Ammara Talib

Ammara Talib

PhD Candidate, Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Wisconsin Madison

Biography

I am Ammara Talib, a Ph.D. candidate in Prof. Desai’s Ecometeorology Lab, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison. I am interested in using process-based and machine learning/deep learning/artificial intelligence models to predict and forecast water quality and quantity issues and diagnose diseases.

For my doctoral thesis, I am using field measurements collected with support from the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Water Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the UW Center for Climatic Research. The research goal is to quantify the net water budget of this globally crucial agricultural region to constrain groundwater depletion better, improve irrigation management, and understand plant water use under changing climates.

Please see Research/publications for details of current research and previous projects. You can reach me at talib@wisc.edu or send me a direct message on any of my linked websites.

Interests
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Statistical modeling
  • Prediction & Forecasting
  • Environmental/Ecological Fluid Mechanics
Education

  • PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering (Water resources engineering), 06/2023

    University of Wisconsin Madison

  • MS in Environmental Conservation (Water, Watersheds & Wetlands)

    University Massachusetts Amherst (Fulbright Scholar)

  • BS in Earth & Environmental Sciences

    University of Punjab, Pakistan

Research

Spatial and temporal Characterization of Forecasting GW Anomalies in Wisconsin Central Sands (WCS)
A common set of drivers explain variation of monthly GW anomaly across the WCS, but there are regional differences. Model without pumping and Land use might be used in areas with deeper GW compared to shallow GW.
Feb 27, 2022
Spatial and temporal Characterization of Forecasting GW Anomalies in Wisconsin Central Sands (WCS)
Machine learning data-driven network to estimate and forecast evapotranspiration (ET)
A new framework based on a machine learning data-driven network to estimate and forecast evapotranspiration in agricultural areas was proposed.
Jan 15, 2021
Machine learning data-driven network to estimate and forecast evapotranspiration (ET)
Improving parameterization of atmospheric emissivity of a regional model for evapotranspiration estimation
Assess uncertainties in the Wisconsin Irrigation and Scheduling Program (WISP) model inputs due to meteorological variables and improve model performance by calibrating parameters based on ground EC observations and satellite measurements
Sep 8, 2020
Improving parameterization of atmospheric emissivity of a regional model for evapotranspiration estimation

Skills

Statistics
Geographic information system (GIS)
STELLA (Ecosystem Modeling)
BASINS
HSPF
SWAT, SWATCUP
MODFLOW
Hydrocad
Python, R, Matlab
High-throughput computing (HTC)
Machine Learning, Artificial neural Network, Deep learning,
Engineering Equation Solver (EES)

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Teaching Assistant
University of Wisconsin Madison
Jan 2018 – Present Biology 151/152 – Introductory Biology Lab

Responsibilities include:

  • teaching how to apply certain concepts in cellular and molecular biology, genetics, evolution, plant physiology, ecology and animal physiology from lectures to carry out experiments
  • teaching how to use the scientific method for independent research projects
  • Grading
 
 
 
 
 
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Wisconsin Madison
Jan 2018 – Present Ecometeorology Lab - Center for Climate Research
Developing regional hydrologic prediction and forecast models to evaluate the role of drought and water withdrawals on regional water use in regions such as the Central Sands, WI.
 
 
 
 
 
Teaching Assistant
University of Wisconsin Madison
Sep 2018 – Dec 2018 AOS 404 – Meteorological Measurements

Responsibilities include:

  • teaching practical experience in planning experiment implementation, performing instrument quality control
  • guiding in conducting computational data analysis and writing and presenting meteorological and climatological observations in a team setting
 
 
 
 
 
Research Assistant (Fulbright Scholar)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Sep 2012 – May 2015 Ecohydrology Lab
  • Assessment of impacts of land use land cover (LULC) and climate change on water resources in SuAsCo watershed, Massachusetts
  • Managing emerging contaminants in watersheds
 
 
 
 
 
Tutor
Quest School, Pakistan
Sep 2006 – Aug 2011
Chemistry and science tutor for middle and high school students

Awards/Fellowships

UW Water Resources Institute Fellowship
Jul 2021 – Dec 2022
Project-Data-driven groundwater depth and risk forecasting in the Central Sands region of WI for sustainable management
METER Grant A Harris instrumentation fellowship
Mar 2019
Project-Determine water use by crops; improve irrigation planning and early prediction for agricultural drought in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Potato and Vegetation Growers Association (WPVGA) Fellowship
Jul 2018 – Jun 2023
Project-Monitoring evapotranspiration in Central Sands farms and forests
State of Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources Fellowship
Jun 2018 – Oct 2018
Project-Evapotranspiration of irrigated crops- Monitoring and data collection
CPEP Seed Grant Award Center of Climate Research Fellowship
May 2017 – Aug 2017
Observing Wisconsin Central Sands Water Budget Component Under High Groundwater Demand and a Changing Climate
Chancellor’s Opportunity Award, University of Wisconsin Madison
Sep 2015
Academic scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Apr 2015
Fulbright Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Sep 2012 – May 2015
Project: 1. Assessment of impacts of land use land cover (LULC) and climate change on water resources in SuAsCo watershed, Massachusetts 2. Managing emerging contaminants in watersheds: need for comprehensive, systems-based strategies
Merit scholarship for two undergraduate semesters, Punjab University Lahore, Pakistan
May 2009
Honors Rank student, Islamic College Cooper Road, Lahore, Pakistan
May 2004

Certificates

Coursera
Sequence Models
Coursera Aug 2018
Coursera
Convolutional Neural Networks
Coursera Aug 2018
Coursera
Structuring Machine Learning Projects
Coursera Jul 2018
Coursera
Improving Deep Neural Networks- Hyperparameter Tuning, Regularization and Optimization
Coursera Jul 2018
Coursera
Neural Networks and Deep Learning
Coursera Jun 2018

Leadership Role

Member at “Outreach committee at water resource engineering (WRE)
Civil & Environmental Engineering Jan 2021 – May 2023
Teaching Assistant for Meteorological measurement course (AOS 404).
Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences Sep 2018 – Dec 2018
Teaching Assistant (Bio 151, Bio 152)
Department of integrative Biology Jan 2018 – May 2023
Volunteer intern
Waste Busters Pakistan, Lahore Jun 2011 – Aug 2011
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pakistan
Volunteer intern Jun 2010 – Aug 2010
Greenlays clean Pakistan
Volunteer intern Jun 2009 – Dec 2009
Science Teacher (Physics, Chemistry) to middle & High school students in Pakistan
The Quest School, Pakistan Sep 2006 – Aug 2011

Workshops

Graduate Assistants’ Equity Workshops
Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement Sep 2016
Graduate Assistants’ Equity Workshops
Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement Jan 2016

Conference Presentations

From half-hour to quarter century- Drivers of carbon fluxes across a northern ecosystem tower cluster
Based on over 70 site-years of Ameriflux sites observations, water, whether in atmosphere (VPD), soil, stream, or water table plays in modulating carbon flux variation, despite a general overall lack of water-limitation in the biome.
Ankur Desai, Jonathan Thom, Susanne Wiesner, Brain Butterworth, Nikaan KoupaeiAbyazani, Aronne Merrelli, Bailey Murphy, Andi Muttaqin, Sreenath Paleri, Ammara Talib, Jess Turner, James Mineau (2021)
Sep 22, 2021
From half-hour to quarter century- Drivers of carbon fluxes across a northern ecosystem tower cluster
Improving irrigation planning and early prediction for agricultural drought in Wisconsin
A new ensemble modeling framework based on artificial neural network nonlinear autoregressive networks was developed to predict spatio-temporal fluctuations of groundwater in the densely irrigated area of Wisconsin central sands (WCS).
Ammara Talib, Ankur R Desai (2020)
Dec 15, 2020
Improving irrigation planning and early prediction for agricultural drought in Wisconsin
How high to fly? Evaluating different elevations for mapping evapotranspiration from remotely piloted aircrafts
Evapotranspiration (ET) values were modeled from the flight data using the High-Resolution Mapping of Evapotranspiration (HRMET) model. HRMET-derived ET maps are compared to ET estimates from an Eddy Covariance system within the flight domain. Ongoing results will be used to develop best practices and assess trade-offs for integrating RPAs as decision support tools for irrigation and water management.
Logan Ebert, Alex Chisholm, Jacob Prater, Samuel Zipper, Ammara Talib, Ankur Desai, Mallika Nocco (2020)
Dec 7, 2020
How high to fly? Evaluating different elevations for mapping evapotranspiration from remotely piloted aircrafts
Water Use by Crops and Forest and Improving Irrigation Planning and Early Prediction for Agricultural Drought in Wisconsin
The data comparison between potatoes and pine evapotranspiration (ET) shows that when there is a big rainfall or irrigation event, the differences between already available ET measurement based on remote sensing models and actual ET measurements are small. However, when soil is dry, ET measurement from Eddy covariance flux tower is more accurate.
Ammara Talib, Ankur R Desai (2020)
Mar 12, 2020
Water Use by Crops and Forest and Improving Irrigation Planning and Early Prediction for Agricultural Drought in Wisconsin
Improving forecasts of crop water demand with direct ET measurements over irrigated fields
For a wet year, pines ET is higher than potatoes. In dry years when pine ET is more moisture limited, pine evapotranspiration could be lower, according to previous studies.
Ammara Talib, Ankur R Desai (2020)
Feb 5, 2020
Improving forecasts of crop water demand with direct ET measurements over irrigated fields
See all

General Interest Highlights

Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai
May, 2019 Badger Common Tater 1905
Ways to Measure Evapotranspiration
Ways to Measure Evapotranspiration

New technologies make the science of measuring ET a bit more tangible Page 24-27

PDF
Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai
December, 2018 Badger Common Tater 1812
Comparing Evapotranspiration on an irrigated potato field and pine plantation
Comparing Evapotranspiration on an irrigated potato field and pine plantation

Eddy covariance Flux Towers allow scientists to directly observe changes in plant water use Page 21-23

PDF
Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai
March, 2017 Phy.org, Environmental News Network (ENN)
It is Not Too Late to Conserve Water Resources in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas of Eastern Massachusetts
It is Not Too Late to Conserve Water Resources in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas of Eastern Massachusetts

A new study suggests that threats such as water shortages and poor quality to rivers such as the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers in northeast Massachusetts can be met if managers begin to act now. Doi

PDF DOI

Recent Publications

Quickly discover relevant content by filtering publications.
Ankur Rashmikant Desai, Susanne Wiesner, Jonathan E. Thom, Brian J. Butterworth, Nikaan Koupaei-Abyazani, Aronne Merrelli, Bailey Murphy, Andi Syahid Muttaqin, Sreenath Paleri, Ammara Talib, Jessica Turner, James Mineau, and Paul Christopher Stoy (2022). Drivers of decadal carbon fluxes across temperate ecosystems. Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences.

PDF Slides DOI

Logan A. Ebert, Ammara Talib, Samuel C. Zipper, Kyaw Tha Paw U, Alex J. Chisholm, Jacob Prater, and Mallika A. Nocco (2022). How High to Fly? Mapping Evapotranspiration from Remotely Piloted Aircrafts at Different Elevations. Remote Sensing 14: 1660.

PDF DOI

Sumanta Chatterjee, Paul C. Stoy, Manish Debnath, Amaresh Kumar Nayak, Chinmaya Kumar Swain, Rahul Tripathi, Dibyendu Chatterjee, Smruthi Sagarika Mahapatra, Ammara Talib, and Himanshu Pathak (2021). Actual evapotranspiration and crop coefficients for tropical lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in eastern India. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 146: 155–171.

PDF DOI

Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai, Jingyi Huang, Tim J.Griffis, David E.Reed (2021). Evaluation of prediction and forecasting models for evapotranspiration of agricultural lands in the Midwest US. Journal of Hydrology 600: 126579.

PDF DOI

Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai (2019). Ways to Measure Evapotranspiration. Badger Common Tater 1905.

PDF

Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai (2018). Comparing Evapotranspiration on an irrigated potato field and pine plantation. Badger Common Tater 1812.

PDF

Ammara Talib, Timothy O.Randhir (2017). Managing emerging contaminants in watersheds, Need for comprehensive, systems-based strategies. Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology 9: 1-8.

PDF DOI

Ammara Talib, Timothy O.Randhir (2017). Climate change and land use impacts on hydrologic processes of watershed systems. Journal of Water and Climate Change 8: 363-374.

PDF DOI

Ammara Talib, Ankur R.Desai (2017). It is Not Too Late to Conserve Water Resources in Rapidly Urbanizing Areas of Eastern Massachusetts. Phy.org, Environmental News Network (ENN).

PDF DOI

Ammara Talib, Timothy O.Randhir (2016). Managing Emerging Contaminants- Status, Impacts, and Watershed-Wide Strategies. Exposure and Health 9: 143-158.

PDF DOI

Popular Topics

Agriculture Best management practices (BMPs) Climate change Data mining- Drought Eddy covariance Emerging contaminants Evapotranspiration Forecasting HSPF model Hydrologic processes Hydrology Hydrology Instruments and techniques Informatics Irrigation Land use change Machine learning Models monitoring Nutrients

Contact

  • talib@wisc.edu
  • Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, Madison, WI 53706