Dr. Richard S. Sojda

Research Professor

Department of Computer Science, Montana State University

     359 EPS Building

     Bozeman, MT   59715

     TEL:   <406.994.1820>    CELL:   <406.223.1129>  

     EMAIL: richard.sojda <@> coe.montana.edu

Fellow, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society

Affiliate, Montana Institute on Ecosystems

Scientist Emeritus, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, USDI - Geological Survey

Education

Ph.D. 2002. Colorado State University. Forest Science. Dissertation: Artificial intelligence based decision support system for trumpeter swan management.

M.S. 1978. Iowa State University. Wildlife Biology. Thesis: Effects of snowmobile activity on wintering pheasants and wetland vegetation in northern Iowa marshes.

B.S. 1974. Cornell University. Natural Resources.

Expertise and Interests:

• Decision support, ecological modelling, GIS
• Artificial intelligence: expert systems, Bayesian belief networks, multiagent systems, knowledge engineering
• Waterfowl and wetland ecology, radar ornithology, public land management
• Population genetics

Professional Experience:

• 2013-present:   Research Professor - Department of Computer Science, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
• 1996-2013:   Wildlife Biologist - Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Biological Resources Division, Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bozeman, MT
• 1990-1996:   Wildlife Biologist - Information Transfer Center, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/ National Biological Survey, Fort Collins, CO
• 1987-1990:   Regional Refuge Biologist (DE, MD, and VA) - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Cambridge, MD
• 1983-1987:   Wildlife Biologist - Morris Wetland Management District, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Morris, MN
• 1981-1983:   Assistant Manager - DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish; Wildlife Service, Missouri Valley, IA
• 1979-1981:   Area Wildlife Biologist (IA, KS, and MO) - Refuges and Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kansas City, MO
• 1976-1978:   Graduate Research Assistant - Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
• 1974-1976:   Regional Extension Specialist (Lake Ontario) - New York Sea Grant Advisory Service, Cornell University, Brockport, NY

Awards:

• Fellow, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, elected 2011
• 2007 Best Paper in Decision Support from the journal, Environmental Modelling and Software: Empirical evaluation of decision support systems: Needs, definitions, potential methods, and an example pertaining to waterfowl management

Current Research Project:

• Understanding Future Scenarios Regarding Landscape Conservation for Greater Sage-Grouse in Relation to Habitat and Development of Energy Resources
• View pdf of slides from our presentation at the International Association for Landscape Ecology, 8 July 2015, presented in the Symposium: “Landscapes of the Future: Modelling Land Cover Change and Implications for Landscape Functionality and Sustainability"

MODELLING LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION OF GREATER SAGE GROUSE IN RELATION TO OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT

Sojda, Richard S. Department of Computer Science, Montana State University, Bozeman; Frederick, Robert B., Department of Biology, Eastern Kentucky University; Heller, Matthew, & Greg Watson, Office of Landscape Conservation, USDI - Fish and Wildlife Service

ABSTRACT:   The effects of oil and gas development on the conservation of greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) concerns wildlife managers. Effects of development are difficult to ascertain, a situation typical where cause-effect relationships are complex, multivariate, and involve landscape perspectives. Understanding the potential effects of development on grouse requires predicting where development is expected to occur on a landscape level. We gathered “reasonable foreseeable development” spatial data from the USDI’s Bureau of Land Management that were available for Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Northwestern Colorado. These data were disparate across the study area, and we standardized them across mapping units to establish consistent and quantitative categories. We describe the GIS processes used to accomplish that and to display the number of wells per township as projected in the BLM data. The data were then overlain with the priority areas for conservation for greater sage grouse. Our data, metadata, and data processing (standardization) documentation are available via the Landscape Conservation Management and Analysis Portal. Using Bayesian belief network methods, we are modelling the relative spatial risk to greater sage grouse from oil and gas development based on the published literature. Risk analyses from site specific studies were linked to a conceptual model of the annual life cycle events of grouse. Using the density of the predicted number of wells, we present a regional-scale view of where the effects of development are expected to occur. The constraints to representing this in a spatial model using GIS are delineated.

Professional Affiliations:

• The Wildlife Society, since 1973: National Law Enforcement Committee; 1985-86; Continuing Education Committee, 1989
• Society of Wetland Scientists, since 1989
• Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, since 2001
• International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, since 2002
• Editorial Board, Environmental Modelling and Software

CV   [Includes List of Publications and Presentations]

Personal Interests:

• Birding, skiing, hiking, bird hunting and bird dogs, especially Cesky Fouseks [Bohemian Wire-haired Pointing Griffons]
• Bohemain Wire-haired Pointing Griffon Club of America
• Assist in Managing Facebook pages: griffon.fan; ceskyfouseknorthamerica
• Field Test Judge
• Apprentice on Breeding Committee
• Importing puppies for BWPGCA's Education and Research Foundation from the Czech Republic [Klub Chovatelů Českých Fousků] to the U.S.A