Research Fellow, Forestry and Remote Sensing Specialist
Rajeev Bhattarai is a postdoctoral research associate at the School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, USA. He holds a PhD and an MS degree in Forest Resources from the University of Maine. Rajeev harnesses the potential of remote sensing data and machine learning algorithms to assess the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of forests. His specific focus lies in establishing connections between plant physiological processes and remote sensing indicators. Currently, he is working on developing landscape level forest health monitoring products, such as host species composition and susceptibility maps for a variety of forest pests in Maine, USA. In general, his research involves the use of multi-source satellite multispectral and synthetic-aperture radar data for forest monitoring.
Publications:
Bhattarai, R., Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran, P. and Mech, A., 2023. Estimating nutritive, non-nutritive and defense foliar traits in spruce-fir stands using remote sensing and site data. Forest Ecology and Management, 549, 121461.
Timilsina, S., Shrestha, S., Tripathi, S., Bhattarai, R., Mishra, S.K., Regmi, R.R., Paudel, D. and Miya, M.S., 2023. Assessment of land use land cover dynamics and its impact on springs water in Ritung Khola Sub-Watershed, Myagdi district, Nepal. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 12(2), 190-204.
Bhattarai R., Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran P., and Weiskittel A., 2022. Multi-Source Mapping of Forest Susceptibility to Spruce Budworm Defoliation Based on Stand Age and Composition across a Complex Landscape in Maine, USA. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, 48, 873-893.
Bhattarai, R., Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran, P., Weiskittel, A., Homayouni, S., Gara, T.W. and Hanavan, R.P., 2022. Estimating species-specific leaf area index and basal area using optical and SAR remote sensing data in Acadian mixed spruce-fir forests, USA. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 108, 102727.
Acharya, S., Sharma, H.P., Bhattarai, R., Poudyal, B., Sharma, S. and Upadhaya, S., 2021. Distribution and habitat preferences of the Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla (Mammalia: Manidae) in the mid-hills of Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13, 18959-18966.
Bhattarai R., Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran P., Weiskittel A., Meneghini A. and Maclean D., 2021, Spruce budworm tree host species distribution and abundance mapping using multi-temporal Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 172, 28-40.
Timilsina, S., Bhattarai, R., Miya, M.S. and Gautam, D., 2020. Sissoo, its Pathogenic Constraints and their Management in Nepal: A review. Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 3, 1-17.
Bhattarai R., Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran P., Weiskittel A. and Maclean D., 2020, Sentinel-2 based prediction of spruce budworm defoliation using red-edge spectral vegetation indices. Remote Sensing Letters, 11, 777-786.
Bhattarai, R., Sharma, P., Wagle, B., Adhikari, A. and Acharya, S., 2020. Revision and compilation of health management plan of Khair (Acacia catechu). Grassroots Journal of Natural Resources, 3(1), 15-28.