Philip A. Davis, Western Minerals Team Chief Scientist

My schedule

Interests: 

Research and applications of remote sensing (optical, thermal infrared, radar, gamma-ray, and LiDAR) for:

Sedimentary mineral resources exploration
Geologic and structural mapping
Ecosystem monitoring
Land-cover/land-use mapping and monitoring
Topographic mapping

Publications listing

Email: pdavis@usgs.gov

 

Tucson numbers:

 

Voice 520-670-5588

Fax 520-670-5571

Education

1972, B.S., Geology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
1974, M.S., Geology (isotope), Miami University, Oxford, OH
1977, Ph.D., Geology (radiochemistry), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Experience

After graduation, I accepted a post-doctoral research chemist position at U.C. San Diego to develop methods to map element abundances and petrologic provinces on the lunar surface using orbital gamma-ray data.  After two years, I accepted a joint research position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena) and the USGS (Flagstaff) and joining the USGS full-time in 1984.  Much of my early research centered on the analysis of planetary image data to determine the composition, age, and geologic origin of planetary surfaces.  Collaborations with scientists performing Earth-analog studies and USGS international programs led me back to Earth where I spent the past 15 years developing and working on interagency and international programs that involved sedimentary mineral resource exploration (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia), geologic mapping (southwestern US, various parts of North Africa, Middle East, and Asia), ecosystem monitoring (Vietnam, Grand Canyon), geoenvironmental studies (Indonesia), and land-use-land-cover mapping in US urban areas.

Current Activities

I am currently the Team Chief for the Western Mineral Resources Team.  In addition to these duties, I am involved in the development of the geospatial infrastructure for the Afghan Geological Survey and in the training of Afghan geoscience personnel in remote sensing as part of a USAID-sponsored reconstruction project.  I am also the remote-sensing coordinator for the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center in which I coordinate airborne data collections and perform ecosystem monitoring of sediment and vegetation resources.