Joshua Picotte, PhD
Joshua Picotte is a Biologist focusing on fire science at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Joshua Picotte has worked at USGS EROS for 11 years, with his first 10 years as a contractor. Throughout his career at USGS he has worked on fire science projects, including the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) and LANDFIRE projects.
Professional Experience
2022-present: Biologist; USGS
2011-2022: Fire Specialist; Contractor to the USGS
Education and Certifications
BS Environmental Science and Botany/Plant Pathology; Lyman Briggs College/Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI
MS Biology; Portland State University; Portland, OR
PhD ; University of Idaho; Natural Resources; Moscow, ID
Science and Products
Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022) Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022)
The spatially adaptable filter for error reduction (SAFER) process: Remote sensing-based LANDFIRE disturbance mapping updates The spatially adaptable filter for error reduction (SAFER) process: Remote sensing-based LANDFIRE disturbance mapping updates
A multimodal data fusion and deep learning framework for large-scale wildfire surface fuel mapping A multimodal data fusion and deep learning framework for large-scale wildfire surface fuel mapping
Mapping wetland burned area from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern United States and its contributions relative to Landsat 8 (2016-2019) Mapping wetland burned area from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern United States and its contributions relative to Landsat 8 (2016-2019)
Determination of burn severity models ranging from regional to continental scales for the conterminous United States Determination of burn severity models ranging from regional to continental scales for the conterminous United States
New operational national satellite burned area product New operational national satellite burned area product
Development of a new open-source tool to map burned area and burn severity Development of a new open-source tool to map burned area and burn severity
Changes to Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Program’s production procedures and data products Changes to Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Program’s production procedures and data products
The Landsat Burned Area algorithm and products for the conterminous United States The Landsat Burned Area algorithm and products for the conterminous United States
Potential underestimation of satellite fire radiative power retrievals over gas flares and wildland fires Potential underestimation of satellite fire radiative power retrievals over gas flares and wildland fires
LANDFIRE remap prototype mapping effort: Developing a new framework for mapping vegetation classification, change, and structure LANDFIRE remap prototype mapping effort: Developing a new framework for mapping vegetation classification, change, and structure
Prototype downscaling algorithm for MODIS Satellite 1 km daytime active fire detections Prototype downscaling algorithm for MODIS Satellite 1 km daytime active fire detections
Non-USGS Publications**
Picotte, J.J. and K.M. Robertson 2011. Validation of burn severity within southeastern U.S. ecosystems. International Journal of Wildland Fire. International Journal of Wildland Fire 20:453-464.
Picotte, J.J. and K.M. Robertson. 2010. Remote sensing of wildland fire burned area in southeastern U.S. coastal plain habitats. Pages 86-93 in K.M. Robertson, R.E. Masters and K.E.M Gallery (Eds.). Proceedings of the 24th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: The Future of Fire: Public Awareness, Health, and Safety. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Picotte, J. J., and K. M. Robertson. 2010. Accuracy of remote sensing wildland fire-burned area in southeastern US Coastal plain habitats. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Proc, 24:86-93
Picotte, J.J., J.M. Rhode, and M.B. Cruzan. 2009. Leaf morphological
responses to variation in water availability for plants in the Piriqueta caroliniana complex. Plant Ecology. 200:267-275.
Picotte, J. J., D. M. Rosenthal, J. M. Rhode, and M. B. Cruzan. 2007. Plastic responses to temporal variation in moisture availability: consequences for water use efficiency and plant performance. Oecologia 153:821-832.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Fuels Data for the 2021 KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Collected in 2024 Fuels Data for the 2021 KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Collected in 2024
Fuels Data for the 2000 Jasper Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Collected in 2023 and 2024 Fuels Data for the 2000 Jasper Fire in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Collected in 2023 and 2024
Annual burn severity mosaics for the southeastern United States (2000-2022) Annual burn severity mosaics for the southeastern United States (2000-2022)
The Landsat Collection 2 Burned Area Products for the conterminous United States (ver. 2.0, April 2024) The Landsat Collection 2 Burned Area Products for the conterminous United States (ver. 2.0, April 2024)
Black Hills Region South Dakota 2017 Legion Lake Fire Burned and Unburned Plot Measurements Black Hills Region South Dakota 2017 Legion Lake Fire Burned and Unburned Plot Measurements
Wetland burned area extent derived from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern U.S. (2016-2019) Wetland burned area extent derived from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern U.S. (2016-2019)
The Landsat Burned Area products for the conterminous United States (ver. 3.0, March 2022) The Landsat Burned Area products for the conterminous United States (ver. 3.0, March 2022)
Landsat Burned Area Essential Climate Variable products for the conterminous United States (1984 -2015) Landsat Burned Area Essential Climate Variable products for the conterminous United States (1984 -2015)
Science and Products
Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022) Modelling and mapping burn severity of prescribed and wildfires across the southeastern United States (2000-2022)
The spatially adaptable filter for error reduction (SAFER) process: Remote sensing-based LANDFIRE disturbance mapping updates The spatially adaptable filter for error reduction (SAFER) process: Remote sensing-based LANDFIRE disturbance mapping updates
A multimodal data fusion and deep learning framework for large-scale wildfire surface fuel mapping A multimodal data fusion and deep learning framework for large-scale wildfire surface fuel mapping
Mapping wetland burned area from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern United States and its contributions relative to Landsat 8 (2016-2019) Mapping wetland burned area from Sentinel-2 across the southeastern United States and its contributions relative to Landsat 8 (2016-2019)
Determination of burn severity models ranging from regional to continental scales for the conterminous United States Determination of burn severity models ranging from regional to continental scales for the conterminous United States
New operational national satellite burned area product New operational national satellite burned area product
Development of a new open-source tool to map burned area and burn severity Development of a new open-source tool to map burned area and burn severity
Changes to Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Program’s production procedures and data products Changes to Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Program’s production procedures and data products
The Landsat Burned Area algorithm and products for the conterminous United States The Landsat Burned Area algorithm and products for the conterminous United States
Potential underestimation of satellite fire radiative power retrievals over gas flares and wildland fires Potential underestimation of satellite fire radiative power retrievals over gas flares and wildland fires
LANDFIRE remap prototype mapping effort: Developing a new framework for mapping vegetation classification, change, and structure LANDFIRE remap prototype mapping effort: Developing a new framework for mapping vegetation classification, change, and structure
Prototype downscaling algorithm for MODIS Satellite 1 km daytime active fire detections Prototype downscaling algorithm for MODIS Satellite 1 km daytime active fire detections
Non-USGS Publications**
Picotte, J.J. and K.M. Robertson 2011. Validation of burn severity within southeastern U.S. ecosystems. International Journal of Wildland Fire. International Journal of Wildland Fire 20:453-464.
Picotte, J.J. and K.M. Robertson. 2010. Remote sensing of wildland fire burned area in southeastern U.S. coastal plain habitats. Pages 86-93 in K.M. Robertson, R.E. Masters and K.E.M Gallery (Eds.). Proceedings of the 24th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: The Future of Fire: Public Awareness, Health, and Safety. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Picotte, J. J., and K. M. Robertson. 2010. Accuracy of remote sensing wildland fire-burned area in southeastern US Coastal plain habitats. Tall Timbers Fire Ecol. Proc, 24:86-93
Picotte, J.J., J.M. Rhode, and M.B. Cruzan. 2009. Leaf morphological
responses to variation in water availability for plants in the Piriqueta caroliniana complex. Plant Ecology. 200:267-275.
Picotte, J. J., D. M. Rosenthal, J. M. Rhode, and M. B. Cruzan. 2007. Plastic responses to temporal variation in moisture availability: consequences for water use efficiency and plant performance. Oecologia 153:821-832.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.