Greg C. Liknes

Physical Scientist

Northern Research Station

1992 Folwell Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

E-Mail

Forschung
Education & Experience
Organizations & Awards
Publications & Products
Research Highlights
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Current Research

I am a Physical Scientist in the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Research Work Unit. The FIA program at the Northern Research Station is responsible for the forest land inventories of 24 states extending from the Great Plains to the northeastern United States. My current research interest is the application of geospatial and remote sensing technologies to improving the precision and efficiency of inventories.

Past Research

I have worked in several different areas of research either supporting forest inventory operations or utilizing inventory data to address ecological questions:

semi-automated approaches to mapping the landscape using high-resolution imagery, particularly in areas with tree cover that do not meet a traditional definition of forest (e.g., narrow windbreaks in the Great Plains)
determining the best methods for combining climate data with forest inventory information (e.g., to support analysis of elevated tree mortality related to drought)
canopy cover modeling (formerly as the Forest Service science team leader for the NLCD canopy cover dataset)

Research Interest

I work with a variety of airborne and spaceborne sensors including multi-spectral and optical imagery, lidar, and radar. I'm exploring digital stereo imagery (specifically, photogrammetrically-derived point clouds) and the potential for improved estimates of forest volume and biomass over large areas. I work at the intersection of GIS, data science, and remote sensing with the aim of applying best practices from these fields to improve the efficiency of workflows and to analyze large amounts of information.

Why This Research Is Important

The FIA program fills critical forest information needs for a variety of customers in state government, the timber industry, environmental organizations, and many more. As a neutral provider of data, FIA seeks to constantly improve the inventory efficiency and utility in order to maximize the return on taxpayer dollars. Integrating geospatial and remote sensing technologies into inventory processes aids in achieving this objective.

Bildung

University of Minnesota, M.S., Department of Soil, Water, & Climate, 1999
University of North Dakota, B.S., Department of Atmospheric Science, 1996

Professional Experience

District GIS Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019 - 2020

Professional Organizations

Member, Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium, 2001 - Current

Awards & Recognition

Microsoft AI for Earth grant recipient, 2017

Featured Publications

Greg C. Liknes, Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Todd A. Kellerman. 2017. Shape indexes for semi-automated detection of windbreaks in thematic tree cover maps from the central United States
Rachel Riemann, Greg C. Liknes, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Chris Toney, Tonya Lister. 2016. Comparative assessment of methods for estimating tree canopy cover across a rural-to-urban gradient in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA
Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson. 2013. Mapping trees outside forests using high-resolution aerial imagery: a comparison of pixel- and object based classification approaches
Greg C. Liknes, Charles H. Perry, Dacia M. Meneguzzo. 2010. Assessing tree cover in agricultural landscapes using high-resolution aerial imagery
Limin Yang, Suming Jin, Patrick Danielson, Collin Homer, Leila Gass, Stacie M. Bender, Adam Case, Catherine Costello, Jon Dewitz, Joyce Fry, Michelle Funk, Brian Granneman, Greg C. Liknes, Matthew Rigge, George Xian. 2018. A new generation of the United States National Land Cover Database: Requirements, research priorities, design, and implementation strategies

Other Publications

Jonathan Knott, Greg C. Liknes, Courtney L. Giebink, Sungchan Oh, Grant Domke, Ronald E. McRoberts, Valquiria F. Quirino, Brian Walters. 2023. Effects of outliers on remote sensing‐assisted forest biomass estimation: A case study from the United States national forest inventory
C. W. Woodall, G. C. Liknes, J. P. Bunker, C. P. Peace, J. M. Frank. 2023. Forgotten forest relics: Apple trees (Malus spp.) in eastern U.S. forests
Thomas C. Goff, Mark D. Nelson, Greg C. Liknes, Tivon E. Feeley, Scott A. Pugh, Randall S. Morin. 2021. Rapid Assessment of Tree Damage Resulting from a 2020 Windstorm in Iowa, USA
Jill M. Derwin, Valerie A. Thomas, Randolph H. Wynne, John W. Coulston, Greg C. Liknes, Stacie Bender, Christine E. Blinn, Evan B. Brooks, Bonnie Ruefenacht, Robert Benton, Mark V Finco, Kevin Megown. 2020. Estimating tree canopy cover using harmonic regression coefficients derived from multitemporal Landsat data
Andrew J. Lister, Hans Andersen, Tracey Frescino, Demetrios Gatziolis, Sean Healey, Linda S. Heath, Greg C. Liknes, Ronald McRoberts, Gretchen G. Moisen, Mark Nelson, Rachel Riemann, Karen Schleeweis, Todd A. Schroeder, James Westfall, B. Tyler. Wilson. 2020. Use of Remote Sensing Data to Improve the Efficiency of National Forest Inventories: A Case Study from the United States National Forest Inventory
Ronald E. McRoberts, Erik Næsset, Greg C. Liknes, Qi Chen, Brian F. Walters, Sassan Saatchi, Martin Herold. 2019. Using a Finer Resolution Biomass Map to Assess the Accuracy of a Regional, Map-Based Estimate of Forest Biomass
Ronald E. McRoberts, Stephen V Stehman, Greg C. Liknes, Erik Næsset, Christophe Sannier, Brian F. Walters. 2018. The effects of imperfect reference data on remote sensing-assisted estimators of land cover class proportions
Susan J. Crocker, Greg C. Liknes. 2017. Forests of New Jersey, 2016
Susan J. Crocker, Greg C. Liknes, Fraser R. McKee, Jana S. Albers, Brian H. Aukema. 2016. Stand-level factors associated with resurging mortality from eastern larch beetle (Dendroctonus simplex LeConte)
Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Greg C. Liknes. 2015. Status and trends of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) in the central United States: Analyses and observations based on Forest Inventory and Analysis data
Greg C. Liknes, Susan J. Crocker, Randall S. Morin, Brian F. Walters. 2015. Hurricane impacts on forest resources in the Eastern United States: a post-sandy assessment
Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Greg C. Liknes. 2015. Research Activities in Support of High-Resolution Land Cover Mapping in the North Central United States
Charlie Schrader-Patton, Greg C. Liknes, Demetrios Gatziolis, Brian M. Wing, Mark D. Nelson, Patrick D. Miles, Josh Bixby, Daniel G. Wendt, Dennis Kepler, Abbey Schaaf. 2015. Refining FIA plot locations using LiDAR point clouds
Greg C. Liknes, Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Kevin Nimerfro. 2015. Woody encroachment in the Central United States
Brett J. Butler, Jaketon H. Hewes, Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Stephanie A. Snyder. 2014. A comparison of techniques for generating forest ownership spatial products
Ronald E. McRoberts, Greg C. Liknes, Grant M. Domke. 2014. Using a remote sensing-based, percent tree cover map to enhance forest inventory estimation
Jaketon H. Hewes, Brett J. Butler, Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Stephanie A. Snyder. 2014. Map of distribution of six forest ownership types in the conterminous United States
Susan M. Stein, Mary A. Carr, Greg C. Liknes, Sara J. Comas. 2014. Islands on the edge: housing development and other threats to America's Pacific and Caribbean Island forests: a Forests on the Edge report
Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Daniel J. Kaisershot. 2013. Net change in forest density, 1873-2001. Using historical maps to monitor long-term forest trends.
Greg C. Liknes, Randall S. Morin, Charles D. Canham. 2013. Trend analyses and projections using national forest inventory data
Greg C. Liknes, Christopher W. Woodall, Charles H. Perry. 2012. Using inventory data to determine the impact of drought on tree mortality
Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. A framework for reporting tree cover attributes in agricultural landscapes
Chris Toney, Greg Liknes, Andy Lister, Dacia Meneguzzo. 2012. Assessing alternative measures of tree canopy cover: Photo-interpreted NAIP and ground-based estimates
Dacia M Meneguzzo, Susan J. Crocker, Mark D. Nelson, Charles J. Barnett, Brett J. Butler, Grant M. Domke, Mark H. Hansen, Mark A. Hatfield, Greg C. Liknes, Andrew J. Lister, Tonya W. Lister, Ronald J. Piva, Barry T. (Ty) Wilson, Christopher W. Woodall. 2012. Nebraska's Forests 2010
Randall S. Morin, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012
Greg C. Liknes, Christopher W. Woodall, Brian F. Walters, Sara A. Goeking. 2012. Unlocking the climate riddle in forested ecosystems
Sara A. Goeking, Greg C. Liknes, Erik Lindblom, John Chase, Dennis M. Jacobs, Robert Benton. 2012. A GIS-based tool for estimating tree canopy cover on fixed-radius plots using high-resolution aerial imagery
Rachel Riemann, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. Building capacity for providing canopy cover and canopy height at FIA plot locations using high-resolution imagery and leaf-off LiDAR
Randall S. Morin, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. Poster abstracts of Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012
Randall S. Morin, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. Abstracts of Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012
Sara A. Goeking, Greg C. Liknes. 2012. Is lodgepole pine mortality due to mountain pine beetle linked to the North American Monsoon?
Susan J. Crocker, Greg C. Liknes, Dacia M. Meneguzzo. 2011. Retrospective analysis of EAB spread: understanding the effect of landscape pattern on invasion and propagation
C.J. Woodall, D.J. Nowak, G.C. Liknes, J.A. Westfall. 2010. Assessing the potential for urban trees to facilitate forest tree migration in the eastern United States
Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Brett J. Butler. 2010. Public and private forest ownership in the conterminous United States. Chapter 6.
Mark D. Nelson, Greg C. Liknes, Brett J. Butler. 2010. Map of forest ownership in the conterminous United States. [Scale 1:7,500,000].
Patrick L. Zimmerman, Greg C. Liknes. 2010. The role of misclassification in estimating proportions and an estimator of misclassification probability
Susan J. Crocker, Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Greg C. Liknes. 2010. Patterns among the ashes: Exploring the relationship between landscape pattern and the emerald ash borer
Greg C. Liknes, Susan J. Crocker, Dacia M. Meneguzzo. 2010. Climatic controls on emerald ash borer dispersal
Dacia M. Meneguzzo, Susan J. Crocker, Greg C. Liknes. 2010. A technique for mapping urban ash trees using object-based image analysis
Mark Nelson, Greg Liknes, Charles H. Perry. 2009. Combining forest inventory, satellite remote sensing, and geospatial data for mapping forest attributes of the conterminous United States
Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Dale D. Gormanson, Mark Hansen. 2009. The utility of the cropland data layer for Forest Inventory and Analysis
Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson. 2009. Improving Forest Inventory and Analysis efficiency with common land unit information
Greg C. Liknes, Christopher W. Woodall, Charles H. Perry. 2009. Predicting forest attributes from climate data using a recursive partitioning and regression tree algorithm
Sara A. Goeking, Greg C. Liknes. 2009. The role of pre-field operations at four forest inventory units: We can see the trees, not just the forest
Bonnie Ruefenacht, Greg Liknes, Andrew J. Lister, Haans Fisk, Dan Wendt. 2009. Evaluation of open source data mining software packages
Charles H. (Hobie) Perry, Vern A. Everson, Ian K. Brown, Jane Cummings-Carlson, Sally E. Dahir, Edward A. Jepsen, Joe Kovach, Michael D. Labissoniere, Terry R. Mace, Eunice A. Padley, Richard B. Rideout, Brett J. Butler, Susan J. Crocker, Greg C. Liknes, Randall S. Morin, Mark D. Nelson, Barry T. (Ty) Wilson, Christopher W. Woodall. 2008. Wisconsin's forests, 2004
C.H. Perry, C.W. Woodall, G.C. Liknes, M.M. Schoeneberger. 2008. Filling the gap: improving estimates of working tree resources in agricultural landscapes
Christopher W. Woodall, Greg C. Liknes. 2008. Climatic regions as an indicator of forest coarse and fine woody debris carbon stocks in the United States
C.W. Woodall, G.C. Liknes. 2008. Relationships between forest fine and coarse woody debris carbon stocks across latitudinal gradients in the United States as an indicator of climate change effects
Mark D. Nelson, Greg C. Liknes. 2007. Forest Land Ownership in the Conterminous United States [map]
Ronald E. McRoberts, R. James Barbour, Krista M. Gebert, Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Dacia M. Meneguzzo, et al. 2006. Using basic geographic information systems functionality to support sustainable forest management decision making and post-decision assessments
Ronald E. McRoberts, Geoffrey R. Holden, Mark D. Nelson, Greg C. Liknes, Dale D. Gormanson. 2006. Using satellite imagery as ancillary data for increasing the precision of estimates for the Forest Inventory and Analysis program of the USDA Forest Service
Christopher W. Woodall, Joseph Charney, Greg Liknes, Brian Potter. 2006. Linking Fuel Inventories With Atmospheric Data for Assessment of Fire Danger
USDA Forest Service, Bob Rummer, Jeff Prestemon, Dennis May, Pat Miles, John Vissage, Ron McRoberts, Greg Liknes, Wayne D. Shepperd, Dennis Ferguson, William Elliot, Sue Miller, Steve Reutebuch, Jamie Barbour, Jeremy Fried, Bryce Stokes, Edward Bilek, Ken Skog. 2005. A strategic assessment of forest biomass and fuel reduction treatments in Western States
Ronald E. McRoberts, Geoffrey R. Holden, Mark D. Nelson, Greg C. Liknes, Warren K. Moser, Andrew J. Lister, Susan L. King, Elizabeth B. LaPoint, John W. Coulston, W. Brad Smith, Gregory A. Reams. 2005. Estimating and circumventing the effects of perturbing and swapping inventory plot locations
R.E. McRoberts, D.G. Wendt, G.C. Liknes. 2005. Stratified estimation of forest inventory variables using spatially summarized stratifications
Christopher W. Woodall, Joseph J. Charney, Greg C. Liknes, Brian E. Potter. 2005. What's the fire danger now? Linking fuel inventories with atmospheric data
W. Keith Moser, Greg Liknes, Mark Hansen, Kevin Nimerfro. 2005. Incorporation of Precipitation Data Into FIA Analyses: A Case Study of Factors Influencing Susceptibility to Oak Decline in Southern Missouri, U.S.A.
Ronald E. McRoberts, Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Krista M. Gebert, R. James Barbour, Susan L. Odell, Steven C. Yaddof. 2005. Allocating Fire Mitigation Funds on the Basis of the Predicted Probabilities of Forest Wildfire
Mark D. Nelson, Ronald E. McRoberts, Greg C. Liknes, Geoffrey R. Holden. 2005. Comparing Forest/Nonforest Classifications of Landsat TM Imagery for Stratifying FIA Estimates of Forest Land Area
Ronald E. McRoberts, Greg C. Liknes. 2005. Assessing the Effects of Forest Fragmentation Using Satellite Imagery and Forest Inventory Data
Greg C. Liknes, Geoffrey R. Holden, Mark D. Nelson, Ronald E. McRoberts. 2005. Spatially Locating FIA Plots from Pixel Values
Greg C. Liknes, Mark D. Nelson, Ronald E. McRoberts. 2004. Evaluating Classified MODIS Satellite Imagery as a Stratification Tool
Bob Rummer, Jeff Prestemon, Dennis May, Pat Miles, John Vissage, Ron McRoberts, Greg Liknes, Wayne D. Shepperd, Dennis Ferguson, William Elliot, Sue Miller, Steve Reutebuch, Jamie Barbour, Jeremy Fried, Bryce Stokes, Edward Bilek, Ken Skog. 2003. A strategic assessment of forest biomass and fuel reduction treatments in western states
Katherine O'Neill, Michael Amacher, Craig Palmer, Barbara Conkling, Greg C. Liknes. 2003. Soil Quality as an Indicator of Forest Health: an Overview and Initial Results from the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis Soil Indicator Program
Ronald E. McRoberts, Greg C. Liknes. 2002. The effects of forest fragmentation on forest stand attributes

Last updated September 11, 2020