Cultural Ecosystem Services
Foundation vision–language models and social media imagery reveal patterns of human–nature interaction.
Foundation models · Ecosystem services
Explore this research →WELCOME TO MY RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Dr. Hao-Yu (Howard) Liao
Postdoctoral Associate | Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) | University of Florida
Artificial intelligence and geospatial information for understanding human–environment interactions and supporting sustainable, intelligent systems.
- GeoAI
- Remote sensing
- Foundation models
- Robotics
- Environmental AI
About my research & academic background
I am currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Florida, where I develop data-driven computational frameworks using multimodal foundation models, remote sensing, and geospatial information to study human–environment interactions and support sustainability-oriented decision-making. I earned my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida, along with a graduate certificate in machine learning, and my research has focused on intelligent systems that integrate machine learning, sensor data, and optimization for applications in sustainable manufacturing, human–robot collaboration, safety evaluation, and environmental analysis.
My research has been recognized with the DFMLC Best Paper Award and the UF Postdoctoral Travel Award. I have completed 47 verified academic peer reviews across 20 journals spanning robotics, AI, and environmental science.
Explore GeoAI, Robotics and Hydroinformatics, or open the full research explorer.
GeoAIRoboticsHydroinformaticsShared / other
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RESEARCH IN FOCUS
Intelligence across scales.
From landscapes to collaborative systems.
Urban Tree Mapping
Earth observation and AI support repeatable mapping of individual urban trees and their structural attributes.
Remote sensing · Urban ecosystems
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Interactive Geovisualization
Web-based visual analytics translate ecosystem service patterns into interactive maps and decision support.
GeoAI · Spatial analytics
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Intelligent Robotics
Repairability assessment and robotic disassembly planning support sustainable remanufacturing.
Robotics · Human–robot collaboration
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Hydroinformatics
Data-driven models and rainfall threshold optimization support urban flood early warning.
Machine learning · Flood warning
Explore this research →ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS
Research with purpose.
DFMLC Best Paper Award
Recognition for research on disassembly scoring for human–robot collaboration.
Related publication →University of Florida
Postdoctoral GeoAI research at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), spanning multimodal foundation models, remote sensing, and environmental systems.
Supporting emerging researchers
Guest lectures at UF and NC State, undergraduate and graduate GeoAI mentoring, and award-recognized high school mentorship.
Teaching & mentoring →NEWS & RESEARCH UPDATES
Selected recent work.
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Ecosystem degradation
Book chapter in Data-Driven Earth Observation for Disaster Management.
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Spatiotemporal controls on soil organic carbon stocks in subtropical grazing lands: An uncertainty-aware digital soil mapping approach.
Journal article in Geoderma, 473, 118004.
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Human-robot collaboration for e-waste disassembly: Task modeling, allocation, and ergonomic assessment.
Journal article in Ergonomics.
Education
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Ph.D. Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, 2024 (GPA:
3.97/4.0)
- Graduate Machine Learning Certificate, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, 2023
- M.S. Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, 2016 (GPA: 3.93/4.0)
- B.S. Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, 2014 (GPA: 4.0/4.0)
Academic Service
I have completed 47 verified academic peer reviews across 20 journals and also serve as a conference reviewer:
- Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
- ASME IDETC-CIE Conference
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Earth Science Informatics
- Energy, Ecology and Environment
- Scientific Reports
- Limnology
- Water
- Sensors
- Algorithms
- Biomimetics
- Information
- Data
- Remote Sensing in Earth Systems Sciences
- The Journal of Supercomputing
- Signal, Image and Video Processing
- Procedia CIRP
- Agronomy
- Cleaner and Responsible Consumption
- ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- Journal for Nature Conservation
Chair & Early Career Convener, GeoAI for Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (GC31H), AGU Fall Meeting 2025. Full Member of Sigma Xi, elected 2026.