2003
Summer exposure to remote sensing software and algorithms(see below) provided a foundation for a fall independent study that Dr. Cicconetti ran with students Rita Shafer '04 and Jared Lander '04. Rita and Jared applied ML-classification techniques to digital images collected by Dr. Richard Niesenbaum of the Biology Department and his student Matthew Frye '04. This collaborative investigation compared a number of methods for quantifying leaf area. In the end, their investigation found that estimates of leaf area could vary greatly when quantified by different individuals. Ultimately, they suggest students should receive common training in the lab to minimize the potential bias introduced by operator effect.