Publications

* = indicates a former student

Donga, T., Shang, J., Liu, J., Qian, B., Jing, Q., Ma, B., Huffman, T., Geng, X., Sow, A. A., Shi, Y., Canisius, F., Jiao, X., Kovacs, J.M., Walters, D., Cable, J. and J. Wilson. (2019) Using RapidEye imagery to identify within-field variability of crop growth and yield in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Precision Agriculture (doi:10.1007/s11119-019-09646-w)

Dong, T. Liu, J., Shang, J., Qian, B., Ma, B., Kovacs, J.M., Walters, D., Jiao, X., Geng, X., and Y. Shi (2019) Assessment of red-edge vegetation indices for crop leaf area index estimation. Remote Sensing of Environment 222: 133-148. (doi:10.1016/j.rse.2018.12.032)

Flores-de-Santiago, F., Kovacs, J.M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2018) Discrimination of three dominant mangrove species from the Pacific coast of Mexico by spectroscopy on intact leaves. Ciencias Marinas 44:185-202. (doi:10.7773/cm.v44i3.2806)

Valderrama-Landeros, L., Flores-de-Santiago, F., Kovacs, J.M. and Flores-Verdugo (2018) An assessment of commonly employed satellite-based Remote sensors for mapping mangrove species in Mexico using a NDVI-based classification scheme. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 190: 1-23. (doi:10.1007/s10661-017-6399-z)

Wachowiak, M., Walters, D., Kovacs, J.M., Wachowiak-Smolikova, R., and A. James (2017) Visual analytics and remote sensing imagery to support community-based research for precision agriculture in emerging areas. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture

Duke, N.C., Kovacs, J.M., Griffiths, A.D., Preece, L., Hill*, D.J.E., van Oosterzee, P., Mackenzie, J., Morning*, H.S., and D. Burrows (2017) Large-scale dieback of mangroves in Australia’s Gulf of Carpentaria: a severe ecosystem response, coincidental with an unusually extreme weather event. Marine and Freshwater Research 68: 1816-1829. (doi:10.1071/MF16322)

Canisius, F., Shang, J., Liu, J., Huang, X., Ma, B., Jiao, X., Kovacs, J.M. and D. Walters (2017) Tracking crop phenological development using multi-temporal polarimetric Radarsat-2 data. Remote Sensing of Environment  (doi:10.1016/j.rse.2017.07.031)

Herath, A., Ma, B.L., Shang, J., Liu, J., Dong, T., Jiao, X., Kovacs J.M., and D.            Walters (2017) On-farm spatial characterization of soil mineral nitrogen, crop growth, and yield of canola as affected by different rates of nitrogen application. Canadian Journal of Soil Science

Zhang, C., Kovacs, J.M., and D. Walters (in press) The use of small unmanned aerial    systems (UASs) in precision agriculture. In: Precision Agriculture for                  Sustainability. Stafford, J. (Ed.) Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited,          Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Jarvis, D., Wachowiak, M., Walters, D., and J.M. Kovacs (2017) Adoption of web-based spatial tools by agricultural producers: Conversations with seven northern Ontario farmers using the GeoVisage decision support system. Agriculture 7: 69 (1-22) (doi:10.3390/agriculture7080069)

Jing, Q., Qian, B., Shang, J., Huffman, T., Liu, J., Pattey, E., Dong, T., Tremblay, N., Drury, C., Ma, B., Jego, G., Jiao, X., Kovacs, J.M., Walters, D. and J. Wang (2017) Assessing the options to improve regional wheat yield in eastern Canada using the CSM-CERES-Wheat model. Agronomy Journal 109:1-14.(doi:10.2134/agronj2016.06.0364)

Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Kovacs, J.M., Wang, J., Flores-Verdugo, F., Zhang, C., and F. González-Farías (2016) Examining the influence of seasonality, condition and species composition on mangrove leaf pigment contents and laboratory based spectroscopy data.  Remote Sensing 8: 226 (1-20) (doi:10.3390/rs8030226)

Qi Jing, Jiali Shang, Budong Qian, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Ted Huffman, Jiangui Liu, Bao-Luo Ma, Xiaoyuan Geng, Xianfeng Jiao, John M. Kovacs, and Dan Walters (2016) Evaluation of the CSM-CROPGRO-Canola model for simulating canola growth and yield at West Nipissing in Eastern Canada. Agronomy Journal 108:1-10. (doi:10.2134/agronj2015.0401)

Shang, J., Liu, J., Ma, B., Zhao, T., Jiao, X., Geng, X., Huffman, T., Kovacs, J.M., and D. Walters (2015) Mapping spatial variability of crop growth conditions using RapidEye data in Northern Ontario, Canada. Remote Sensing of Environment 168: 113-125. (doi:10.1016/j.rse.2015.06.024)

Zhang, C., Kovacs, J.M., Liu, Y., Flores-Verdugo, F. and F. Flores-de-Santiago* (2014) Separating mangrove species and conditions using laboratory hyperspectral data-A case study of a degraded mangrove forest of the Mexican Pacific. Remote Sensing 6: 11673-11688. (doi:10.3390/rs61211673)

Zhang, C., Walters, D. and J.M. Kovacs (2014) Applications of low altitude remote sensing in agriculture upon farmers’ requests– a case study in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. PLoS ONE 9: e112894 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112894)

Flores-Verdugo, F., Amezcua, F., Kovacs, J.M., Serrano, D. and M. Blanco-Correa (2014) Changes in the hydrological regime of coastal lagoons affect mangroves and small scale fisheries: The case of the mangrove-estuarine complex of Marismas Nacionales (Pacific Coast of Mexico). In: Fisheries Management of Mexican and Central American Estuaries. Amezcua, F., Bellgraph, B. (Eds.) Springer Science, Deordecht, Netherlands, pp. 81-92. (doi:10.1007/978-94-017-8917-2_6)

Jiao, X., Kovacs, J.M., Shang, J., McNairn, H., Walters, D., Ma, B. and X. Geng (2014) Object-oriented crop mapping and monitoring using multi-temporal polarimetric RADARSAT-2 data. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
96: 38-46. (doi:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2014.06.014)

Cable*, J.W., Kovacs, J.M., Shang, J. and X. Jiao (2014) Multi-temporal polarimetric Radarsat-2 for land cover monitoring in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Remote Sensing 6: 2372-2392. (doi:10.3390/rs6032372)

Cable*, J.W., Kovacs, J.M., Jiao, X. and J. Shang (2014) Agricultural monitoring in northeastern Ontario, Canada, using multi-temporal polarimetric Radarsat-2 data. Remote Sensing 6: 2343-2371. (doi:10.3390/rs6032343)

Wilson*, J.H., Zhang, C. and J.M. Kovacs (2014) Separating crop species in northeastern Ontario using hyperspectral data. Remote Sensing 6: 925-945. (doi:10.3390/rs6020925)

Flores-Verdugo, F., Kovacs, J.M., Serrano, D. and J. Cid-Becerra (2014). Mangrove
structure and distribution dynamics in the Gulf of California. In: Conservation Science in Mexico’s Northwest: Ecosystem Status and Trends in the Gulf of California. Wehncke, E.V., Lara-Lara, J.R., Alvarez-Borrego, S., Ezcurra, E. (Eds.), University of California-Riverside & Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recoursos Naturales, Mexico City, Mexico, pp. 167-189. (ISBN: 978-1-4951-2222-4)

Kovacs, J.M., Lu, X.X., Flores-Verdugo, F., Zhang, C., Flores-de-Santiago*, F. and X. Jiao (2013) Applications of ALOS PALSAR for monitoring biophysical parameters of a degraded black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) forest. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 82: 102-111. (doi:10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2013.05.004)

Kovacs, J.M., Jiao, X., Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Zhang, C., and F. Flores-Verdugo (2013) Assessing relationships between Radarsat-2 C-band and structural parameters of a degraded mangrove forest. International Journal of Remote Sensing 34: 7003-7020.(doi:10.1080/01431161.2013.813090)

Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Kovacs, J.M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2013) The influence of seasonality in estimating mangrove leaf chlorophyll-a content from hyperspectral data.  Wetlands Ecology and Management 21: 193-207. (doi:10.1007/s11273-013-9290-x)

Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Kovacs, J.M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2013) Assessing the utility of a portable pocket instrument for estimating seasonal mangrove leaf chlorophyll contents. Bulletin of Marine Science 89: 621-633. (doi:10.5343/bms.2012.1032)

Zhang, C., Kovacs, J.M., Wachowiak, M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2013) Relationship between hyperspectral measurements and mangrove leaf nitrogen concentrations. Remote Sensing 5: 891-908. (doi:10.3390/rs5020891)

Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Kovacs, J.M. and P. LaFrance (2013) An object-oriented classification method for mapping mangroves in Guinea, West Africa, using multipolarized ALOS PALSAR L-band data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 34: 563-586. (doi:10.1080/01431161.2012.715773)

Shang, J., Jiao, X., McNairn, H., Kovacs, J.M., Walters, D., Ma, B., and X. Geng (2013) Tracking phenological development of spring wheat using synthetic aperture radar in northern Ontario, Canada. IEEE Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Agro-Geoinformatics: 517-521. (doi:10.1109/Agro-Geoinformatics.2013.6621975)

Zhang, C. and J.M. Kovacs (2012) The application of small unmanned aerial systems for precision agriculture: A review. Precision Agriculture 13: 693-712. (doi:10.1007/s11119-012-9274-5)

Zhang, C., Liu, Y., Kovacs, J.M., Flores-Verdugo, F., Flores-de-Santiago*, F. and K. Chen (2012) Spectral response to varying levels of leaf pigments collected from a degraded mangrove forest. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing 6 (063501): 1-14 (doi:10.1117/1.JRS.6.063501)

Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Kovacs, J.M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2012) Seasonal changes in leaf Chlorophyll-a content and morphology in a sub-tropical mangrove forest of the Mexican Pacific. Marine Ecology Progress Series 444: 57-68. (doi:10.3354/meps09474)

Kovacs, J. M. Liu, Y., Zhang, C., Flores-Verdugo, F., and F. Flores-de-Santiago* (2011) A field based statistical approach for validating a remotely sensed mangrove forest classification scheme. Wetlands Ecology and Management 19:409-421. (doi:10.1007/s11273-011-9225-3)

Rocío-Hernández, M., Flores-Verdugo, F., Kovacs, J.M. and F. Abarca (2011) Manglares. In: Ambiente, Biología, Sociedad, Manejo y Legislación de Sistemas Costeros Mexicanos, G. de la Lanza-Espino and S. Hernandez-Pulido (Eds.), Plaza Y Valdes Editores, Mexico, pp. 305-325.

Lu, X.X., Kovacs, J. M., Zhang, C., Lafrance, P. and F. Flores-de-Santiago* (2011) Applications of ALOS PALSAR data for mangrove monitoring and mapping: Examples from Mexico & Africa. Report PI No 423 Japan Aerospace & Exploration Agency (6 pgs)

Kovacs, J. M., Flores-de-Santiago*, F., Bastien, J. and P. Lafrance (2010) An assessment of mangroves in Guinea, West Africa, using a field and remote sensing based approach. Wetlands 30: 773-782. (doi:10.1007/s13157-010-0065-3)

Kovacs, J. M., King, J. M. L., Flores-de-Santiago*, F. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2009) Evaluating the condition of a mangrove forest of the Mexican Pacific based on an estimated leaf area index mapping approach. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 157: 137-149. (doi:10.1007/s10661-008-0523-z)

Kovacs, J. M., Zhang, C., and F. Flores-Verdugo (2008) Mapping the condition of mangroves of the Mexican Pacific using C-band ENVISAT ASAR and Landsat optical data. Ciencias Marinas 34: 407-418.

Walters, B. B., Ronnback, P., Kovacs, J. M., Crona, B., Hussain, A., Badola, R., Primavera, J., Barbier, E. and F. Dahdouh-Guebas (2008) Ethnobiology, socio-economics and management of mangroves: A review. Aquatic Botany 89: 220-236. (doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2008.02.009)

Kovacs, J. M., Vandenberg*, C. V., Wang, J. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2008) The use of multipolarized spaceborne SAR backscatter for monitoring the health of a degraded mangrove forest. Journal of Coastal Research 24: 248-254. (doi:10.2112/06-0660.1)

Chen, K., Kennedy, J. Kovacs, J. M. and C. Zhang (2007) A spatial perspective for predicting enrolment in a regional pharmacy school. GeoJournal 70: 133-143. (doi:10.1007/s10708-008-9120-5)

Flores de Santiago*, F. J., Santamaría-del-Ángel, E., González-Silvera, A., Martínez-Díaz-de-León, A., Millán-Núñez, R., and J. M. Kovacs (2007) Assessing dynamic micro-regions in the Great Islands of the Gulf of California based on MODIS aqua imagery products. Proceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers Vol. 6680 (doi:10.1117/12.732574)

Kovacs, J. M. and X.X. Lu (2007) Assessing forest change associated with sediment modifications for large tropical estuaries using ALOS PALSAR data. Proc. 1st Joint PI Symposium of ALOS Data Nodes for ALOS Science Program, Japan Aerospace & Exploration Agency (4 pgs.)

Kovacs, J. M., Vandenberg*, C. V. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2006) Assessing fine beam RADARSAT-1 backscatter from a white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa (Gaertner)) canopy. Wetlands Ecology and Management 14: 401-408. (doi:10.1007/s11273-005-6237-x)

Flores-Verdugo, F., Benitez-Pardo, D., Agraz-Hernandez, C. and J. M. Kovacs (2006) Manejo, conservacion y restauracion de ecosistemas de manglar. In: Atlas del Manejo y Conservacion de la Biodiversidad y Ecosystemas de Sinaloa. Cifuentes-Lemus, J. L., Gaxiola Lopez, J. (Eds.)El Colegio de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, Mexico, pp. 11-19.

Kovacs, J. M., Wang, J. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2005) Mapping mangrove leaf area index at the species level using IKONOS and LAI-2000 sensors for the Agua Brava Lagoon, Mexican Pacific. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 62: 377-384. (doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2004.09.027)

Kovacs, J. M., Vandenberg*, C. V. and J. Wang (2005) SAR backscatter from a degraded white mangrove forest using multipolarization ENVISAT data. Proc. 26th Canadian Symp. Remote Sensing, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (4 pgs.)

Kovacs, J. M., Malczewski, J. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2004) Examining local ecological knowledge of hurricane impacts in a mangrove forest using an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. Journal of Coastal Research 20: 792-800. (doi:10.2112/1551-5036(2004)20[792:ELEKOH]2.0.CO;2)

Kovacs, J. M., Flores-Verdugo, F., Wang, J. and L. P. Aspden* (2004) Estimating leaf area index of a degraded mangrove Forest using high spatial resolution satellite imagery. Aquatic Botany 80: 13-22. (doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2004.06.001)

Kovacs, J. M., Aspden*, L. P., Vandenberg*, C. and T. A. Archer* (2003) Combined use of the LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer and IKONOS Imagery for mapping Leaf Area Index of white mangrove. Proc. 25th Canadian Symp. Remote Sensing, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (4 pgs.)

Archer*, T. A., Kovacs, J. M. and L. P. Aspden* (2003) Monitoring the decline of a tropical forested wetland of the Teacapan estuarine system, Mexico. Proc. 25th Canadian Symp. Remote Sensing, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (5 pgs.)

May*, D., Wang, J., Kovacs, J. M. and M. Muter (2003) Mapping wetland extent using IKONOS Satellite Imagery of the O’Donnell Point Region, Georgian Bay, Ontario. Proc. 25th Canadian Symp.Remote Sensing, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (9 pgs.)

Kovacs, J. M., Wang, J. and M. Blanco-Correa (2001) Mapping mangrove disturbances using multi-date Landsat TM imagery. Environmental Management 27: 763-776. (doi:10.1007/s002670010186)

Kovacs, J. M., Blanco-Correa, M. and F. Flores-Verdugo (2001) A logistic regression model of hurricane impacts in a mangrove forest of the Mexican Pacific. Journal of Coastal Research 17: 30-37.

Kovacs, J. M. (2000) Perceptions of environmental change in a tropical coastal wetland. Land Degradation & Development 11: 209-220. (doi:10.1002/1099-145X(200005/06)11:3<209::AID-LDR378>3.0.CO;2-Y)

Kovacs, J. M., Wang, J. and M. Blanco-Correa (2000) Verifying salinity impacts on a tropical forested wetland. Proc. 22nd Canadian Symp. Remote Sensing, Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (6 pgs.)

Kovacs, J. M. (1999) Assessing mangrove use at the local scale. Landscape and Urban Planning 43: 201-208. (doi:10.1016/S0169-2046(98)00106-6)