Doug Stow, Ph.D.

Dr. Douglas Stow is a Professor of Geography at San Diego State University (SDSU) and a specialist in remote sensing. He received bachelors, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His remote sensing studies focus on land cover change analyses with emphases on Mediterranean-type, Arctic tundra, and salt marsh ecosystems, as well as on urbanization.

His current research is on monitoring vegetation fuel moisture and invasive plants in Mediterranean type ecosystems, and on integration of geo-spatial technologies in support of homeland security operations along the US borders.

He is the primary instructor of remote sensing courses at SDSU, is the Co-Director of the Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research, and serves as the chair for the California State University system’s Remote Sensing Committee. Stow served for almost five years as department chair and is currently the doctoral program coordinator. He also serves as chair for the Intercollegiate Athletic Authority at SDSU. In 1997, he received the SDSU Alumni Associates Outstanding Faculty Award.

Stow is currently the P.I. for a NASA Research, Education, and Applications Solutions Network (REASoN) project on integration of remote sensing and decision support systems for international border security, and the NASA Affiliated Research Center, which has operated at SDSU for eight years. He has also served as P.I. for numerous state and local agency contracts, and is currently a co-investigator on National Science Foundation and National Institute of Child Health grants.

Stow is the author or co-author of 90 refereed publications and 38 conference proceedings papers, mostly on remote sensing topics. He and his students have received several best paper awards, including a first and a third place award at the recent ASPRS 2004 conference, and first place in the 2004 AAG RSSG student paper competition. Dr. Stow has served as primary advisor to four doctoral and 38 master’s degree students at SDSU. The three students that have completed their doctoral degrees now have universitylevel academic positions in remote sensing.

Outside of his professional life, Professor Stow enjoys “family life,” along with sports and outdoor activities. He is an occasional tennis partner with his wife Chris and soccer coach for his sons Dylan (13) and Parker (9). Beach volleyball, running, golf, and traveling are his favorite activities.