News Summary
Dr. Azad Hossain, an environmental geoscientist at UTC, received recognition from NASA for his research on urbanization in Chattanooga. His work showcased before-and-after satellite images that highlight significant changes in the city. The collaboration aims to promote sustainable development and enhance understanding of environmental impacts caused by urban growth, utilizing advanced satellite data.
Chattanooga, TN – NASA Features UTC Professor’s Groundbreaking Research
Dr. Azad Hossain, an environmental geoscientist and associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), has gained recognition for his research which was featured as NASA’s Earth Observatory “Image of the Day.” The featured article, titled “Building Out Chattanooga,” compares satellite images of the city from 2001 and 2024, showcasing significant urban changes.
On June 3, 2025, Dr. Hossain received an unexpected email from NASA’s Science Systems and Applications Inc., leading to a collaboration between him and the space agency. This partnership highlights the increasing importance of satellite imagery in studying urban development and environmental changes. Dr. Hossain’s research employs data from the Landsat satellite program, which has been in operation since the 1970s, successfully documenting changes on the Earth’s surface.
The Landsat satellite program consists of nine launched satellites, which have introduced major technological advancements with each new iteration since its inception. Dr. Hossain recalls his early experiences with Landsat data during his master’s thesis in the late 1990s, a time when accessing satellite imagery could take over two months due to slow and expensive processes. In contrast, current access to Landsat data is now free and available almost instantaneously, greatly enhancing research capabilities.
Urbanization in Chattanooga
Dr. Hossain’s research aligns with Chattanooga’s recent designation as North America’s first National Park City, making it a unique case study for urbanization and its effects on the environment. Since joining UTC in 2016, Dr. Hossain has recognized the need for focused research on the urban development of Chattanooga, an area previously lacking in scholarly articles addressing mapping urbanization, urban canopies, urban heat islands, and landslides.
With the help of UTC students and colleagues, Dr. Hossain has been tracking the regional growth of Chattanooga using satellite data. One of his first graduate students, Jonah Hall, co-authored a paper analyzing changes in the city from 1986 to 2016. This collaborative approach emphasizes the significance of community involvement in academic research.
Impact on Local Waterways
In addition to urban growth, Dr. Hossain’s research also examines how urbanization affects local waterways surrounding prominent creeks and streams in the area. By understanding the relationship between urban expansion and environmental impacts, Hossain advocates for sustainable development practices that could benefit the community and mitigate negative consequences.
Dr. Hossain underscores the relevance of this research not only within academia but also for its practical application in the local community. He emphasizes the collaborative dynamics of his work, highlighting the contributions from his students and colleagues. His commitment to making research accessible and useful aims to equip the next generation of researchers with the necessary skills to analyze and interpret environmental changes effectively.
Simplicity in Research
Through his teaching and research initiatives, Dr. Hossain promotes the notion that effective research does not always require complex methodologies. By advocating for simpler techniques, he seeks to enhance understanding and foster a deeper appreciation of environmental studies among students and the community. Overall, Dr. Hossain’s work stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of urbanization and its environmental implications, demonstrating the power of satellite imagery in real-world applications.
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Additional Resources
- Chattanooga Pulse
- Chattanoogan
- Astronomy
- Nooga Today
- Times Free Press
- Wikipedia: Urbanization
- Google Search: Satellite Imagery
- Google Scholar: Satellite Data in Urban Development
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Satellite
- Google News: NASA Urbanization
