Brian Ritter

Educational Background

PhD Forest Resources
Clemson University 2018

MS Forest Resources
Clemson University 2014

AAS Forest Management and GIS/GPS Technology
Haywood Community College 2002

BS Natural Resource Managment Forest Management Option
Oregon State University 2010

Courses Taught

Clemson University
-Trees of Southeast US
-GPS Applications
-Plant Taxonomy
-GIS for Land Planning
-Remote Sensing
-Forest Biometrics

Southwestern Community College
-Introduction to GIS and GNSS

Haywood Community College
-Introduction to GPS/GIS
-Introduction to GIS
-Introduction to GPS
-Introduction to Spatial Analysis
-Advanced Spatial Analysis
-Georeferencing and Mapping
-Physical Geography
-Advanced Topics in GIS
-Geo Position Systems Methods
-Advanced Topics in GIS
-Internet Mapping
-Principle of Property Mapping
-Introduction to Forestry
-Spatial Databases

Greenville Technical College
-Fundamentals of Cartography
-Introduction to GIS
-Cadastral Mapping
-GIS Analysis and Reporting
-GIS Data Entry and Editing Methods
-Advanced GIS Analysis

Profile

Prior to joining the faculty at Clemson I developed and taught several classes both online and in person at Haywood Community College, Southwestern Community College and Greenville Technical College where I still teach as needed. I joined the faculty at Clemson University as a part time lecturer after obtaining my PhD in Forest Resources. I enjoy teaching and assisting with research projects at the technical level. Currently I teach both graduate and undergraduate courses both online and in person modalities. My field experience in Forest Management and Geospatial services over the last 30 years provides a significant and unique contribution to the students classroom experience.

I was born, raised and still reside in Western North Carolina. I have undergraduate degrees from Oregon State University and Haywood Community College in Forest Management, GIS and GPS Technologies. I am a registered Forester in North Carolina, a Professional GIS Surveyor in South Carolina, a nationally certified GIS Professional, an International Certified Arborist and Qualified Tree Risk Appraiser.

Research Interests

GIS Analysis
Remote Sensing
Data Extraction from UAV derived Products
Silviculture

Extension and Outreach

I have spoke to forestry groups on UAV applications
Participated in Grants:
-Haywood Community College Community Forest Grant: Development of courses for online delivery
-Clemson University Extension Tree Inventory Grant: Recommendation of GPS technology and developed training classes on using GPS

Publications

Ritter, Brian A., Threatt, Jimmy. Highway 11 Viewshed Analysis Poster. ESRI Map Book, Volume 38, September 5, 2023.

Ritter, Brian A., (2018). Forestry and Arboriculture Applications Using High-Resolution Imagery from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). All Dissertations. 2274.

Mikhailova, E., Hagan, D., Sharp, J., Allerton, T., Burdette, K., Mealing, V., Ritter, B., Solomons, A., and R. Stiglitz, (2015). Geospatial analysis of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) invasion around lake Issaqueena, SC. Soil Science.

Mikhailova, E., Hagan, D., Sharp, J., Allerton, T., Burdette, K., Mealing, V., Ritter, B., Solomons, A., and R. Stiglitz. 2016. Geospatial soil and plant tissue analysis of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) invasion around Lake Issaqueena, SC. Technical Contribution No. 6303 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 47(5):630-638.

Post, C., Brian Ritter, Emre Akturk, Amy Breedlove, Russell Buchanan, Celestine Che, Jacob Fravel, Lynn Hammet, Thomas Kirby, Elena Mikhailova, Xin Qiao, James Short and Michael Stella, (2014). Analysis of factors contributing to abandoned residential developments using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS).Urban Ecosystems, 1-13.
Ritter, Brian, "Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Urban Tree Inventories" (2014). All Thesis. Paper 1890.

Post, Christopher J., Brian Ritter,(2014). A Drone of Your Own? Forest Landowners, May/June 2014.

McNab, W.H., B.R. Parresol, and B.A.Ritter. (2000). Evaluation of two eastern white pine site index equations at Biltmore Estate, North Carolina. Research Paper SRS-21. Asheville, NC: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

McNab, W.H., B.A. Ritter.(2000). The Old Orchard White Pine Plantation at Biltmore. Journal of Forestry, Volume 98, Number 11. Pp. 18-23.

McNab, W.H., and B.A.Ritter. (1999). Site index evaluations in a 100-year-old eastern white pine planting at the Biltmore Estate, North Carolina. In Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, ed. J.D.Haywood. February 16-18. Shreveport, LA.General Technical Report SRS-30. Asheville, NC: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

Links