Research in the Keitt Lab

AI for autonomous sensing of biodiversity

Over the past few years, we have been developing a model for autonomous environmental sensing. Given the rapid pace of environmental change, it will be necessary in the future to augment existing field data collection with automated methods. Our solution is sentinel devices that record micro-climate and biodiversity activity. These can be solar-powered and stand-alone. When connected to the internet, they report results in near-realtime. You can read more about our work here, here, and here.

Dynamic spatial ecology and biogeography

Using simulation, data sciences, and Bayesian statistics, we have made contributions to our understanding of how species are distributed spatially, how they move and evolve in space and time, and how these processes relate to ecological diversity and resilience.

Social-ecological dynamics of conservation

Through stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration, we examine the social and ecological dynamics of natural systems and their conservation, with the aim of understanding the interplay between human actives that affect the landscape and the landscape’s ability to support biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. We are particularly interested in the LRGV and Gulf Coast systems of Texas.