Northeastern Research Station

Living Memorials

Research & Development

Meeting Our Scientist - Michael Hoppus

Michael Hoppus
USDA Forest Service
11 Campus Blvd., Suite 200
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: 610-557-4039
email: mhoppus@fs.fed.us

Education:

• M.S. Forestry, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho (1983);
  B.S. Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (1971)
  

Current Work Projects:

Applying geostatistical mapping techniques to forest inventory plots (FIA plots), satellite imagery, and regional ancillary information to produce large area - high resolution maps of forest land. These maps include: forest land distribution, forest biomass, forest species, forest health, forest tree size, etc. This leads to a better understanding how forests are reacting to their environment. Additional projects focus on developing more accurate and more useful ways to evaluate forest land productivity and tree size with ground measurements and geospatial techniques.

Specific Experience:

• Research Forester with the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit (6 years):
  - Section Head of Techniques Development - creating efficient and effective methods to improve forest inventory;
  - Authored 30 forestry Publications
• Contract Forester with the USDA Forest Service, Remote Sensing Applications Center(12 years):
  - Designed and implemented training programs for Forest Service personnel to improve their forest land mapping skills using satellite imagery, aerial photos, GPS and GIS.
  - Acquired aerial photos, video, and digital images of National Forest land as pilot/aerial photographer.
• Scientist with Lockheed, Corp; Contractor to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( 3 years):
  - Provided aerial photo mission planning, interpretation, and reporting to document polluted sites.
  - Created aerial photo techniques to detect and map acid deposition damaged forests.
  - Conducted water quality surveys to evaluate acid deposition affected streams.
  

• Naval Aviator, US Navy (9 years active, 13 years reserve)
  

Civic and Professional Affiliations:

• Society of American Foresters
• American Society of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing