The AI + Environment Research Interest Group invites faculty from across Grounds to its next session on Monday, April 27 at 1:00 PM. This session, hosted on Zoom, will provide an opportunity to examine the intersection of artificial intelligence and environmental change.
The session will be hosted by Xi Yang, whose research applies machine learning, remote sensing, and ecological modeling to characterize and monitor “ghost forests” (areas where coastal forests are rapidly converting to marsh due to sea‑level rise, saltwater intrusion, and related climate‑driven stressors). Professor Yang will discuss recent advances in AI‑assisted detection and interpretation of these landscape transitions, demonstrating how multispectral data, combined with modern learning algorithms, can enhance our ability to quantify forest mortality, understand the underlying biophysical drivers, and anticipate future trajectories. His work highlights how AI can offer more scalable, interpretable, and timely insights into coastal ecosystem change, supporting planners, land managers, and communities as they confront accelerating environmental risks.
A Research Interest Group is a faculty‑driven community that brings colleagues together around shared themes to spark collaboration, surface new research opportunities, and build interdisciplinary connections that strengthen UVA’s collective capacity. Faculty are warmly invited to participate in the monthly discussions and help shape emerging ideas, partnerships, and projects.
