Data Institute 2018: Remote Sensing with Reproducible Workflows in Python

A deep dive into NEON’s remote sensing data products

During the course, participants will work with hyperspectral, lidar and RGB camera data collected by NEON’s Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). Students will have direct access to NEON’s science staff responsible for the collection, algorithm development and production of NEON AOP data. Workshop lessons will focus on how to efficiently utilize NEON AOP data for scientific applications and how common remote sensing processing methods will impact data quality. Additionally, participants will tour the NEON calibration facilities to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of calibration to reduce data uncertainty during collection and processing.

Through data intensive, hands-on activities, this course covers:

• Background theoretical concepts related to LiDAR and hyperspectral remote sensing
• Fundamental concepts required to ingest, visualize, process, and analyze NEON hyperspectral and LiDAR data.
• Best practices on reproducible research workflows: the importance of documentation, organization, version control, and automation.
• Scientific spatio-temporal applications of remote sensing data using open-source tools, namely Python and Jupyter Notebooks.
• Machine learning for prediction of biophysical variables such as above-ground biomass using NEON LiDAR and ground measurements.
• Classification of hyperspectral data using deep-learning approaches.
• Using remote sensing data products with in situ data to quantify uncertainty associated with remote sensing observations.

This Institute will be held at the NEON project headquarters 9-14 July 2018. In addition to the six days of in-person training, there are three weeks of pre-institute materials is to ensure that everyone comes to the Institute ready to work in a collaborative research environment. Pre-institute materials are online & individually paced, expect to spend 1-5 hrs/week depending on your familiarity with the topic.

View all materials for the 2018 Data Institute here. 

Registration Information

Applications for the 2018 Remote Sensing with Reproducible Workflows Data Institute are due 20 March 2017.  Read more about the application process. 

Tuition for the course is $650. Tuition includes all instruction as well as lunches, snacks, and coffee/tea each day of the course.

 If you have any questions, please contact us.

Schedule

Please note that slight changes may be made to the schedule of the Data Institute.

Instructors

• Tristan Goulden, Associate Scientist-Airborne Platform, Battelle NEON Project
• Bridget Hass, Remote Sensing Data Processing Technician, Battelle NEON Project
• Dr. Naupaka Zimmerman, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of San Francisco
• Dr. Tyson Swetnam, Science Informatician with CyVerse and Research Associate with Bio5 Institute at the University of Arizona

Materials

All participants will need to bring their own laptop with them to the event.  More details about the necessary software that will be required will be available prior to the Institute.  All required software will be free and available for download. 

Logistics

LOCATION

All aspects of the course are held at the Battelle-NEON headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. 

HOUSING

Participants are responsible for finding their own housing.  Boulder offers a wide variety of housing options. 

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to/from Denver International Airport

The RTD AB route runs directly between DIA and Boulder.  Transit time is roughly 1 hr and the cost is $9 (see below for more information on bus passes, some passes include airport transit). Please note that if you pay on the bus, you must pay cash and the drivers can’t make change.

There are also several shuttle services: Greenride Boulder,  SuperShuttle, and other car services. 

Transportation to/from NEON & around Boulder

There are several transportation options to get you to/from NEON (located at 1685 38th Street, Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301) for attendance at the NEON Data Institute.

Bus passes can be purchased for Boulder’s/Colorado’s Regional Transit District (RTD). ​ Bus route maps and route planners can be found online on RTD’s website.

​Bike trails and routes connect many parts of Boulder.

• Many local bike shops in Boulder offer bike rentals.
• Boulder also offers a bike-share system, Boulder B-Cycle.  The B-Cycle station at 38th & Arapahoe (13 parking docks) within a block of NEON. Helmets are not available with B-Cycle rentals, you may wish to bring your own. 

Taxi/Uber/Lyft

Numerous taxi companies, as well as Uber and Lyft, operate in Boulder.

Vehicle Rental & Parking

• Vehicles can be rented from Hertz, Avis, Budget, etc.
• Visitor parking will be available at NEON for participants.

FOOD

Lunches, snacks and coffee/tea will be provided each day. Participants are responsible for all other meals during the program.  Dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated if requested prior to the event. 

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations must be received in writing to the NEON Data Skills team. In the case of cancellation after the payment of tuition,

• Full tuition, less processing fees, will be refunded if cancellation is more than 6 weeks prior to the start of the event.

This cancellation policy applies to all registrants.  If extenuating circumstances arise causing the cancellation, please contact the NEON Data Skills team to make arrangements.