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Faculty Member

Dr. Sowmya Selvarajan

Biography

Dr. Sowmya Selvarajan specializes in GeoAI, GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis, with a focus on scientific computing and big data applications. Her teaching interests lie at the intersection of computer science and geospatial technologies, emphasizing programming, algorithms, and machine learning for solving spatial problems. She is passionate about integrating applied mathematics, data science, and artificial intelligence into geospatial curricula to prepare students for real-world challenges.

Education

PhD, University of Florida, 2011

Major: Geomatics

MS, National University of Singapore, 2004

Major: Civil Engineering

BS, College of Engineering, Anna University, 2000

Major: Geo-informatics Engineering

Teaching

SURV 3210

Advanced Photogrammetry, Fall 2025

SURV 2240

Fundamentals of Adjustments and Computations, Fall 2025

SURV 3250

Geodesy, Fall 2025

GIS 2800

Geographic Information Systems, Fall 2025

SURV 1020

Introduction to Surveying and Mapping, Fall 2025

SURV 4510R

Surveying and Mapping Lecture Series, Fall 2025

GIS 3620

Advanced Geographic Information Systems, Spring 2025

GIS 3630

Geographic Information Systems Application Development, Spring 2025

SURV 3010

Measurement Analysis and Adjustments, Spring 2025

SURV 1220

Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry, Spring 2025

Presentations

Selvarajan, Sowmya (Presenter & Author), UV GIS Day 2025, "Cartographic Conventions", UVU, UVU Main Campus. (November 19, 2025)
Selvarajan, Sowmya , T3 2025, "Engaging Students as Creators, Not Consumers, in the Classroom", UVU OTL, Orem, UT. (November 7, 2025)
Selvarajan, Sowmya (Presenter & Author), Wang, Weihong (Presenter & Author), UVGIS Q3 2025 Meeting, "Advancing Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring in Utah Lake_ Integrating Remote Sensing with Google Earth Engine", Utah Valley GIS Users Group, UVU Classroom Building. (October 8, 2025)
Selvarajan, Sowmya (Presenter & Author), College of Engineering and Technology Unconference 2025 , "Teams Livestream Tips and Tricks", UVU CET, Culinary Arts Institute. (August 14, 2025)
Selvarajan, Sowmya (Presenter & Author), UVGIS 1st Quaterly Meeting , "GIS Image Analysis - What are Deep Trained Models", Utah Valley GIS Users Group, Provo, UT. (March 11, 2025)
Selvarajan, Sowmya (Presenter & Author), UV GIS Day 2024, "Cartographic Conventions", UVU, UVU Main Campus. (November 13, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Selvarajan, Sowmya , "Engaging Students as Creators, Not Consumers, in the Classroom | Session 10 " (vol. T3 2025). Orem, UT: UVU Office of Teaching and Learning.
Selvarajan, Sowmya , (2025) "Remote Sensing Detection of Mixed Algal Blooms in a Shallow Eutrophic Lake Using Landsat-9 OLI" (Issue: 2025, vol. International Technical Symposium). Baton Rouge, LA 70898: ASPRS The Imaging & Geospatial Information Society. https://community.asprs.org/2025symposium/symposium-program/technical-sessions/2801
Selvarajan, Sowmya , Athithan, Vrisha , (2025) "Temporal Monitoring of Algal Blooms in Utah Lake Using Landsat 8 and a Custom Spectral Model" (vol. Esri UC 2025 Proceedings). Redlands, CA: Esri . https://webnode.esri.com/download/tQNhQr4QzPYiOP7IbL95V-FGrBKm6klRj9zstYk6RQl/EsriUC2025_SowmyaVrisha_Poster.jpg
Selvarajan, Sowmya , (2025) "Seasonal Monitoring of Algal Blooms in Utah Lake Using Landsat 8 Imagery and a Custom Spectral Model" . USA: IEEE. y
Selvarajan, Sowmya , Athithan, Vikram , Shin, Seunggyu , Wang, Weihong , "Using Satellite Imagery to Monitor Algal Blooms in Utah Lake" (vol. iETC 2025 ). USA: IEEE. https://www.uvu.edu/cet/i-etc/
Wang, Weihong , Athithan, Vikram , Shin, Seunggyu , Selvarajan, Sowmya , Leon, Josh , (2022) "VISUALIZING AND MONITORING HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS IN UTAH LAKE USING REMOTE SENSING AND GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE" . Geological Society of America. https://doi.org/10.1130/abs/2022am-381793

Awards

International Expert with the Geo-Intel Lab at IITTNiF

IITTNiF - January 2, 2026

IITNiF - IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation. The IITs are autonomous public institutes for engineering/tech (IITs) in India are a group of prestigious, highly selective, government-funded institutes of higher education, recognized as Institutes of National Importance (INIs) for their role in training top technical talent for India's development
They are India's leading institutions for technology and engineering education. They are usually compared with a MIT in USA, to IIT in India.

The Geo-Intel Lab (Geospatial-Intelligence & Applications Laboratory) is a flagship initiative of IITTNiF, the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) on Positioning and Precision Technologies (PPT) established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.Our Lab is India’s pioneering hub advancing Geospatial Intelligence, Digital Twins, PNT, NavIC, GNSS, Remote Sensing, and GIS Applications, with a strong focus on_● Applications & Platforms for Public Good● Digital GovernanceFlagship Programs of the Geo-Intel Lab● Academia Network of Digital Twin – enabling digital twin applications for cities, infrastructure, and environment.● Academia Network of NavIC – building a strong ecosystem around India’s indigenous NavIC constellation and GNSS innovation.● VidyaGIS – embedding spatial thinking and geospatial learning across schools, colleges, and professional programs.● Bharat PNT – advancing Positioning, Navigation & Timing technologies, with indigenous solutions in collaboration with NavIC/GNSS.● CORS Network – federated data systems for precise positioning and reference services.● PNT Labs across India – a growing network of student-centric PNT Labs established nationwide, nurturing geospatial talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship.Through these initiatives, we are creating an ecosystem where academia, industry, startups, and government agencies come together to deliver transformative applications in urban governance, agriculture, infrastructure, blue economy, and digital governance.
Experts● Contribute domain-specific technical expertise.● Participate in research projects, technical reviews, and task forces.● Engage in seminars, conferences, and publications.Mode of Engagement● This will be an honorary engagement, with compensation provided for seminars, workshops, and strategic meetings as per TIH norms.● The time commitment is flexible, based on mutual availability and project needs.By joining the Geo-Intel Lab, you will be part of a national initiative anchored at TIH-IITTNiF, shaping the future of geospatial innovation, NavIC/GNSS-based PNT technologies, and digital governance for the public good.

Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Works

UVU Office of Academic Affairs - November 20, 2024

As part of the recognition strategy in the Office of Academic Affairs, hosted an annual event for selected faculty who demonstrated excellence in scholarship and creative works during the previous academic year. My department chair nominated me this year.

Visiting Professor - Overseas

Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University - January 11, 2021

This honor is a recognition from Anna University, Chennai, India, awarding me the title of "Visiting Professor (Overseas)" in acknowledgment of my academic and research contributions. It highlights my long-term collaboration with the university in promoting bilateral academic and research cooperation. As a Visiting Professor, I will have the opportunity to engage in academic activities, deliver lectures, interact with students and faculty, and potentially guide students in advanced degree programs. This title reflects my ongoing role as an international academic partner of Anna University.