Ruusa Magano David

Biography

Ruusa is currently a lecturer in Geographical Information Systems in the Department of Geography, Geology, and Environment at Keele University. She has a Degree in Information Technology (IT) from the Namibia University of Science and Technology and a Master's in Geographical Information Technology from Istanbul Technical University. Ruusa holds a Ph.D. in Physical Geography from Durham University, specializing in GIS, Remote Sensing imaging technologies, and spatial analysis to quantify and monitor Earth resources including land-cover change, forest loss, and biomass assessment in dryland forests.

Prior to joining Keele University, Ruusa worked as a Teaching Fellow in Physical Geography and Remote Sensing at Durham University. Ruusa held several roles as a researcher for a NASA research project at Wisconsin-Madison University and the European Union Commission project at Istanbul Technical University. Ruusa is interested in utilizing cutting-edge technologies to underpin the decision-making process related to conservation and has published evidence-based policy briefs for policymakers across The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK.

Research and scholarship

My primary research is broadly focused on understanding tropical forest ecosystems and how they change over time in response to environmental change, wildfire, and climate change using time series data. I am keen on developing new ways to exploit cloud-based remote sensing (i.e. Google Earth Engine (GEE), GIS, and spatial analysis for mapping biophysical parameters related to land-cover dynamics, forest loss, fire/burned area mapping, climate change, and above-ground biomass assessment in dryland forests. Using data collected both in the field and freely accessible Optical Data from Sentinel-2, Landsat, MODIS, Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR), and Hyperspectral Data, I am interested in modelling vegetation parameters with spatial and temporal details to underpin the management of dryland forests and protected areas.

Professional Bodies
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Member of the Remote Sensing & Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc)
Member of the European Geosciences Union (EGU)

Teaching

My teaching has mainly been within the fields of physical geography, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Geostatistics and Remote Sensing.

Undergraduate
ESC-10068: Academic, Professional, and Fieldwork Skills
ESC-20102: Cartography and Geographic Information Science
ESC-30044: Applied GIS

Postgraduate
ESC-40056: Applied GIS
ESC-40042 Literature Review
ESC-40049 Research Skills

Publications

Journal Articles

David, R.M., Donoghue D.N.M. & Rosser, N.J., (2022) “Estimation of above-ground biomass using SAR and multispectral imagery in the savanna forests of Chobe National Park, Botswana, Remote Sensing of Environment. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113232

David, R., Rosser, N.J. & Donoghue, D.N., (2022). Remote sensing for monitoring tropical dryland forests: a review of current research, knowledge gaps and future directions for Southern Africa. Environmental Research Communications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac5b84

David, RM, (2022). Remote sensing could enable more evidence-based policy to monitor and manage tropical dryland forests. N8 AgriFood Food Systems Policy Hub. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.556649

Dogru, A.O., Goksel, C., David, R.M., Tolunay, D., Sözen, S. & Orhon, D., (2020). Detrimental environmental impact of large scale land use through deforestation and deterioration of carbon balance in Istanbul Northern Forest Area. Environmental Earth Sciences. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-08996-3

Çiğdem Göksel., David.R.M. & Dogru A.O. (2018). Environmental Monitoring of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Northern Istanbul using Remote Sensing. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics (IJEGEO), international, multidisciplinary. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.410943

Dogru AO., David R.M., Ulugtekin N., Goksel C., Seker DZ., & Sözen S.(2017). GIS based spatial pattern analysis: Children with Hepatitis A in Turkey. Environmental research 156, 349-357. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.04.001

David, R.M., (2017). Exploring spatial patterns and hotspots of hepatitis A and amoebic dysentery using GIS and geostatistical analysis in Turkey, Bilişim Enstitüsü. DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/11527/15719

David, R.M., & Dogru, A.O, (2016) “Geostatistical Analysis of Environmental Epidemiology”. Selçuk International Scientific Applied Sciences, Antalya-Turkey. DOI: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341827769

Conference Presentations:

David, R.M., Rosser, N.J. & Donoghue D.N.M., (September 2023). Earth Identifying and validating dryland forest changes and disturbances using Landsat and Modis time series and field vegetation data in Namibia. (RSPSoc) Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society), British Geological Survey headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamhire, UK September, 2023 DOI: https://www.rspsoc.org.uk/images/rspsoc2023/Papers/Paper_3_Ruusa.jpg

David, R.M., Donoghue D.N.M. & Rosser, N.J., (May 2020). Earth Observation models help management of savannah forests in the Okavango-Zambezi transfrontier conservation zone (KAZA) region of Southern Africa. European Geoscience (EGU) General Assembly Conference, May 2020, Vienna, Austria. DOI: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020EGUGA..2222135D

David, R.M (September 2020). Estimation of above ground biomass in the savannah forests and woodlands of Chobe National Park, Botswana, using SAR and multispectral imagery. Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc), Nottingham, UK September, 2020. DOI: www.rspsoc.org.uk/index.php/rspsoc-events/rspsoc2020.html

David R.M., & Dogru A.O. (June 2017): Environmental change detection in northern Istanbul using remotely sensed data, 6th International Conference on Environmental Management, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE), June 2017, Thessaloniki, Greece. DOI: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yagmur_Uysal/publication/332963162_ABSTRACTS/

David R.M., Dogru A.O., & Ulugtekin N. (September 2016): Spatial Pattern Analysis of Hepatitis A Cases in Children using Geostatistical Analysis in Turkey, 8th International Conference on Children’s Health and Environment, September 2016, Barcelona, Italy, pp.38-39. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-6.12.S1/

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
William Smith Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG

Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733615
School email: gge@keele.ac.uk

Follow the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment

Dr Ruusa David

Biography

Research and scholarship

Teaching

Publications