Time-Sensitive Remote Sensing

Abstract

iii Time--sensitive Remote Sensing Copyright © 2012 By Christopher D. Lippitt iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have happened, would have been substantially less insightful, or might have addressed a much different and no doubt less interesting topic, were it not for the following people. First and foremost, my wife Caitlin -she has been my guide and friend since I first arrived in California and has contributed immeasurably to this work in every possible capacity. Her encouragement to pursue ideas, thoughtful comments and revisions, and patience with my general disposition at times, made completing this work possible. My parents enabled this work by showing me how to live and contribute to the world without trying to influence how I did so. The completion of this dissertation is as much a product of their efforts as it is of mine.The largest single outside contributor to this work was Dr. Douglas Stow, who advised me, kept me on track, and at the same time allowed me to find my own way. Many of the ideas contained within this dissertation are his or were shaped by him and I will forever consider him a close friend to whom I owe a great deal. Dr. Keith Clarke encouraged me to explore Claude Shannon's early work and how it might inform the creation, transmission, and consumption of information from remote sensing sources, which clearly had a direct and lasting impact on this dissertation. Both Dr. Michael Goodchild and Dr. Keith Clarke espoused the intrinsic value of knowledge and encouraged big thinking and a search for theories of geographic information, which continues to impact my scientific outlook and career. Dr. Dar Roberts gave me a home and stimulating place to work and learn in Santa Barbara: the VIPER lab. He also showed me that expecting more from people can help them do things they might not have otherwise considered possible. Finally, a significant thanks is owed to Dr. Ming--Hsiang Tsou, who encouraged and enriched my thinking about information systems and distribution and the impact they can have on society.The list of people who contributed to my completion of this degree is long and impossible to complete. In particular I would like to thank the support staff at San Diego State University Department of Geography and University of California Santa Barbara Department of Geography: L. Pete Coulter, Dave McKinsey, Marcus Chiu, Patti O'Leary, Bonnie Golden, Lilia Ortiz, and last but certainly not least, Dylan Parenti. Several colleagues became close friends and contributed in a range of capacities, whether helping navigate bureaucracy, providing thoughtful feedback, or just helping me forget how much work I had to do: Grant Fraley, Marta Jankowska, Sean Crotty, Nicole Simons, Nate Royal, Pam Dalal, Cristiano Giovando, and Charlie Schmidt are but a few of these people. Geography, 2006Geography, , 2007Geography, , 2008Geography, , 2009Geography, , and 2010 First Place--AAG Human Environment Regional Observatory Fellowship; Awarded by George Perkins Marsh Institute, 2003, 2004 John ...