Matt Simon

Contact Information:
Miller Hall, msimon@email.unc.edu

Research Interests and Career Goals

Landscape ecology, GIS and remote sensing, conservation biology and planning, biogeography, hydrologic modeling, plant ecology and botany

I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree under the guidance of Dr. Aaron Moody. My primary research interests involve the application of GIS and remote sensing to better understand various ecological phenomenons. I am particularly interested in using GIS to prioritize lands for conservation through suitability analysis and predictive modeling. I am involved with several different research projects. The Fort Bragg Project (SERDP, http://www.unc.edu/depts/geog/lbe/SERDP/index.html ) is exploring the potential of mapping habitat connectivity for multiple threatened and endangered animal species. I strongly believe protecting quality habitat is the key to species protection and a healthy stable ecosystem, rich in diversity. My work experience in environmental consulting has highlighted for me the importance of land preservation that will ensure connectivity in the face of fragmentation. I have also explored the use of multiple resolutions of LiDAR data in mapping vernal pools and identifying potential breeding habitat for amphibians at Ft. Bragg. I am also involved in a NASA funded endeavor that is exploring the use of remotely sensed satellite data in conjunction with ground-collected vegetation data (primarily the Carolina Vegetation Survey database) to test and extend biodiversity paradigms. - http://uncnasabiodiversity.pbwiki.com/

My other research interests include landscape classification and habitat mapping, land conservation, wetland modeling, restoration ecology and mitigation-banking, invasive/exotic species mapping and eradication, and fire ecology.

I hope to ultimately work in the conservation field using GIS and remote sensing to aid in resource management in an effort to promote sustainable land and resource use. I envision myself working for a non-profit (local land trust or The Nature Conservancy), the federal government (USFW, USFS, USGS or NRCS), or in academia.

Education

B.S. Environmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Professional and Academic Groups

American Association of Geographers (AAG )
International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE)
National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP)
North Carolina Arc Users Group (NCAUG)
South Eastern Arc Users Group (SERUG)

Contact Info

mattsimon@unc.edu
Office: 206 Miller Hall or 320 Saunders Hall
Department of Geography
http://www.unc.edu/depts/geog/
University of North Carolina
Campus Box 3220
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3220

UNC Landscape Ecology and Biogeography Group website:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/geog/lbe/

Advisor: Dr. Aaron Moody

What I Enjoy
When not engaged in research I enjoy outdoor photography, gardening, backpacking, Frisbee golf and Ultimate, cooking, gardening, home repair/renovation, and any recreation involving my dog.