Michelle Stuhlmacher

Education

• Ph.D., Arizona State University
• M.A., Arizona State University B.A., George Washington University

Michelle is interested in how urban land uses are defined and measured. Many of the current measurement techniques were developed for natural areas and there is mixed evidence on whether they transfer well to urban areas. Her dissertation uses satellite imagery and image processing techniques to quantify urban expansion and pattern changes around the world. Having a robust set of metrics for measuring urban land use/land cover is crucial because urban areas are home to over half of the world's population and this proportion is growing. Results of this work will provide a set of suitable metrics that allow us to measure expansion and pattern changes of urban land uses. In future work she plans to apply these metrics to research questions related to urban policy design, specifically the optimization of landscape patterns for urban resilience.

Dr. Stuhlmacher’s research employs satellite imagery to measure green space and its social and environmental impacts on urban systems. Satellite and aerial imagery provide a view from above on the current and historic distributions of green space--essential information for designing more equitable and sustainable cities. Dr. Stuhlmacher’s current work includes:

1) examining the role of green space in social processes such as gentrification and public health; 2) quantifying the impact green space configuration (e.g., spatial pattern) has on urban systems globally; and 3) a community engaged green space project in Pilsen, Chicago.