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Brandi Downs

Photo of Brandi Downs

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive

Mail Stop: 300-331

Pasadena, CA 91109

Curriculum Vitae:

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Member of:

Water & Ecosystems

Technologist

Biography

I received my BS in electrical and computer engineering from The Ohio State University in 2018, and my MS and PhD in 2023. Prior to my studies, I was a member of the US Coast Guard and was stationed in Alaska, Wisconsin, and Florida. I spent the fall of 2022 at JPL analyzing SAR data over a region in India to understand the sensitivity of C-band to differentiate between saturated soil and open water. My research has focused on ways to complement traditional remote sensing for surface water with GNSS-reflectometry and understanding its accuracy.

Education

  • PhD Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2023
    • Thesis: Mapping inland surface water with spaceborne GNSS reflectometry and SAR
  • MS Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2023
  • BS Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2018

Professional Experience

  • Graduate Research Associate, ElectroScience Lab, The Ohio State University, Jan 2019 – Aug 2023
  • Graduate Student Intern, Radar Science & Engineering Group, JPL, Aug – Dec 2022
  • Electrical Engineering Intern, Medical Devices Group, Battelle Memorial Institute, Jan – May 2016

Community Service

I am currently working with the IEEE GRSS MIRS Technical Committee to help plan the MicrowAve MonItoring of WATer with Applications (MAMI WATA) workshop this fall at Caltech.

Research Interests

  • Detection and monitoring of inland surface water with remote sensing, flood applications, GNSS-reflectometry and SAR.

Selected Awards

  • AGU Fall Meeting Outstanding Student Presentation Award, 2020
  • AGU Michael H. Freilich Data Visualization Competition Grand Prize Winner, 2020
  • Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship, 2019-2021

Selected Publications

  1. B. Downs, B. Chapman, C. Patnaik, and A. Das, “Evaluating the Sensitivity of Sentinel-1 to Flooding and Saturated Soil in Little Rann of Kutch,” In Preparation. To be submitted to Remote Sensing.
  2. B. Downs, “Mapping Inland Surface Water with Spaceborne GNSS Reflectivity and SAR,” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Elec. and Comp. Eng., The Ohio State University, August 2023.
  3. E. Loria, I.M. Russo, Y. Wang, G. Giangregorio, C. Galdi, M. di Bisceglie, B. Wilson-Downs, M. Lavalle, A.J. O’Brien, Y.J. Morton, C. Zuffada, "Comparison of GNSS-R Coherent Reflection Detection Algorithms Using Simulated and Measured CYGNSS Data," in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 61, pp. 1-16, 2023, Art no. 5105216, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3277411.
  4. B. Downs, A.J. Kettner, B.D. Chapman, G.R. Brakenridge, A.J. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Assessing the Relative Performance of GNSS-R Flood Extent Observations: Case Study in South Sudan,” in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 61, pp. 1-13, 2023, Art no. 4201213, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3237461.
  5. B. Wilson-Downs, A.J. Kettner, G.R. Brakenridge, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “CYGNSS Flood Applications to Support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2022), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul. 17-22, 2022.
  6. B. Wilson-Downs, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Retrieval of Dynamic Changes of Surface Water Extent from Sparse GNSS-R Measurements Using a Model-Driven Approach,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2022), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul. 17-22, 2022.
  7. B. Downs, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Detection of Sub-Weekly Inundation Changes in Bangladesh Refugee Camps via Remote Sensing,” AGU Frontiers in Hydrology Meeting (FIHM 2022), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jun. 19-24, 2022.
  8. B. Wilson-Downs, C. Zuffada, I.M. Russo, E. Loria, B. Chapman, A. O’Brien, “From Research to Application: Assessing the Potential of GNSS-R Flood Products for Operational Use,” ESA Living Planet Symposium (LPS 2022), Bonn, Germany, May 23-27, 2022.
  9. B.D. Chapman, I.M. Russo, C. Galdi, M. Morris, M. di Bisceglie, C. Zuffada, B. Downs, M. Lavalle, A.J. O’Brien, “Comparison of SAR and CYGNSS Surface Water Extent Metrics,” IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, vol. 15, pp. 3235-3245, 2022.
  10. B. Downs, F. Aristizabal, M. Lavalle, B. Chapman, I.M. Russo, M. di Bisceglie, C. Galdi, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Observing Dynamic Flooding on Short Timescales by Combining GNSS-R and Height Above Nearest Drainage,” AGU Fall Meeting 2021, Dec. 13-17, 2021.
  11. C. Lowry, B. Downs, B. Chapman, C. Zuffada, “Community Engagement in Measuring Extreme Flow Events,” AGU Fall Meeting 2021, Dec. 13-17, 2021.
  12. B. Downs, B. Chapman, I.M. Russo, M. Lavalle, M. di Bisceglie, C. Galdi, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Leveraging NISAR Activities to Support CYGNSS Wetlands Calibration & Validation,” 2021 IEEE Specialist Meeting on Reflectometry using GNSS and other Signals of Opportunity (GNSS+R), 2021, pp. 101-104.
  13. B. Downs, A. O'Brien, M. Morris, C. Zuffada, “Water Depth Retrieval in the Everglades Using CYGNSS,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2021), Brussels, Belgium, Jul. 12-16, 2021.
  14. C. Zuffada, B. Downs, M. Russo, E. Loria, A. O’Brien, L. Galdi, M. di Bisceglie, V. Zavorotny, M. Lavalle, M. Morris, “State of the Art in GNSSS-R Capabilities Over Inland Waters,” IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS 2021), Brussels, Belgium, Jul. 12-16, 2021.
  15. M. Morris, B. Downs, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Monitoring the Everglades from Space with NASA’s CYGNSS Constellation,” Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference (GEER 2021), Virtual Event, Apr. 12-16, 2021.
  16. B. Downs, C. Zuffada, E. Loria, M. Russo, V. Zavorotny, A. O’Brien, M. Morris, M. Lavalle, M. di Bisceglie, L. Galdi, “Monitoring Dynamic Changes in Terrestrial Surface Water Using the NASA CYGNSS Satellite Constellation,” 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly 2020, Virtual Event, Jan. 28 – Feb. 4, 2021.
  17. E. Loria, V.U. Zavorotny, B. Downs, M. Russo, A. O’Brien, C. Zuffada, “Modeling and Analysis of GNSS-R Measurements in Wetland Areas,” AGU Fall Meeting 2020, Virtual Event, Dec. 1-17, 2020.
  18. B. Downs, A. O’Brien, M. Morris, V. U. Zavorotny, and C. Zuffada, “Using GNSS Reflectometry Measurements Over the Everglades to Identify Variations in Wetland Inundation Extent Beneath Vegetation,” AGU Fall Meeting 2020, Virtual Event, Dec. 1-17, 2020.
  19. E. Loria, A. O'Brien, V. Zavorotny, B. Downs, C. Zuffada, "Analysis of scattering characteristics from inland bodies of water observed by CYGNSS," Remote Sens., 2020, 245, 111825.
  20. B. Downs, E. Loria, A. O’Brien, V. Zavorotny, and C. Zuffada, “Simulation Study of CYGNSS Observability of Dynamic Inundation Events,” IGARSS 2020 - 2020 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Waikoloa, HI, USA, 2020, pp. 5913-5916.
  21. V. Zavorotny, E. Loria, A. O’Brien, B. Downs, and C. Zuffada, “Investigation of Coherent and Incoherent Scattering from Lakes Using CYGNSS DDM Observations,” IGARSS 2020 - 2020 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Waikoloa, HI, USA, 2020.
  22. C. Zuffada, B. Downs, E. Loria, A. O’Brien, and V. Zavorotny, “An Assessment of the Capabilities of GNSS Reflectometry for Dynamic Monitoring of Wetlands and Inundations,” AGU Fall Meeting 2019, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 9-13, 2019.
  23. B. Downs, A. O’Brien, and J. T. Johnson, “Observing the Cryosphere with Next Generation GNSS-Reflectometry,” ISAES 2019, Incheon, Republic of Korea, Jul. 22-26, 2019.