Associate Professor, Geography, UNC-CH
Dr. Arce-Nazario studies landscapes as they appear in historical maps and remotely sensed images, as they appear in people’s memories and contemporary experiences, and as they are shaped by biophysical processes, human actions and beliefs. He integrates approaches from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, using instruments such as cameras, drones, audio recording equipment, surveys, and water quality assays. In the Galapagos, Dr. Arce-Nazario is interested in studying upland agroforests through interviews, drone, and satellite imagery. By exploring the way that farmers both shape these spaces and relate to them, we can better understand how the forests and farm products support their livelihoods, and how they affect the biodiversity, economy, and food security of the Galapagos islands. He is especially interested in combining a novel participatory mapping methodology using drones with more traditional remote sensing and AI-assisted classification techniques, to develop a deep and nuanced understanding of these secluded spaces of agriculture in the Galapagos archipelago.
Research Projects
Publications
- Laso, F. J., Benítez, F. L., Rivas-Torres, G., Sampedro, C., & Arce-Nazario, J. (2020). Land Cover Classification of Complex Agroecosystems in the Non-Protected Highlands of the Galapagos Islands. Remote Sensing, 12(65), 1–39.
- Colloredo-Mansfeld, M., Laso, F. J., & Arce-nazario, J. (2020). Drone-based participatory mapping: examining local agricultural knowledge in the Galapagos. Drones, 4(62), 1–19.