Technical Workshop: Remote Sensing for Water Resources and Water Quality Modeling Applications

Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Alaska Daylight Time, AKDT)
Location: Room 4
PDHs: 4.0 Professional Development Hours

Organized by the Remote Sensing Applications for TMDL Modeling Task Committee (ASCE) https://bit.ly/RS-TC

Workshop Purpose

This interactive workshop introduces participants to satellite-based remote sensing tools and data products relevant to ambient water quality monitoring, watershed modeling, and TMDL applications.

Participants will:

• Gain hands-on experience using Google Earth Engine (GEE) for water resource applications.
• Learn how to access and interpret satellite imagery for climate, sediment, and water quality studies.
• Work through case studies on climate trends, suspended sediment, lake monitoring, and chlorophyll-a (CHLA) estimation.
• Engage with others working in research, policy, and practice to advance remote sensing use in water management.

Instructors

• Saurav Kumar, Ph.D., P.E., F.EWRI – Arizona State University
• Abhiram Siva Prasad Pamula, Ph.D., – Marquette University
• Vamsi Krishna Sridharan, Ph.D., M.ASCE – Tetra Tech
• Huilin Gao, Ph.D., M. ASCE – Texas A&M University
• Walter M. McDonald, Ph.D., M.ASCE – Marquette University
• Abhinav Gupta, Ph.D – University of Cincinnati
• Rocky Talchabhadel, Ph.D – Jackson State University
• Laxman Bokati, Ph.D - Arizona State University

Pre-Workshop Checklist

To get the most out of this session, please do the following:

1. Fill Out the Background Survey
   Helps us tailor examples and adjust live content.
   Link: https://forms.gle/T9JbpdGuLzt4F4ue8

2. Install Git
   We'll distribute workshop code via GitHub.
   Link: https://git-scm.com/downloads

3. Register for Google Earth Engine (GEE)
   Apply early—approval takes a few days.
   Signup: https://signup.earthengine.google.com
   Once approved: https://code.earthengine.google.com

4. Install Anaconda or Miniconda https://www.anaconda.com/download/

   1. Run conda env create -f rstcworkshop2025.yml to create the conda environment.
   2. Next run on terminal conda activate rstcworkshop2025
   3. Finally pip install some packages pip install -r requirements.txt
   4. Pull external repo git submodule update --init --recursive
   5. On terminal do earthengine authenticate

Resources & References

• AGU Remote Sensing Cheat Sheet
  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TOGPuKGB8DpxOQIIbYbbAn70zAOI6yo824RUVog-OXo/edit#gid=1587531233

• Google Earth Engine Tutorials and Docs

  • https://courses.spatialthoughts.com/end-to-end-gee.html
  • https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/tutorials

Workshop Agenda

Hour 1: Introduction & Fundamentals

• 1:00–1:10 PM – Welcome & Goals
• 1:10–1:25 PM – Remote Sensing for Water Applications
• 1:25–1:50 PM – GEE: Introduction & Capabilities
• 1:50–2:00 PM – Break 🍱

Hour 2: Climate & Sediment Analysis

• 2:00–2:40 PM – Gridded Data Validator Graphical User Interface
  • The tool facilitates systematic comparison between ground station measurements and various gridded precipitation products (ERA5, DAYMET, PRISM, CHIRPS, FLDAS, GSMAP, and GLDAS). Developed us-ing PyQt5, the application implements a Model-View-Controller architecture integrating Earth Engine API for efficient data acquisition.
• 2:40–2:45 PM – Short Break 🍩
• 2:45–3:05 PM – Suspended Sediment Estimation (Talk + Demo)

Hour 3: Surface Water Monitoring

• 3:05–3:15 PM – Break 🍕
• 3:15–3:25 PM – Remote Sensing of Lakes & Reservoirs
• 3:25–3:45 PM – Hands-On: Lake Monitoring Activity
• 3:45–4:0 PM – CHLA Estimation – Spectral Indices & Code
• 4:50–5:00 PM – Exit Survey & Wrap-Up

Contact

For questions or troubleshooting before the event, contact:
Saurav Kumar ([email protected]) Arizona State University

We look forward to seeing you in Room 4 for an afternoon of learning, collaboration, and innovation!