Tom Mellin is the remote sensing coordinator for the Southwestern Region. He is very excited to work with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology. LIDAR is the first remote–sensing technology that actually “sees” the three–dimensional structure of forest ecosystems from the plot to the landscape levels. It is a valuable tool for implementing and monitoring landscape–level forest restoration projects.

Tom is recognized for his leadership in developing applications that derive vegetation canopy parameters from LIDAR imagery data, and for using digital aerial photography and image segmentation techniques to develop timber stand polygons for stand mapping.

He enjoys applying new technologies, like image segmentation and LIDAR, to forest management while working with committed forest and regional office staff and with the Remote Sensing Applications Center in Salt Lake City, UT.

Tom received a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Virginia Tech in 1985. After graduating, he served in the Peace Corps as an extension forester in Haiti and Costa Rica for 3½ years. He then worked for the Agricultural Research Service supporting research on the biological control of gypsy moths. He earned a master’s degree in forestry from North Carolina State University in 1995 before working for the United Nations mission in Haiti.

He began his career with the Forest Service working in the Geospatial Services Group at the regional office in Albuquerque, NM, while completing a master’s degree in geography from the University of New Mexico in 2000.

In 2010, Tom took on additional duties helping to direct the National Infrared Operations (NIROPS) Program as the national infrared program manager. NIROPS provides thermal infrared detection and fire mapping services to wildland fire incidents across the country.

He lives in Albuquerque, NM, with his wife and two daughters. Most of his free time is spent watching his daughters play soccer and run cross country.