People

IGISc affiliates conduct a range of geospatial research, and maintain software and lab resources for the Department of Geography and Environment and the broader San Francisco State University and California State University (CSU) GIS community.

Leonhard Blesius

Research Associate
 Education: Ph.D. Geography (U. of Iowa)
Email: lblesius@sfsu.edu
Biography:

Leonhard Blesius's research interests can be broadly divided into environmental systems analysis, in particular fluvial geomorphology and natural hazards, as well as remote sensing and its application to regions where few ancillary data are available. His focus in geomorphology is primarily related to fluvial systems in high-energy environments, specifically landslide susceptibility mapping. He approaches this problem from several angles, but an important component is the combination of engineering methods and remote sensing technology. Currently he is employing the infinite slope method, but other techniques may provide a potentially fruitful pursuit of further research. Due to his work in Southern California, he has become interested in fire dynamics, and how this affects the initiation of debris flows as well as the question of changes in friction angle and cohesion in soils due to fire.

 

Quentin Clark

CSU GIS Specialty Center License Administrator, IGISc research associate
 Education: M.A. Geography (SF State); GIS Graduate Certificate (Portland State University); B.A. Geography and Political Science (U. of Oregon)
Email: gis@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415-338-6140
Website: CSU GIS Specialty Center
Biography:

Quentin Clark is the California State University GIS Specialty Center Site Administrator and is responsible for administering GIS software licenses for the CSU system.  Quentin’s thesis modeled the spatial distribution of non-native plant species on Southeast Farallon Island, CA.  Other interests include GIS, GNSS data collection, cartography, riverine environments and salmon fisheries restoration/rehabilitation.

Jerry Davis

Jerry Davis
Director
 Education: Ph.D. (U. of Georgia)
Email: jerry@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415.338.2983
Website: Jerry Davis
Biography:

Jerry Davis is a Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography and Environment as well as the Director of the California State University GIS Specialty Center. He specializes in geomorphology, soils, field methods, and geographic information systems. Jerry developed the GIS curriculum at SFSU and his current research interests focus on karst geomorphic processes and the use of computers and GIS for field data collection and processing.

Ellen Hines

Ellen Hines
Research Associate
 Education: Ph.D. Geography (U. of Victoria)
Email: ehines@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415.338.1482
Website: Marine & Coastal Conservation and Spatial Planning Lab, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies
Biography:

Ellen Hines teaches environmental, marine, and coastal GIS at San Francisco State University. Her research on marine mammals includes studies on dugongs in southern Thailand, coastal marine mammals in the eastern Gulf of Thailand, gray whales in British Columbia, and harbor seals in San Francisco Bay. Her research interests include the integrated use of GIS and remote sensing in delineation of marine mammal habitat, issues of conservation in small-scale fisheries, and the development of research protocols for marine mammals in developing countries.

Andrew Oliphant

Andrew Oliphant
Research Associate
 Education: Ph.D. Geography (U. of Canterbury, New Zealand)
Email: andrewo@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415.405.2143
Website: Andrew Oliphant
Biography:

Andrew Oliphant is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment. His research interests are in bioclimatology and micrometeorology. His geospatial interests include surface radiation budget modeling, ecosystem canopy radiation modeling, cloud, aerosol and fog mapping and microclimate variability of San Francisco.

Anna Studwell

Associate Director, IGISc
 Education: B.A. Biology and French (Wellesley College), M.A. Geography (SFSU)
Email: astudwel@sfsu.edu
Phone: 415.338.3566
Website: IGISc
Biography:

Anna Studwell is the Associate Director for the Institute for Geographic Information Science at San Francisco State University, and oversees the GIS teaching and research computer labs, the SFSU GIS Certificate Program, and works with graduate and undergraduate students on publishing GIS research and hosting workshops for university affiliates. She specializes in research involving marine geospatial planning for conservation as well as public health GIS projects.