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Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Dr. Jasmeet Judge

Professor, Microwave Remote Sensing
Center for Remote Sensing

Jasmeet Judge specializes in microwave remote sensing. Her training in electrical engineering and in atmospheric, oceanic, and space sciences is complemented by skills in physics and computer science. The main goal of her research is to understand how water interacts with soil and vegetation by using both remote sensing and computer models, such as hydrologic and crop growth models. These models capture the current understanding of these interactions in mathematical formulations and predict the flow of water in the soil and crops through time. With remote sensing, larger areas of the landscape can be monitored, providing linkages among smaller, local scales to larger, regional and global scales.

Combining remote sensing observations and the models is Judge's approach to understanding water in the top meter of the soil called the root zone. The moisture in the root zone is vital to plant life and has an impact on weather and heat exchange between the land and the atmosphere. Her work takes a unique look at this layer of the earth's surface, relating the remotely sensed observations to water and temperature conditions at the land surface and upper layers of the soil.

Judge explains that microwave remote sensing is highly sensitive to changes in soil moisture and makes it possible to bridge the gap between small-scale studies at the field level and larger-scale studies at the regional and global scales. Also, microwaves can penetrate vegetation and give a more accurate picture of soil moisture than other wavelengths.

Of course, research does not stop with data.  Judge uses datasets to improve hydrologic and crop growth models. As complex as Judge's work can be, it is far from abstract. She focuses on basic research aimed at developing the best understanding and the best tools for understanding soil moisture, but she extends this research through collaborations with researchers whose main interest is the impact of soil moisture. These collaborators include agronomists, foresters, and climate researchers, who all need the very best reading on moisture and heat exchange that they can get. Judge collaborates on wetland models, forest growth models, crop models, and other land cover models.

Contact Information

jasmeet@ufl.edu

352-294-6750

Office:
275 Frazier Rogers Hall

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 110570
Gainesville, FL 32611-0570

  • Teaching
    • ABE 4034: Remote Sensing in Engineering
    • ABE 6035: Advanced Remote Sensing (Odd Years)
    • ABE 6037C: Remote Sensing in Hydrology (Even Years)
  • Research

    Departmental Research Areas:

    • Information Systems
    • Land and Water Resources Engineering

    Research Focus:

    • Linking changes in dynamic vegetation to passive microwave remote sensing: Involves development of microwave emission models to predict brightness signatures for vegetation throughout their growth cycle. These models will be linked to crop-growth models from where they will obtain inputs for plant growth and structure.
    • Understanding scaling issues for assimilating remotely sensed data in crop and SVAT models: Involves simulating crop-growth and transport of energy, moisture, and nutrients in the soil at satellite scales to incorporate remotely sensed data for improved estimation of soil and vegetation characteristics. These models will include simulations from mixed pixels.
  • Education
    • Ph.D. Electrical Engineering and Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, 1999
    • M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan, 1994
    • B.S. Physics, Stillman College, 1992
  • Professional Experience
    • 2018 - Present
      Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
    • 2008 - 2018
      Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
    • 2001 - 2008
      Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
    • 2000 - 2001
      Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
    • 1992 - 1999
      Graduate Student Research Assistant, Radiation Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Michigan
  • Publications
  • Awards and Honors
    • ASABE Florida Section Young Researcher, 2008
    • 2006 Region D Faculty Advisor, Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
    • Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Honor Society, 1999
    • University of Michigan Rackham Travel Fellowship, 1994, 1997, 1998
    • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Travel Grant, 1997
    • Fellowship, Sloan Foundation, 1996
    • Valedictorian, Stillman College, 1992
    • The President’s Award for Academic Excellence, Stillman College, 1992
    • Outstanding Achievement in Physics award, Stillman College, 1992
    • International Student Honor Award, Stillman College, 1992
  • Other Professional Activities
    • ASEE
    • IEEE
    • American Geophysical Union
    • Society of Women Engineers