Title: Multi-Source Data Fusion for Wildfire Monitoring in British Columbia: Integrating Multi-Spectral Satellite Imagery and Drone Remote Sensing
Short Biography:
Dr. Frank Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where he also holds cross-appointments with Geography, the Food and Agriculture Institute (FAI), and the Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth and Space Science from York University, Ontario, in 2014. At UFV, he serves as Curriculum Development Chair for the School of Computing and leads the Digital Canopy Lab, which integrates computing, geography, and environmental research.
Dr. Zhang’s research utilizes machine learning and deep learning to analyze multi-platform remote sensing data, including satellite, aerial, drone, and close-range imagery. His work develops robust, automated 3D modelling and monitoring systems for forestry, agriculture, and environmental applications. With experience at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and with the BC Forestry Service, his research portfolio includes projects on crop health, soil productivity, sustainable forestry, and energy-efficient housing, often in collaboration with local and Indigenous communities.
He plays an active role in academic leadership as Vice-Chair of the BCCAT Computing Education Committee, Treasurer of the Western Canadian Computing Education Society (WCCES), and member of the organizing committee for the Western Canadian Conference on Computing Education (WCCCE). He is also an board member of Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG), the chair of the certification committee and the member of Canadian Remote Sensing Society (CRSS) award committee.
Dr. Zhang serves the academic community as an Editor of the ASPS Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology (JAET), guest editor for MDPI Remote Sensing, and reviewer for journals including the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, Remote Sensing, Forest, Land, Fire, and Sustainability.
A dedicated mentor, Dr. Zhang has supervised more than a dozen highly qualified personnel (HQP), supporting student-led publications, award-winning projects, and successful graduate school applications. His teaching and research emphasize equity, community engagement, and innovation, with a focus on applying technology to address real-world challenges in computing, geography, and agriculture.
