Olakunle Joshua | SUNY ESF

Modeling Diameter Distribution

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The transformation everyone needs

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Romans 12:2 declares: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” This verse reveals a profound truth: the true transformation every human being needs does not come from the world around us, but from the renewing power of God through His Word. The world constantly attempts to mold us into its pattern—chasing after wealth, fame, pride, and temporary pleasures. These influences may seem attractive, but they leave the soul empty and distant from God’s purpose. Conformity to the world results in a life without direction, where people live according to societal standards rather than divine standards. That is why the apostle Paul urges believers not to copy the world’s customs. Instead, the Bible calls us to experience divine transformation. This change begins in the mind. When we allow the Word of God to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and decisions, our lives take on a new dimension. The Word has the power to cleanse, renew, and guide us. Through constant study and meditation on Scripture, the believer’s mind is washed from worldly philosophies and aligned with God’s truth. This transformation is not superficial—it is spiritual and complete. The Word of God reshapes us from the inside out. It teaches us forgiveness where the world teaches revenge, humility where the world teaches pride, and love where the world teaches selfishness. By letting the Word dwell richly in us, we become vessels fit for God’s vineyard: useful, humble, and ready to serve. Furthermore, divine transformation equips us to know and walk in God’s will. Many struggle with life’s direction because they seek answers in human wisdom rather than God’s truth. But Romans 12:2 assures us that a renewed mind gains clarity of purpose. God’s will is revealed to those who have been transformed by His Word, and that will is always good, pleasing, and perfect. In conclusion, the transformation everyone needs is not external, but internal; not worldly, but divine. It comes only through surrendering to the power of God’s Word, which renews our minds, purifies our hearts, and equips us for service in His kingdom. If we allow Scripture to shape us daily, we will become better persons—living testimonies of God’s grace and faithful vessels in His vineyard.

Table of Contents

Data Visualization in R

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Data Visualization in R using ggplot2

Data visualization is an important step in data analysis. It helps us to understand patterns, trends, and relationships in the data.
In R, one of the most popular packages for visualization is ggplot2. It is based on the Grammar of Graphics, which builds plots by layering components such as data, aesthetics, and geoms. To use this package in R, we will first need to install it if it is not already installed and then load the library to use it the functions available within the package.

install.packages("ggplot2") # Install ggplot2 if not already installed
library(ggplot2) # Load the library

We’ll use the mtcars dataset which contains data on fuel consumption and car design. Then, we can plot mpg (miles per gallon) against hp (horsepower).

head(mtcars)
ggplot(data = mtcars, aes(x = hp, y = mpg)) +
 geom_point(color = "blue", size = 3) +
 labs(title = "Scatter Plot of Horsepower vs. MPG",
 x = "Horsepower",
 y = "Miles per Gallon") +
 theme_minimal()

The plot output shows that cars with higher horsepower tend to have lower fuel efficiency (mpg). We can add more embelishment to several components of the plot but for this short tutorial, we will only learn how to add color by group.

ggplot(mtcars, aes(x = hp, y = mpg, color = factor(cyl))) +
 geom_point(size = 3) +
 labs(title = "Horsepower vs. MPG Colored by Cylinders",
 color = "Cylinders", x = "Horsepower", y = "Miles per Gallon") +
 theme_light()

We can also create an histogram looking at the distribution of miles per gallon (mpg) using the line of code below:

ggplot(mtcars, aes(x = mpg)) +
 geom_histogram(binwidth = 2, fill = "skyblue", color = "black") +
 labs(title = "Distribution of Miles per Gallon",
 x = "Miles per Gallon",
 y = "Count") +
 theme_classic()

This histogram shows how mpg values are distributed across cars. Boxplots are also very useful to see spread and outliers present in our data. In the line of code below, we will visualize mpg across different cylinder groups.

ggplot(mtcars, aes(x = factor(cyl), y = mpg, fill = factor(cyl))) +
 geom_boxplot() +
 labs(title = "Boxplot of MPG by Number of Cylinders",
 x = "Cylinders",
 y = "Miles per Gallon") +
 theme_bw()

This boxplot shows that cars with more cylinders generally have lower mpg. With ggplot2, we can build many types of plots with a simple and flexible syntax. From scatter plots to boxplots, ggplot2 provides an excellent toolkit for data visualization. Try experimenting with your own datasets and layering more components such as smooth lines, facets, or themes which was not covered in this short tutorial.

In case you want to download the dataset used for this tutorial which is also readily available in base r, use the button below:

Download Data

To also learn more on data visualization using R, check out these websites.

R for Data Science

Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis

Experience

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Forestry Data Analysis

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Forests are among Earth’s most vital ecosystems providing oxygen, storing carbon, protecting biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods for millions. Yet, as climate change, deforestation, and land degradation accelerate, the need for data-driven decision-making in forestry has never been more urgent. This is where forestry data analysis comes in.

By applying modern analytical methods, from statistics and machine learning to GIS and remote sensing, researchers and managers can quantify forest dynamics, model growth patterns, and predict the impacts of human and natural disturbances.

In this article, we’ll explore what forestry data analysis entails, why it matters, how it’s applied, and where you can learn to do it effectively.

What is Forestry Data Analysis?

Forestry data analysis involves collecting, processing, and interpreting quantitative information about forests to inform management, conservation, and policy decisions.

Data sources in forestry typically include:

Field measurements: Tree diameters, heights, species, and density.
Remote sensing data: Satellite imagery (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel, MODIS), LiDAR, and UAV data.
Environmental variables: Climate, soil type, elevation, and human pressure.
Socio-economic data: Land ownership, land use history, and policy context.

Analysts integrate these datasets to monitor forest change, estimate biomass, detect disturbances, and model ecosystem processes across scales, from local stands to entire biomes.

Why Forestry Data Analysis Matters

1. Improving Forest Management

Modern forestry moves beyond traditional inventories. Data analysis supports precision forestry — where decisions are tailored to site-specific conditions using models and maps derived from data.

Example: Predicting optimal thinning intensity based on stand structure and growth models.

2. Supporting Conservation and Climate Action

Forests are central to the global carbon cycle. Analyzing carbon stocks, sequestration potential, and forest degradation helps countries meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and REDD+ frameworks.

Example: Modeling carbon sequestration potential using forest biomass and soil carbon data.

3. Assessing Disturbance and Recovery

Through time-series analysis, researchers track post-fire recovery, disease outbreaks, and deforestation trends, supporting proactive interventions.

Example: Using Sentinel-2 imagery and the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) to monitor vegetation regrowth after wildfires.

4. Driving Policy and Community Awareness

Reliable forest data allows policymakers to design evidence-based interventions and empowers local communities to manage their forest resources sustainably.

Tools and Techniques Used in Forestry Data Analysis

Forestry data analysis is a multidisciplinary field that blends ecology, statistics, GIS, and computer science. Below are common tools and methods:

Category	Example Tools	Application
GIS and Remote Sensing	QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine	Mapping and spatial analysis
Programming and Statistics	R, Python	Modeling, visualization, and data automation
Machine Learning	Random Forest, XGBoost, CNNs	Predicting forest types, biomass, or disturbance
Spatial Analysis	GDAL, sf, raster (R packages)	Managing and analyzing spatial data
Visualization	ggplot2, Leaflet, Plotly	Creating maps and interactive dashboards

Useful resources

ForestryData Analysis

Crabon Farming Certification System

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

C-Farms project is focused on enabling Carbon Farming through an improved knowledge system supporting the development of a regulatory framework for certification of Carbon removals (or Carbon non-emissions) based on a robust and transparent carbon accounting scheme in connection with the national GHG inventory.

LIFE C-FARMS project focus is linked to enabling Carbon Farming practises through an improved knowledge system supporting the development of a regulatory framework for certification of carbon removals based on a transparent and scientifically sturdy Carbon accounting scheme in connection with the national GHG inventory.

Agriculture and land management: Agriculture and land planning, are key sectors to meet the carbon neutrality, the long term goal of the Paris Agreement. To satisfy this requires, the development of Nature based Solutions to reduce and remove CO2 emissions is essential.

The Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP – COM/2020/98 final), as well as the Farm to Fork strategy (COM/2020/381 final) have indicated as a prerequisite for the activation of a regulatory framework that incentivises the certification system development and carbon farming practises.

In this context Lombardy Region can represent an interesting test for a pilot project of carbon farming certification. Lombardy ranks first in agricultural production in Italy, thanks too to the abundance of fertile soils and availability of irrigation water in the Po valley. Lombard agriculture is at the top of the Italian regions in the production of maize, rye, barley, wheat, rice and, especially thanks to in the meadows, forage for livestock.

Rural Development Programme initiatives

The Rural Development Programme initiatives to stimulate the reduction of emissions are a lot, both at farm level (e.g. “Regional action aimed at reducing emissions produced by agricultural activities”) and through the value chains (e.g. the “Venice Agreement for the development of the poplar supply chain”). In the EU, one of the main mechanisms to promote a more environmentally friendly agriculture was introduced by the CAP reform in 2003, through the so-called cross compliance

Wood industry

C-FARMs aims to involve the wood industry in the certification system with the aim to incentivize the use of local wood with the aim of creating an increment in demand that can stimulate the plantation of new areas, with an overall carbon and environmental benefit.

Forest Biometrics Mentorship Program

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Mentorship Program on Forest Biometrics, organized by The Achiever’s Gathering (TAG NG) in collaboration with forestry networks, was designed to support young graduates of forestry in Africa who are eager to pursue careers in forest biometrics and related fields. Held on March 16–17, 2023, the program brought together global forestry experts and leaders to provide mentorship, career guidance, and technical insights tailored to the needs of African youths.

The program began with Dr. Sheng-I Yang, who gave an enlightening talk on what Forest Biometrics entails. His presentation provided participants with a strong foundation on the scope, relevance, and applications of biometrics in forestry research and management. This session was crucial for helping graduates understand how data-driven approaches can advance sustainable forest management.

Dr. Matt Russell, a well-known forest biometrics expert, followed with a practical session on Sampling Designs and Statistical Approaches in Forestry. His talk offered participants valuable insights into the methodologies used in forest inventories and research, equipping them with knowledge that is directly applicable to both academic and field-based forestry careers.

Dr. Bianca Eskelson contributed an engaging session on What Advisors are Looking for in Potential Graduate Students. She shared strategies for preparing strong applications, building academic relationships, and positioning oneself for graduate study opportunities abroad. This session was particularly impactful for participants aspiring to further their education and research in forest biometrics.

The program also emphasized the role of international collaboration and networking through the contributions of Johanna Klaper and Simon Hrbek, who spoke about the role of the International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA) in supporting forestry students globally. They highlighted opportunities for African forestry graduates to engage with a wider network of peers, gain exposure, and build leadership skills within the global forestry community.

By connecting African youths with global mentors, the mentorship program successfully bridged knowledge gaps and inspired participants to pursue careers that combine technical expertise with leadership in forestry. This initiative reflects TAG NG’s commitment to empowering the next generation of African foresters with the guidance, skills, and networks they need to thrive in the evolving field of forest biometrics.

Application of GIS in Agriculture

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Application of GIS in Agriculture project, organized under The Achiever’s Gathering (TAG NG), was designed to empower young African youths with innovative knowledge and practical insights on the role of geospatial technologies in transforming agriculture. The program, held on September 15–16, 2022, brought together distinguished experts from across the globe to share their expertise on how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can drive agricultural advancement and economic development.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Adeniyi OLAYANJU, Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Philomath University, Abuja, and former Vice Chancellor of Landmark University. His presentation, “Revolutionizing Agriculture in Africa, A Pathway to Economic Prosperity”, emphasized the central role of agriculture in Africa’s future and how technology-driven approaches can create sustainable solutions. His insights set the tone for the gathering, highlighting the urgency of adopting GIS for improved agricultural productivity.

The program also featured Dr. Qiusheng Wu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. He presented on “Cropland Mapping with Google Earth Engine and geemap.” His session introduced participants to cutting-edge remote sensing tools and techniques that enable accurate cropland mapping, which is critical for food security, resource allocation, and agricultural planning. The practical demonstration with Google Earth Engine showcased how GIS can be made accessible to researchers and practitioners alike.

Adding another dimension to the discussions, Dr. Ahmed Harb Rabia, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Damanhour, Egypt, spoke on “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Application in Precision Agriculture.” His session revealed how UAVs, commonly known as drones, are revolutionizing precision farming by enabling farmers to monitor crop health, optimize inputs, and increase yields while reducing costs. This presentation highlighted the intersection of GIS, remote sensing, and UAV technology in shaping the future of agriculture.

The event was facilitated by Femi Adekoya and Akansha Saklani, who guided the participants through two days of interactive discussions and knowledge sharing. By connecting global experts with African youths, this project not only enhanced technical capacity but also inspired participants to explore the transformative potential of GIS in solving local agricultural challenges.

Through this initiative, TAG NG reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young people with the tools and knowledge to innovate within their communities. The project underscored that the democratization of GIS technologies and their application in agriculture is key to unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential and ensuring long-term food security and economic growth.

Presenting TAG NG to the world

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

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To visit the offical website for this conference, hit the Website button below for more details.

IJCAI 2022 Official

An example preprint / working paper

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0000

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Olakunle Joshua | SUNY ESF

Modeling Diameter Distribution

The transformation everyone needs

Data Visualization in R

Data Visualization in R using ggplot2

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Experience

Forestry Data Analysis

Introduction

What is Forestry Data Analysis?

Why Forestry Data Analysis Matters

1. Improving Forest Management

2. Supporting Conservation and Climate Action

3. Assessing Disturbance and Recovery

4. Driving Policy and Community Awareness

Tools and Techniques Used in Forestry Data Analysis

Useful resources

Crabon Farming Certification System

Forest Biometrics Mentorship Program

Application of GIS in Agriculture

Presenting TAG NG to the world

An example preprint / working paper

An example journal article

An example conference paper