), and water productivity studies. All projects involve heavy use of spatial datasets, especially satellite sensor data. Prasad has lead developments and launch of following web portals: IWMI data storehouse pathway (http://www.iwmidsp.org), global irrigated area mapping (http://www.iwmigiam.org), and KBS-Lanka (http://www.iwmikbs.org). He has contributed significantly to droughts monitoring system (http://dms.iwmi.org), and tsunami satellite sensor data catalogue (http://tsdc.iwmi.org).

Prasad has 50 publications, mostly peer-reviewed Journals international remote sensing journals. His work on hyperspectral remote sensing of agriculture and vegetation is globally recognized as pioneering work and his publications are widely referenced. He won the 1994 Autometric Award of the American Society of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) for superior publication in Remote Sensing for PhD research related publication on corn and soybean crop studies using Landsat TM data. In Africa, he lead the inland valley wetland characterization and mapping and alternative to slash and burn benchmark area characterization using Landsat and SPOT satellite sensor data. Prasad was on the scientific advisory board of Rapideye, a private German Earth Resources Satellite Company. He played a pivotal role in recommending the design of wavebands in the rapideye sensor onboard a constellation of satellites planned for launch during 2007-08 by Rapideye.

The USGS and NASA selected Prasad to be on the Landsat Science Team for a period of 5-years starting 2006 (http://ldcm.usgs.gov). Prasad is one of the editors of Remote Sensing of Environment and an associate editor-in-chief of the Journal of Spatial Hydrology (JoSH). In June 2007, Prasad's team was recognized by the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) for "special achievement in GIS" (SAG award) for their Tsunami related work and for their innovative spatial data portals (http://www.iwmidsp.org) and science applications (http://www.iwmigiam.org). Prasad has won the one of the 5 best papers consistently during 2004, 2005, and 2006 in the IWMI?s annual research meeting and his team was awarded the "best research team" for GIAM work. In June-July 2007, he gave talks on their innovative work on global irrigated area mapping (GIAM) at NASA Ames (http://center.arc.nasa.gov/index.php?tag=human-exploration), Landsat Science Team, University of New Hampshire (UNH), and Boston University (BU).



Publications: (11 sample publications)

Thenkabail, P.S., GangadharaRao, P., Biggs, T., Krishna, M., and Turral, H., 2007. Spectral Matching Techniques to Determine Historical Land use/Land cover (LULC) and Irrigated Areas using Time-series AVHRR Pathfinder Datasets in the Krishna River Basin, India. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 73(9): 1029-1040.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal (special issue: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and the Environment (Remote Sensing Sensors Edited by Assefa M. Melesse). 7:2519-2538. http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s7112519.pdf

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.M., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L., , Dutta, R. 2006. An Irrigated Area Map of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing. Research Report # 105. International Water Management Institute. Pp. 74. Also, see under documents in: http://www.iwmigiam.org.

Thenkabail, P.S., Schull, M., Turral, H. 2005. Ganges and Indus River Basin Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and Irrigated Area Mapping using Continuous Streams of MODIS Data. Remote Sensing of Environment. Remote Sensing of Environment, 95(3): 317-341.

Thenkabail, P.S., Gamage, N., and Smakhin, V. 2004. The use of remote sensing data for drought assessment and monitoring in south west Asia. IWMI Research report # 85. Pp. 25. IWMI, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Thenkabail, P.S., Stucky, N., Griscom, B.W., Ashton, M.S., Diels, J., Van Der Meer, B., and Enclona, E. 2004. Biomass estimations and carbon Stock calculations in the oil palm plantations of African derived savannas using IKONOS data, International Journal of Remote Sensing. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 25(23):5447-5472.

Thenkabail, P.S., Enclona, E.A., Ashton, M.S., Legg, C., Jean De Dieu, M., 2004. Hyperion, IKONOS, ALI, and ETM+ sensors in the study of African rainforests. Remote Sensing of Environment, 90:23-43.

Thenkabail P.S., Smith, R.B., and De-Pauw, E. 2002. Evaluation of Narrowband and Broadband Vegetation Indices for Determining Optimal Hyperspectral Wavebands for Agricultural Crop Characterization. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 68(6): 607-621.

Thenkabail P.S., Nolte, C., and Lyon, J.G. 2000a. Remote sensing and GIS modelling for selection of benchmark research area in the inland valley agroecosystems of West and Central Africa. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, Africa Applications Special Issue, 66(6):755-768.

Thenkabail P.S., Smith, R.B., and De-Pauw, E. 2000b. Hyperspectral vegetation indices for determining agricultural crop characteristics. Remote sensing of Environment. 71:158-182.

Thenkabail S. Prasad, Ward A.D., Lyon J.G., and Merry C.J. 1994. Thematic Mapper vegetation indices for determining soybean and corn crop growth parameters. The Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 60(4):437-442.

     
 
 
Chandrashekhar M. Biradar (PhD)
Research Scientist

Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space (EOS),
University of New Hampshire,
Durham, NH 03824, USA.

Tel : +1-603-862-1555
Fax : +1-603-862-0188
Email : biradar.c.m@unh.edu
Web : http://remotesensing.unh.edu

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Expertise:

1. Global mapping: irrigated areas, rainfed croplands, and land use\land cover;
2. Remote sensing and GIS;
3. Landscape Ecology, Biodiversity Characterization and Gap Analysis modelling;
4. Application of geospatial tools for natural resources management and assessment;
5. GIS modelling and Geospatial Database Management.

Chandrashekhar Biradar (Chandru) is currently working as a Research Scientist at the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS), University of New Hampshire, USA. Earlier to this he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the International Water management Institute (IWMI).

At IWMI, Chandru was involved in the pioneering work, as one of the lead researchers, in producing Global Irrigated Area Map (GIAM) and related products using multi-sensor, time-series satellite sensor data at various scales and resolutions. The study demonstrated, for the first time, the use of quantitative and qualitative spectral matching techniques (SMTs), generation of ideal spectra in analyzing long time-series satellite images, and innovative techniques for sub-pixel area calculations (e.g., sub-pixel decomposition technique). In addition, extensive use of spatial modelling, decision tree algorithms, and Google Earth data for accuracy evaluations were investigated. The GIAM project also lead to many innovations in data composition and analysis such as mega-file composition that involved 100s and even 1000s of bands of data in a single file.

Chandru produced Global Map of Rainfed Cropland areas (GMRCA) as a lead author and is currently developing methods for agricultural water productivity mapping using remote sensing. The other projects where Chandru has made significant contributions are in the methodology development component of the Global wetland inventory and mapping (GWIM), biodiversity studies, agroforestry systems, and Knowledge Base System for Sri Lanka.

He has played a key role in conceptualization and development of IWMI's spatial data gateway or IWMI Data Storehouse Pathway. IWMIDSP is a well recognized Global Public Goods (GPG) with over 2,000 visitors from over 70 Countries every month. He was actively involved in Asian Post-Tsunami rapid response mapping and monitoring for relief efforts and in building Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue.

Chandru has played highly significant team role in GIAM, IWMIDSP, and Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue. All of this resulted in the team awards during 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2007, the IWMIDSP, GIAM, Tsunami Team was recognized by the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) for "Special achievement in GIS" (SAG award) for their innovative spatial data portals, science applications, and Tsunami work. In 2006, the GIAM got the best team award during IWMI's annual research meeting (ARM). In 2005, "Team Initiative 2005" during IWMI's ARM2005 for Tsunami mapping efforts.



Publications: (11 sample publications)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P., Islam, A., Anputhas, A., Tharme, R., Vithanage. J., Alankara, R., and Gunasinghe, S. 2007. Study of Landsat ETM+, SPOT HRV, and Terra MODIS wavebands for habitat change mapping during pre- and post-irrigation project. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 33, 431-444

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 2008. Rainfed Cropland Areas of the World derived from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. (in review: Land Use Science).

Thenkabail, P. S., Biradar, C. M., Turral, H.; Noojipady, P., Li, Y. J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull, M., Cai, X. L., and Dutta, R. 2008. An irrigated area map of the world derived from remote sensing. (in review: International Journal of Remote Sensing)

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal, 7:2519-2538.

Kulawardhana, R. W., Thenkabail, P. S., Biradar, C., Vithanage, J., Masiyandima, M, Finlayson, M., Islam, Md. A., Gunasinghe, S., Alankara, R. 2008. Methods for Mapping, Characterization, and classification of the wetlands of Limpopo River basin using Landsat ETM+ and SRTM Data (in press: Remote Sensing of Environment)

Thenkabail, P. S.; Biradar, C. M.; Turral, H.; Noojipady, P.; Li, Y. J.; Vithanage, J.; Dheeravath, V.; Velpuri, M.; Schull, M.; Cai, X. L.; Dutta, R. 2006. An irrigated area map of the world (1999) derived from remote sensing. Research Report 105. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute. Pp. 74.

Biradar, C.M., Saran, S., Raju P. L. N and Roy P. S. 2005. Forest canopy density stratification: How relevant is biophysical spectral response modelling approach? Geocarto International, 20 (1), 1-7

Jayasuriya, A.H.M., Kitchener, D. and Biradar, C.M. 2006. Portfolio of Strategic Conservation Sites / Protected Area GAP Analysis in Sri Lanka. 2006. Pub. Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and EML. p276.

Biradar, C.M., Singh, S., Das, N.K. and Roy, P.S. 2004, Wildlife-Human conflict analysis in protected area: Geospatial approach. In Protected Habitats. Nature Conservators Pub. pp. 168-179

Biradar, C.M., Singh, S., Roy, P.S. 2003. Geospatial modelling techniques for rapid assessment of biodiversity at landscape level in western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, Current Science 84 (5), 101-108

Singh S., Roy P.S., Singh, S., Singh, D.K., Uniyal B.P. and Biradar, C.M. 2003. Additions to the Flora of Lahaul-Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh Annals of Forestry 11(1); 59-62

     
 
 
Praveen Noojipady (MSc)
Graduate Student, registered for PhD at :

Department of Geography,
University of Maryland,
College Park, MD 20742,
Maryland, USA.

Email : pnoojipa@umd.edu
Web : http://www.geog.umd.edu/

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Expertise:

1. Mapping Global Irrigated Areas;
2. Remote sensing and GIS;
3. Application of geospatial tools for natural resources management;
4. GIS modelling and Geospatial Database Management;
5. Geo Spatial Metadata.

Praveen Noojipady joined the remote sensing and GIS group of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in year 2005. Praveen has more than 2 years of experience in GIS and Remote sensing field. Prior to joining IWMI he worked as a Research Assistant at Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, India for 7 months. Praveen holds a Masters degree (M.E) in Water Resources Engineering and a Bachelors degree (B.E) in Civil Engineering from U.V.C.E, Bangalore University, India. He is a member of Geo-Informatics Society of Sri Lanka.

At IWMI, he was involved in Global Irrigated Area Mapping project as one of the key researchers. He conducted a massive groundtruth mission in India and played a key role is GIAM data analysis. He also contributed to the Crop and Drought monitoring system for Sri Lanka.

For over 1 year, Praveen administered the IWMI Spatial Data Gateway or it's Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP). IWMIDSP is a well recognized Global Public Goods (GPG) with over 2,000 visitors from over 70 Countries every month. His role included capacity building, support for the development of the RS/GIS Unit, and provide RS-GIS expert services to IWMI researchers at headquarters and regional offices. He was actively involved in Asian Post-Tsunami rapid response mapping and monitoring for relief efforts and in building Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue.

He lead building and training of Geo Spatial Metadata for IWMI and Challenge Program (CP) basins, which is also made accessible through Clearinghouse servers making available for the Global GIS community. He is proficient in many leading Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software packages such as ERDAS Imagine, ERMapper, ArcGIS and ArcView. He is knowledgeable in remote sensing data from a wide array of sensors such as Landsat, SPOT, IRS, MODIS, and AVHRR and also has very good understanding of remote sensing theory.

Praveen has played highly significant team role in GIAM, IWMIDSP, and Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue. All of this resulted in the team awards during 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2007, the IWMIDSP, GIAM, Tsunami Team was recognized by the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) for "Special achievement in GIS" (SAG award) for their innovative spatial data portals, science applications, and Tsunami work. In 2006, the GIAM got the best team award during IWMI's annual research meeting (ARM). In 2005, "Team Initiative 2005" during IWMI's ARM2005 for Tsunami mapping efforts.



Publications:

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.M., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Dutta, R. 2006a. An Irrigated Area Map of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing. Research Report # 105. International Water Management Institute. Pp. 74. Also, see under documents in: Global Irrigated Area Mapping.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal (Special issue: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and the Environment). 7:2519-2538. http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s7112519.pdf.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.M., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Dheeravath, V., Cai, X. L., Velpuri, M., Vithanage, J., Schull M., and Dutta, R.2007. A Global Irrigated Area Map (GIAM) using time-series satellite sensor, secondary, Google Earth, and Groundtruth data. (Submitted:IJRS)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 200X. Rainfed Cropland Areas of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques (Submitted:Journal of Land use science)

Dheeravath, V., Thenkabail, P.S., Noojipady, P., Biradar, C.B., Velpuri, M., Reddy, G.P.O., Cai, X., Turral. H., Yuanjie, L. 2007. Mapping irrigated areas of the Indian sub-continent through ideal spectra, spectral matching techniques, and optimal vegetation indices using MODIS 500 meter 2001-2003 8-day time series reflectance data.(In Preparation)

Velpuri, M., Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.B., Gumma, M.K., Noojipady, P., Dheeravath, V., Reddy, G.P.O., Cai, X., Turral, H., Yuanjie, L., 2007. Methods for mapping irrigated areas using Landsat ETM+ 30 meter, SRTM 90 meter, and MODIS 500 meter time series data taking Krishna river basin India.(In Preparation)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Vithanage, J., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Murali K. G., and Rishiraj, D. 2006. A Global Map of Rainfed Cropland Areas at the end of last millennium using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181Q1-5. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Islam, A., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Kulawardhana, W., Li, Y.J., Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. 2006. International Water Management Institute?s Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP) - A Unique Data and Knowledge Gateway of Spatial Data with Emphasis on River Basins. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181R1-6. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Islam, A., Kulawardhana, W., Yuanjie Li, Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. The Spatial Data and Knowledge Gateways at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6421 64211Z1-10. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

     
 
 
Dheeravath Venkateswarlu
IWMIDSP Data Administrator / Research Officer RS/GIS Expert

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
PO Box 2075,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka.

Tel : (94) 11 2880000
Fax : (94) 11 2786854
Email : d.venkateswarlu@cgiar.org

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Expertise:

1. Irrigated area mapping;
2. Remote sensing and GIS;
3. Rural development, Disaster management;
4. GIS spatial analysis and modelling;
5. Flood Mapping using LiDAR Technology

Venkat joined the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Head Quarters, Colombo on May 2005. Prior to joining IWMI, he was a Assistant Professor in Geometric cell at the National Institute of Rural development (NIRD), Hyderabad, India and he has done Internship in IWMI, Colombo in 2004.

In 2007 Venkat has registered for PhD program in the Kuvempu University, Karnataka, (India). He has done Master of Technology in Spatial Information Technology (Remote Sensing) from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India. Also he has Bachelor degree in civil engineering from Osmania University.

Presently at IWMI, Venkat is Regional Research Officer (Remote sensing /GIS expert) playing a lead role in Irrigated area mapping for India using Landsat 30m and MODIS 500m. He is also playing a key role in the irrigated area mapping project for China. Venkat is a key core group member of the Global Irrigated Area Mapping project.

Venkat is the current administrator of the IWMI's spatial data gateway or it's Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP). IWMIDSP is a well recognized Global Public Goods (GPG) with over 2000 visitors from over 70 Countries every month supports regional and HQ researchers for GIS services to different research activities and development at IWMI. He is proficient in many leading Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software packages such as ERDAS Imagine, ERMapper, ArcGIS and ArcView. He is knowledgeable in remote sensing data from a wide array of sensors such as Landsat, SPOT, IRS, MODIS, and AVHRR and also has very good understanding of remote sensing theory.

Venkat has played highly significant team role in GIAM, IWMIDSP, and Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue. All of this resulted in the team awards during 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2007, the IWMIDSP, GIAM, Tsunami Team was recognized by the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) for "Special achievement in GIS" (SAG award) for their innovative spatial data portals, science applications, and Tsunami work. In 2006, the GIAM got the best team award during IWMI's annual research meeting (ARM). In 2005, "Team Initiative 2005" during IWMI's ARM2005 for Tsunami mapping efforts.



Publications:

Thenkabail, P. S.; Biradar, C. M.; Turral, H.; Noojipady, P.; Li, Y. J.; Vithanage, J.; Dheeravath, V.; Velpuri, M.; Schull, M.; Cai, X. L.; Dutta, R. 2006. An irrigated area map of the world (1999) derived from remote sensing. Research Report 105. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal (special issue: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and the Environment (Remote Sensing Sensors Edited by Assefa M. Melesse). 7:2519-2538. http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s7112519.pdf

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 2006. A Global Map of Rainfed Cropland Areas at the end of last millennium using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. 14th international conference on Geoinformatics, which will be held in Wuhan, China, on Oct 28-29,2006. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6418 64181R-1

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 200X. Rainfed Cropland Areas of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. (IWMI Research Report in Preparation).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Islam, A., Kulawardhana, W., Yuanjie Li, Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. 2006. International Water Management Institute's Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP) - A Unique Data and Knowledge Gateway of Spatial Data with Emphasis on River Basins. 14th international conference on Geoinformatics, which will be held in Wuhan, China, on Oct 28-29,2006. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6418 64181R-1

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Islam, A., Kulawardhana, W., Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. The Spatial Data and Knowledge Gateways at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2006. 14th international conference on Geoinformatics, which will be held in Wuhan, China, on Oct 28-29,2006. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6418 64181R-1

Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Thenkabail P.S., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Cai, X. L. Dutta, R., Muralikrishna, G., and Schull M. 2006. GIAM Knowledge Gateways. International Workshop on Global Irrigated Area Mapping, September 25-27, 2006, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Obi Reddy, P. G., Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Dheeravath, V., Noojipady, P., Velpuri, M., and Muralikrishna, G. 2006. Irrigated Areas of India based on Satellite Sensors and National Statistics: Issues and Way forward from Global Irrigated Area Mapping (GIAM)-2006. International Workshop on Global Irrigated Area Mapping, September 25-27, 2006, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Vithanage,J.,Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Islam, A., Kulawardhana, W., Yuanjie Li, Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. The Spatial Data and Knowledge Gateways at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2006. 14th international conference on Geoinformatics, which will be held in Wuhan, China, on Oct 28-29, 2006. Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6418 64181R-1

     
 
 
Murali Krishna Gumma
Research Officer - RS/GIS Expert and Data Manager

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
PO Box 2075,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka.

Tel : (94) 11 2880000
Fax : (94) 11 2786854
Email : M.Gumma@cgiar.org

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Expertise:

1. Irrigated area mapping;
2. Remote sensing and GIS;
3. River basin studies and land use\land cover;
4. GIS spatial analysis and modelling.

Murali Krishna, an Indian National, joined the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) South Asia in Hyderabad, India from 01 May 2003. Prior to joining IWMI, he was Project Associate at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad for one and half years. He is currently registered to do his PhD on Remote sensing using Multi temporal data at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. At IWMI, Murali Krishna was involved in integrated modelling from field to basin and Wastewater projects. He provided RS\GIS expert services to IWMI researchers at South Asia office. Murali worked on land use\land cover (LULC) mapping in the Krishna basin using continuous MODIS data (2000-03).

Currently, Murali is taking a lead role in Irrigated area mapping for China using Landsat 30m and MODIS250m data. He is also playing a key role in the detecting informal irrigation in Ghana using Landsat and MODIS data. Murali is a core team member of the Global Irrigated Area Mapping and IWMI Data Storehouse Pathway. Murali, was involved in the methodology development component of GIAM as evidenced in the 2 peer-review publications (as co-author) in the International Journals based on the work in the Krishna basin. IWMIDSP is a well recognized Global Public Goods (GPG) with over 2000 visitors from over 70 Countries every month supports regional and HQ researchers for GIS services to different research activities and development at IWMI. He currently manages the IWMI's RS\GIS lab. in terms of its data management and cataloguing. He is proficient in many leading Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software packages such as ERDAS Imagine, ERMapper, ArcGIS and ArcView. He is knowledgeable in remote sensing data from a wide array of sensors such as Landsat, SPOT, IRS, MODIS, and AVHRR and also has very good understanding of remote sensing theory.



Publications:

Biggs, T., Thenkabail, P.S., Gumma, M.K, GangadharaRao, P., and Turral, H., 2006b.. Vegetation phenology and irrigated area mapping using combined MODIS time-series, ground surveys, and agricultural census data in Krishna River Basin, India. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 27(19):4245-4266.

Thenkabail, P.S., GangadharaRao, P., Biggs, T., Gumma, M., and Turral, H., 2007. Spectral Matching Techniques to Determine Historical Land use/Land cover (LULC) and Irrigated Areas using Time-series AVHRR Pathfinder Datasets in the Krishna River Basin, India. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. 73(9): 1029-1040.

Gaur, A., T.W. Biggs, M.K. Gumma, GangadharaRao. P and H. Turral. 2007. Water scarcity effects on equitable water distribution and land use in Major Irrigation Project ? A Case study in India. JOURNAL OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING © ASCE / JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008.

Gumma, M.K., Biggs, T. Thenkabail, P.S., and Gangadhara Rao, P. 2006. Irrigated Area Mapping in Krishna River Basin using MODIS 500-m Time-series Data. International Conference on Geo Informatics for Rural development (ICORG-2006) Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.

Biggs TW, Gaur A, Scott CA, Gumma, M.K, Gangadhararao,P. S. Acharya and H.Turral.2006. Closing of the Krishna basin: Summary of research, Hydronomic zones and water accounting. Iwmi Research Report, Colombo: IWMI. 38p. (IWMI Research Report 111)

Gaur A., T. W. Biggs, Gumma, M.K, Hugh Turral, and P.G. Rao. 2005. Implications of Spatial Distribution of Canal Flows from a Multipurpose Reservoir on Irrigated Areas and Land Use Patterns. Working conference on enhancing equitable livelihood benefits of dams using decision support systems. Nazareth, Ethiopia, 23-26 January 2006.

Biradar C. M., Thenkabail P. S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y. J.,Velpuri, M ., Dheeravath, V., Vithanage, J., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Gumma, M.K., and Rishi, Dd.2006. A Global Map of Rainfed Cropland Areas at the end of last millennium using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques.

Velpuri, M., Thenkabail, P.S., Gumma, M.K.,Biradar, C.B., Noojipady, P., Dheeravath, V., Reddy, G.P.O., Cai, X., Turral, H., Yuanjie, Li., 2007. Methods for mapping irrigated areas using Landsat ETM+ 30 meter, SRTM 90 meter, and MODIS 500 meter time series data taking Krishna river basin India. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing (in preparation).

Thenkabail, Prasad S., Biradar, C M., Noojipady, P., Xueliang, Cai, Dheeravath, Venkateswarlu, Li, Y. J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M.K., Pandey, Suraj. 2007. Sub-pixel area calculation methods for estimating irrigated areas. Sensors, 7: 2519-2538

Obi Reddy, P. G., Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Dheeravath, V., Noojipady, P., Velpuri, M., and Gumma, M.K. 2006. Irrigated Areas of India based on Satellite Sensors and National Statistics: Issues and Way forward from Global Irrigated Area Mapping (GIAM)-2006. International Workshop on Global Irrigated Area Mapping, September 25-27, 2006, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

     
 
 
Velpuri Naga Manohar (M.Phil, University of Cambridge)
Graduate Student, registered for PhD at :

GIS Center of Excellence,
South Dakota State University,
Brookings, SD 57007,
South Dakota, USA.

Email : manohar.velpuri@sdstate.edu
Web : http://globalmonitoring.sdstate.edu/

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Expertise:

1. Satellite oceanography;
2. Remote sensing and GIS;
3. Applications of airborne remote sensing for coastal studies;
4. Agricultural remote sensing;
5. Irrigated area mapping;
6. Drought monitoring using remote sensing techniques.

Manohar Velpuri, an Indian National, has around 4 years of professional working experience in the field of GIS and Remote sensing. Worked as a Researcher (RS and GIS) at International Water Management Institute. Earlier, he worked in various capacities for several projects related to natural resource management, coastal remote sensing, satellite oceanography, coastal wetland remote sensing etc. He started his career with National Institute of Rural Development, a national organization under Ministry of Rural Development in India, where he worked with GIS and Remote sensing data for policy planning and rural development for about 6 months. As a consultant and Project Scientist, he joined Indian National Centre for Ocean Information services, an autonomous body under Department of Ocean development, India and gained expertise in using Satellite derived (from AVHRR/MODIS and IRS P4) information to delineate potential fishing zones in the sea. (www.incois.gov.in).

In the year 2004 Manohar Velpuri was nominated for Commonwealth scholarship by the Indian Government and went to University of Cambridge to finish his second masters in remote sensing and GIS. During this period, he worked with airborne remote sensing data and carried out a study using LiDAR and Airborne Thematic Mapper data for Coastal ecosystems (salt-marshes) mapping. At IWMI he is the key contributor/researcher for the Knowledge Base System for Sri Lanka project and member of the core group of Global Irrigated Area Mapping project. He is mainly worked on MODIS time series data integrated with high resolution satellite data (IRS and LANDSAT) for crop growth modelling, drought studies and irrigated area mapping. He has also contributed value added remote sensing and satellite imageries to the geospatial gateway of IWMI. He was one of the active team members, carrying out RS-GIS Unit activities at IWMI. He is proficient in many leading Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) software packages such as ERDAS Imagine, ERMapper, ArcGIS and ArcView. He is knowledgeable in remote sensing data from a wide array of sensors such as Landsat, SPOT, IRS, MODIS, and AVHRR and also has very good understanding of remote sensing theory.

Manohar has played highly significant team role in GIAM, IWMIDSP, and Tsunami Satellite Sensor Data Catalogue. All of this resulted in the team awards during 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2007, the IWMIDSP, GIAM, Tsunami Team was recognized by the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI) for "Special achievement in GIS" (SAG award) for their innovative spatial data portals, science applications, and Tsunami work. In 2006, the GIAM got the best team award during IWMI's annual research meeting (ARM). In 2005, "Team Initiative 2005" during IWMI's ARM2005 for Tsunami mapping efforts.



Publications:

Velpuri, N.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Gumma, M.K., Biradar, C.B., Noojipady, P., Dheeravath, V., Yuanjie, L., 2007. Influence of Resolution or Scale in Irrigated Area Mapping and Area Estimations. (In Preparation)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 2008. Rainfed Cropland Areas of the World derived from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. (in review: Land Use Science).

Thenkabail, P. S., Biradar, C. M., Turral, H.; Noojipady, P., Li, Y. J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull, M., Cai, X. L., and Dutta, R. 2008. An irrigated area map of the world derived from remote sensing. (in review: International Journal of Remote Sensing)

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal (special issue: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and the Environment (Remote Sensing Sensors Edited by Assefa M. Melesse). 7:2519-2538. http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s7112519.pdf

Thenkabail, P. S.; Biradar, C. M.; Turral, H.; Noojipady, P.; Li, Y. J.; Vithanage, J.; Dheeravath, V.; Velpuri, M.; Schull, M.; Cai, X. L.; Dutta, R. 2006. An irrigated area map of the world (1999) derived from remote sensing. Research Report 105. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute. Pp. 74.

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Vithanage, J., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Murali K. G., and Rishiraj, D. 2006. A Global Map of Rainfed Cropland Areas at the end of last millennium using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181Q1-5. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Islam, A., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Kulawardhana, W., Li, Y.J., Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. 2006. International Water Management Institute?s Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP) - A Unique Data and Knowledge Gateway of Spatial Data with Emphasis on River Basins. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181R1-6. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Islam, A., Kulawardhana, W., Yuanjie Li, Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. The Spatial Data and Knowledge Gateways at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6421 64211Z1-10. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

     
 
 
Li Yuanjie (MSc)
Graduate Student, registered for PhD at :

Department of Geography,
University of Maryland,
College Park, MD 20742,
Maryland, USA.

Email : L.yuanjie@gmail.com
Web : http://www.geog.umd.edu/

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Expertise:

1. Irrigated area mapping;
2. Satellite hydrology (SEBAL);
3. Remote sensing and GIS;
4. GIS spatial analysis and modelling.

Li Yuanjie is currently a PhD student at the Department of Geography of University of Maryland, College Park. Before joining University of Maryland, she was working at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR-supported research institute, Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka for 3.5 years. She was working as a Remote sensing and GIS specialist at IWMI and made significant contribution in Global Irrigated Area Mapping using satellite sensor data, hyperspectral analysis for irrigated area mapping, Agro-forestry mapping using RS/GIS techniques, application of geospatial tools for disaster management, GIS spatial modelling, and compilation of FGDC standard metadata. She also made significant contribution for the IWMI's spatial data gateway, also called, IWMI Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP). At IWMI, She was one of the key spatial data analysts for the Global Irrigated Area Mapping (www.iwmigiam.org). She was involved in RS\GIS capacity building, development of the RS\GIS Unit, and provided RS-GIS expert services to IWMI researchers at headquarters and regional offices. She has actively participated in Asian Tsunami Rapid Response Mapping for relief activity. Prior to joining IWMI she worked as an intern for two years in Cangzhou Land Resources Bureau, China. Li Yuanjie holds a Professional Master's in Water Resources and Environmental Management (WREM) at International Institute for Geo-information Science & Earth observation (ITC, The Netherlands) and a Bachelors degree (BSc) in Hydrology and Geology Engineering from Ocean University, Qingdao, China.



Publications:

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.M., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Dutta, R. 2006a. An Irrigated Area Map of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing. Research Report # 105. International Water Management Institute. Pp. 74. Also, see under documents in: IWMIDSP.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar C.M., Noojipady, P., Cai, X.L., Dheeravath, V., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Gumma, M., Pandey., S. 2007. Sub-pixel irrigated area calculation methods. Sensors Journal (Special issue: Remote Sensing of Natural Resources and the Environment). 7:2519-2538.http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/papers/s7112519.pdf.

Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.M., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Dheeravath, V., Cai, X. L., Velpuri, M., Vithanage, J., Schull M., and Dutta, R.2007. A Global Irrigated Area Map (GIAM) using time-series satellite sensor, secondary, Google Earth, and Groundtruth data. (Submitted:IJRS)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Vithanage, J., Dheeravath, V., Velpuri, M., Schull M., Cai, X. L. and Dutta, R. 200X. Rainfed Cropland Areas of the World (1999) derived from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques (Submitted:Journal of Land use science)

Dheeravath, V., Thenkabail, P.S., Noojipady, P., Biradar, C.B., Velpuri, M., Reddy, G.P.O., Cai, X., Turral. H., Yuanjie, L. 2007. Mapping irrigated areas of the Indian sub-continent through ideal spectra, spectral matching techniques, and optimal vegetation indices using MODIS 500 meter 2001-2003 8-day time series reflectance data.(In Preparation)

Velpuri, M., Thenkabail, P.S., Biradar, C.B., Gumma, M.K., Noojipady, P., Dheeravath, V., Reddy, G.P.O., Cai, X., Turral, H., Yuanjie, L., 2007. Methods for mapping irrigated areas using Landsat ETM+ 30 meter, SRTM 90 meter, and MODIS 500 meter time series data taking Krishna river basin India.(In Preparation)

Biradar, C.M., Thenkabail, P.S., Turral, H., Noojipady, P., Li, Y.J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Vithanage, J., Schull M., Cai, X. L., Murali K. G., and Rishiraj, D. 2006. A Global Map of Rainfed Cropland Areas at the end of last millennium using Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181Q1-5. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).

Thenkabail P.S., Biradar, C.M., Noojipady, P., Islam, A., Vithanage, J., Velpuri, M., Dheeravath, V., Kulawardhana, W., Li, Y.J., Gunasinghe, S., and Alankara, R. 2006. International Water Management Institute?s Data Storehouse Pathway (IWMIDSP) - A Unique Data and Knowledge Gateway of Spatial Data with Emphasis on River Basins. Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6418 64181R1-6. Geoinformatics 2006. GNSS and Integrated Geospatial application (Editors: Daren Li and Linyuan Kia).