I am a geospatial scientist interested in remote sensing, geostatistics, spatiotemporal processes, biodiversity, and ecological modeling. Generally, I am interested in geospatial models that address ecological questions.

Research & Teaching Interests

• Environmental Science, Remote Sensing, Spatial Ecology, Biodiversity, GPS, GIS for Natural Resources, Species Distribution Modeling, Waveform LiDAR, Hyperspectral Imaging & Spectroscopy, Landuse/Landcover Change Monitoring, Climate Science

Education

PhD in GeoSpatial Science and Engineering, specialization in Remote Sensing Geography
South Dakota State University, Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, USA

• Advisor:Dr. Geoffrey Henebry
• Committee: Dr. Thomas Loveland (USGS/EROS), Dr. Mark Cochrane (SDSU), Dr. Douglas Goodin (KSU), Dr. David Clay (SDSU)

Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
(Dissertation needs to be defended)
DPA Certificate, Cebu Normal University, Jones Avenue, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Master of Science in Geo-Information (MSc GIS)
Wageningen University and Research, Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)
University of San Carlos, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
(Few courses taken and passed)
University of Cebu, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Research Experience

Research Geospatial Scientist
Central State University, Agricultural Research Development Program (ARDP), Wilberforce, Ohio 45384, USA

• NASA and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Project. I integrate the Airborne Visible Infra-Red Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) data collected as part of a broader cooperative effort between NASA and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) with digital soil mapping techniques to predict soil carbon and its variability across different management regimes in the agricultural soils of India. This project hopes to provide rapid assessment of soil carbon as impacted by agricultural management systems using airborne hyperspectral imaging.

Postdoctoral Research Geospatial Scientist
New Mexico State University, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, South Espina, Knox Hall 132, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

• Connected at the Center for Applied Spatial Ecology (CASE) laboratory under Dr. Kenneth Boykin. The goal of the laboratory is to provide technical and biological knowledge and expertise to support natural resource management across spatial and temporal scales. Current projects include:

• Land Cover Mapping in Tajikistan. I use advanced tools to interpret satellite imagery using environmental datasets and machine learning methods to create a land cover/land use map for the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan. Further, I employ species distribution modelling and apply remote sensing for biodiversity estimate.
• South Central U.S. Climate Science Center Species Modeling. I assess the impact that varying climate for the New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona will have on the distribution of key terrestrial vertebrate species. This includes developing models of present and potential future distributions of suitable conditions for the focal species. This project and our lab team is in collaboration with NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) Statistical Downscaling Research Team. Results of the project are available for download via USGS ScienceBase: Projected Future Bioclimate-Envelope Suitability for Species of Concern in South Central USA. Most importantly, results of the models are integrated into the New Mexico Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (NM CHAT) Web Portal using a new index called Relative Diversity Loss Index (RDLI).
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Project. I assess the effects of various environmental variables on the distribution of flora and fauna (about 150 species) in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument through species modeling.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
South Dakota State University, Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence (GSCE), Brookings, South Dakota, USA

• Waveform LiDAR. I analyzed the application of the Moment Distance Index (MDI) to Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) waveform. I assessed the relationship of the MDI metrics to some key waveform landmarks – such as locations of peaks, power of returns, and pseudo-heights. See: How to Calculate MDI or Compute Moment Distance Index.

Graduate Research Assistant
South Dakota State University, Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GIScCE), Brookings, South Dakota, USA

• Worked with my PhD advisor Dr. Geoffrey Henebry in various projects including the Sand Hills Biocomplexity project in Nebraska and the LiDAR project using datasets from La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica.

Teaching Experience

Instructor
New Mexico State University, Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, South Espina, Knox Hall 132, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

• Taught GIS for Natural Resources Scientists (FWCE 471/571) and Seminar on Natural Resources Management (FWCE 402). See class page.

Graduate Teaching Assistant
South Dakota State University, Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence (GIScCE), Brookings, South Dakota, USA

• Taught Introduction to Remote Sensing with Dr. Thomas Loveland.

Assistant Professor and Researcher
University of San Carlos, Technological Center, Civil Engineering Department
Talamban, Cebu City, Philippines

• Taught Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, Differential and Integral Calculus, Geotechnics, Basic and Higher Surveying, Planning and Transportation subjects, GIS and Remote Sensing

Work and Employment

GIS Specialist – Surveying Project
Bohol Mining Corporation, Bohol, Philippines

Design Engineer
Tsuneishi Technical Services Philippines, Inc., Cebu City, Philippines

Production Engineer and Estimator
DN Steel Marketing Inc., Mandaue City, Philippines

Academic and Professional Service

Special Issue Editor: “Applications of Remote Sensing in Spatial Ecology” – Remote Sensing Journal
See: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/special_issues/35BWN7JY78

Reviewer: Journal of Arid Environments, Remote Sensing, Geosciences, PLOS ONE, PeerJ
See: https://publons.com/author/1049648/eric-ariel-l-salas#profile

Topic Editor –Agronomy Journal
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/topic_editors

Reviewer Board – Remote Sensing Journal
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/remotesensing/submission_reviewers

Head Judge for Senior Earth and Planetary Sciences category, Science & Engineering Fair, NMSU Corbett Center Ballrooms, Las Cruces, NM. March 4, 2017.

Skills and Software Experience

ENVI/IDL, R, Python, Web APIs, ArcGIS Desktop, ERDAS IMAGINE, IDRISI, Maxent, VisTrails/SAHM, Adobe Tools, MS Publisher, Web Design

Writing Sideline

Columnist
The Collegian, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA

Contributing Writer
Sun-Star Weekend Magazine, Sun-Star Newspaper, Cebu City, Philippines

The Freeman Newspaper, Lifestyle Section, Cebu City, Philippines (contributed a number of articles)

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Youngblood Section, Manila Philippines (contributed a number of articles)

Publications

• See this separate page for publications and presentations.