Graduate Researcher Sas Institute
Resume:
Sudeera Wickramarathna
Doctoral Candidate (Geomatics), Oregon State University
(662) 312-2952ǀ ********@***********.***
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
• 8+ years of extensive experience in GIS with an excellent ability to collect and apply analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret geographical data.
• Strong skills in developing, maintaining, and managing GIS products, including ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, and QGIS, with a sound knowledge of data mapping, spatial analysis, and data validation techniques and methods.
• Experienced in digital image pre-processing, enhancement, and processing using machine learning techniques.
• Solid knowledge of R, Java for Google Erath Engine, and ERDAS Imagine Spatial Modeling.
• Perform geospatial data management, analysis, documentation, and geodatabase management.
• Develop GIS services and deliver GIS products to environmental services decision makers.
• Professional in data acquisition using different remote sensing platforms, including in-situ and remote handheld radiometer (GR1500), LiDAR, Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) data (hyperspectral and multispectral data)
• 3+ years of experience using AutoCAD to prepare and read engineering blueprints as a site supervisor in civil engineering.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in using GPS, DGPS, and RTK for collecting data for field mapping and utilization of total stations for surveying and leveling in geological mapping and construction surveying.
• Customize and calibrate unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and conduct flights for collecting data using active and passive sensors, including RGB, Micasensenc, and RedEdge.
• Authored peer-reviewed articles in international journals, 70+ citations, and 11+ conference proceedings. EDUCATION
• Ph.D. candidate in Forestry Geomatics Sep. 2019- Present Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (GPA: 3.92/4.00)
• M.S. in Geosciences ( Environmental Geosciences) Sep. 2017-Jun.2019 Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (GPA 4.00/4.00)
• B.S. in Geology (Hydrogeochemistry) July 2011-Nov. 2015 University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri-Lanka (GPA: 3.53/4.00)
• Geographic Information Sciences (GIS) Certificate Sep. 2019- June 2021 CEAOS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Associate, Oregon State University, College of Forestry Sep. 2019- present Study area: Jackson Bottom Preserve, Hillsboro, OR Feb. 2020- Present Evaluate the herbicide impact on reed canary grass using UAS imagery for Clean Water Services.
• Develop image pre-processing and enhancement methods for the imagery acquired with UASs.
• Utilize machine learning algorithms for classifying complex vegetation types, particularly for invasive species.
• Develop and evaluate the sample collection strategies for image classification using machine learning approaches, particularly for high-resolution UAS images.
• Develop spatial models for digital image pre-processing and deliver detailed maps of complex vegetations.
• Quality assessment of orthoimages produced with Structure from motion technique. Study area: Elliot State Research Forest, Coos Bay, OR June 2022- present Execute forest inventory for ESRF using remote sensing data
• Perform terrestrial LiDAR scans and UAS-based LiDAR scans for more than 20 Arcs.
• Multispectral image pre-processing and classification of forest species using machine learning techniques.
• Prepare complex statistics from individual tree forestry inventory geodatabases.
• Update the GIS database and the forest inventory Western Juniper Delineation, Fossil, OR Jan.2020-May 2021 Identifying land use changing induced by Western Juniper
• Utilize Google Earth Engine for natural resource studies, particularly for detecting juniper trees in Western Oregon using NAIP imagery.
• Evaluating sampling collecting methods for image classification using Google Earth Engine. Graduate Researcher, Mississippi State University, Department of Geosciences Sep. 2017-June 2019
• Developed methods for detecting colored dissolved organic matter over the oyster reefs in the western Mississippi sound using hyperspectral, multispectral sensors, and GIS tools.
• Evaluated physicochemical and biogeochemical factors affecting on depletion of oyster beds in Western Mississippi Sound, MS.
• Monitored the spatial and seasonal variation of CDOM, suspended particulate matter, harmful algal blooms, and bacteria over Pass Christian and Henderson oyster reefs using in-situ remote sensing approaches. Undergraduate Researcher, University of Peradeniya, Department of Geology July 2015-Dec. 2016
• Studied the seasonal and spatial variation of the geochemistry of groundwater in the regions of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka using geochemical parameters and GIS tools.
• Analyzed the geochemical characteristics of ground and surface water samples, including major cation and anion, trace metal, and isotopes using ICP-MS, UV-Vis-spectrophotometer, AAS, and Stable Isotopes approach. Independent Researcher and collaborator with NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Aug. 2016-present
• Working as a researcher to identify the micro-bacterial behavior on weathering hematite and variation of trace and transition elements in soil profile: Revealing possible clues for Martian dormant life.
• Studying the unique morphological features which developed due to microbial activity in hematite, and
• investigations on transportation of weathered elements along with the soil profile.
• Interpretation of possible microbial weathering mechanisms using different biogeochemical approaches
• including ICP-MS, XRD, SEM-EDX, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Remote sensing data analysis: Classification, mapping, and cartography of multidimensional data.
• Remote sensing data collection: GeoSLAM ZEB Horizon Hand-held LiDAR, Spectro-radiometer (GER 1500), utilization of various Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) platforms for data acquisition, GPS, DGPS, and RTK.
• Hydro-geochemistry analysis: ORIBA Fluoromax-4 Fluorometer, Perkin Elmer Lambda 850 Spectrofluorometer, Abraxis CASS (Cyanotoxin Automated Assay) system, Water quality test kits (Hach® and CHEMets®), UV-Vis-spectrophotometer, Microwave Digestion, Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(AAS).
• Instrument troubleshooting, calibration, maintenance, user training, participating in training programs for Spectro- radiometer (GER 1500), Perkin Elmer Lambda 850 spectrophotometer, Spectrofluorometer, Abraxis CASS (Cyanotoxin Automated Assay) system.
• Programming: Programming Languages: R, Python, Java
• Software Packages: ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, QTM, ArcGIS Pro, Arc Map 10.7, QGIS, UCGS, Agisoft PhotoScan, GeoSLAM Hub, FUSION, Origin, AutoCAD, Rock works, SPSS, Phreeq c, Adobe Photoshop, Inkscape, and M.S. Office., JMP, Origin.
• Field: Geological mapping, Drilling, Core logging, Water sampling, Sediment sampling, Sample processing, sample preservation, Coastal, and Marine surveys.
• Licenses: Remote Pilot for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems acquired from Federal Aviation Administration. PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (Selected)
• Wickramarathna, S. and Strimbu, B.M., 2022. Assessment of the Herbicide Effectiveness on Reed Canary Grass: A UAS data processing case (Under co-author review).
• Wickramarathna, S., Dash, P., Mercer, A. E., Paul, V., Assessment of colored dissolved organic matter using hyperspectral and multispectral sensors over the oyster reefs in the western Mississippi sound ( Full paper-In review).
• Wickramarathna, S., Dash, P., Mercer, A. E., Paul, V., Physicochemical and biogeochemical factors affecting the water quality of Pass Christian and Henderson Oyster reefs (Full paper- In review).
• Sankar, M. S, Dash, P., Lu, Y., Hu, X., Mercer; A.E., Wickramarathna, S., Beshah, B., Sanders, L., Arslan, A., Dyer, J., Moorhead, R.J., Seasonal changes of trace metal-nutrient-dissolved organic matter conveyance along with coastal acidification over the largest oyster reef in the Western Mississippi Sound, USA (submitted to the Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment).
• Wickramarathna, S., Van Den Hoek, J. and Strimbu, B.M., 2021. Automated detection of individual juniper tree location and forest cover changes using Google Earth Engine. Annals of Forest Research, 64(1), pp.61-72.
• Wickramarathna, S., Chandrajith, R., Senaratne, A., Paul, V., Dash, P., Wickramasinghe, S., and Biggs, P.J., 2021. Bacterial influence on the formation of hematite: implications for Martian dormant life. International Journal of Astrobiology, pp.1-15.
• Wickramarathna, S., Balasooriya, S., Diyabalanage, S., and Chandrajith, R., 2017. Tracing environmental aetiological factors of chronic kidney diseases in the dry zone of Sri Lanka—A hydrogeochemical and isotope approach. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 44, pp.298-306.
• Rupasinghe, R., Amarasena, S., Wickramarathna, S., Biggs, P.J., Chandrajith, R. and Wickramasinghe, S., 2022. Microbial diversity and ecology of geothermal springs in the high-grade metamorphic terrain of Sri Lanka. Environmental Advances, p.100166.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS & INVITED TALKS (selected)
• Wickramarathna, S., Souder, J., Goetz, J., Strimbu, B., Assessment of the Herbicide Effectiveness on Reed Canary Grass, Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, Hosted by University of British Colombia, Canada, June 21- 22, 2021.
• Wickramarathna, S., Strimbu, B., Souder, J., Assessment of the Herbicide Effectiveness on Reed Canary Grass (Oral), Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, Corvallis, OR, April 16, 2021.
• Wickramarathna, S., Strimbu.B., Van Den Hoek. J., Automated Detection of Individual Juniper Tree Centroids and Forest Cover Changes Using Google Earth Engine (Oral)- Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, Corvallis, OR, April 30-May 6, 2020.
• Wickramarathna., S, Dash, P., Moorhead, R., Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter on Declining Oyster Populations in the Western Mississippi Sound, Goldschmidt Conference, Barcelona, Spain, August 18- 23, 2019.
• Wickramarathna, S., Paul, V., Dash, P., Chandrajith, R., Senarathne, A., Wickramashinghhe, S., Li, X., Brinckerhoff, W., van Amerom, F., Microbial diversity in hematitic bearing rock from tropical Sri Lanka, AbSciCon conference, Seattle, WA, June 24-28, 2019.
• Wickramarathna, S., Dash, P., and Moorhead, R. J., Assessment of colored dissolved organic matter using unmanned aerial systems over the oyster reefs in the western Mississippi Sound (poster), Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Hattiesburg, MS, February 21-22, 2019.
• Wickramarathna, S., Dash, P., Arslan, Z., and Moorhead, R. J., Water biogeochemistry affecting the oyster beds in the Western Mississippi Sound, Bays and Bayous Symposium, Mobile, AL., November 28-29, 2018.
• Wickramarathna, S., Chandrajith, R., Senarathne, A., Wickramashinghhe, S., Paul, V., and Dash, P., Microbial diversity in hematitic bearing rock from tropical Sri Lanka, Goldschmidt conference, Boston, MA, August 12-17, 2018.
• Wickramarathna, S., Balasooriya, S., Chadrajith, R., Groundwater geochemistry of areas with a high incidence of chronic kidney diseases with unknown etiology (CKDu), South Eastern Division of the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Starkville, MS, November 19- 20, 2017.
• Wickramarathna, S., Balasooriya, S., Chadrajith, R., Fluoride intoxication related to chronic renal Failures in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, TWAS ROCASAYoung Scientists Conference-Frontiers in Earth & Climate Sciences, Bangalore, India December 5-7, 2016.
• Wickramarathne, S., Balasooriya, S., Chadrajith, R., Hydrogeochemistry of Areas with Chronic Kidney Disease Uncertain Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka, Goldschmidt Conference, Yokohama, Japan, June 26- July 1, 2016. INVITED TALKS
• "Bacterial influence on the formation of hematite: Implications for Martian dormant life." NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
• Introduction to Research Data Management- A data management workshop organized by the Valley Library, Oregon State University, October 10- 14, 2021.
• Introduction to Shiny; R coding Workshop organized by Cascadia R conference 2021, June 2, 2021.
• Publishing Research when English is your second language- A webinar organized by Wiley Publications, October 21, 2020
• Online Publishing Platforms and the Advancement of Scientific Communication- A webinar organized by Wiley Publications, August 26, 2020.
• Data Visuals and Analysis using JMP-Organized by SAS Institute and Dept. of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, October 18, 2018.
• DAAD funded-student exchange program between the University of Peradeniya and the Freie Universität, at the Geo- Campus Lankwitz, Berlin, Germany, November 2-30, 2016.
• Summer School of Landscape Archaeology in Anuradhapura 2016, Reconstruction of the prehistoric settlement landscape in the floodplain of the Malvathu Oya in the hinterland of Anuradhapura. -conducted by the University of Freie, Germany, and University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, July 23-31, 2016).
• Methods of Water Quality Testing-two day workshop, Organized by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, June 17-18, 2015).
• Analysis of Arsenic in water using Voltammetry- Training program conducted by Metrohm International, Switzerland, January 2015.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Xi Sigma Pi, International honor society for Forestry and related sciences, 2021- present.
• American Geophysical Union, 2018-present.
• American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), 2018-present.
• European Association of Geochemistry (EAG), 2016 to present. PROFESSIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
• Undergraduate Mentor for Mississippi INBRE Summer Research Program at Mississippi State University, May-June 2018.
• Serve as the Secretary for the Oregon State University Chapter, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Aug. 2020-present.
• Organizing and conducting field trips with other scientific teams and playing the scientific lead in collecting in-situ samples and remotely sensed data.
• Collaborator with the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Centre.
• Volunteered with local and international institutions to develop strategic plans for identifying geochemical parameters causing for CKDu.
• Volunteer researcher at the University of Peradeniya- Studied the geochemical characteristics (i.e., major cation and anion, trace metal, and isotopes), microbial diversity, and ecology of geothermal springs distributed in the high-grade metamorphic terrain in Sri Lanka.
• Researcher for DAAD-funded student exchange program hosted by Freie University, Germany, and the University of Peradeniya.
AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
• Oregon State University Provost's Distinguished Graduate Scholarship award (2019-2020).
• Sistrunk Endowed Scholarship Award, Mississippi State University, USA (2018).
• Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of London (2019).
• Geosciences Centennial Graduate School Fellowship, Mississippi, USA (2017). REFEREES
Bogdan Strimbu, PhD
Associate Professor of Forest Management
Oregon State University
College of Forestry FERM Department
360 Peavy Forest Science Center
Corvallis OR 97331 USA
Tel: 541-***-**** F: 541.737.43
Email: ******.*******@***********.***
url: http://mars.forestry.oregonstate.edu/
John Richard Goetz III
Water Resources Project Manager
Clean Water Services Watershed Management Department 2550 SW Hillsboro Hwy Hillsboro OR 97123
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