Zhongming An

I worked as a GIS specialist managing online and offline geodatabases, creating and developing online web maps and experiences for both internal use and for customers. I am very familiar with survey equipment and am comfortable with field data collection procedures.

I was also a part 107 sUAS pilot, and have experience with handling and maintaining sUAS equipment, conducting drone flights for various purposes such as mapping and structure inspection.

I earned my PhD in forest science from Michigan Technological University with a major focus on geospatial technology application in forestry, and my master's from the same university on geospatial technology.

South Dakota State University – Brookings, SD   10/2022-10/2025

GIS specialist/Building engineer assistant  

• Manage geodatabase for facilities and services operational use, including building information data, utilities data, and tree inventory data. 
• Field data collection, data verification, utilities locating, and staking out using GNSS and Field Maps. 
• Web map and application creation with ArcGIS online as well as map production with ArcGIS pro.
• Assist in various utilities construction projects, providing documentation of pre-construction conditions as well as as-built data of the new utilities.
• Conduct drone flights and generate 2D and 3D map products from aerial photos.
• Interpret thermal images to detect potential insulation leaks.
• Provide GIS training on ArcGIS online to project managers and engineers to access geospatial data.

Michigan Technological University – Houghton, MI   01/2022 - 04/2022 & 01/2021 - 04/2021

Teaching assistant 

• Managed 2 lab sections, teaching and answering questions from the students.
• Graded the homework from the students. 

US Forest Service – Remote from Houghton, MI   08/2019 - 07/2021

Remote sensing technician

• Responsible for taking sample points from NAIP imagery across the United States in Google Earth Engine. The samples were later used to build forest health model.
• Further collaborated, and contributed to research, which resulted in one pending publication. 

Michigan Technological University – Houghton, MI   07/2018 - 08/2018

Field technician

• Responsible for field data collection using terrestrial LiDAR as well as GNSS and total station.
• Assisted with tree inventory data collection, which were later used in other forestry related research.

Chilkat Surveying & Mapping – Juneau, AK   07/2017 - 08/2017

Land surveyor intern

• Collected field data using GNSS and total station.
• Processed data and produced maps with AutoCAD.

Linyi Institute of Land Surveying and Mapping – Linyi, China    12/2013 - 05/2015

Cadastral surveyor

• Managed and participated in multiple survey projects. Collected field data with GNSS and total stations, as well as produced maps for clients.
• Communicated with both clients and government agencies, made sure the maps produced were accurate and at the same time satisfy clients’ needs.

Michigan Technological University – Houghton, MI   09/2018-08/2022

PhD Forest Science

• Focused on research regarding the application of geospatial technology such as GNSS, remote sensing, LiDAR in forestry. Developed a novel method of tree stem volume estimation from LiDAR point cloud, integrating concepts from operational forestry and geospatial science.

Michigan Technological University – Houghton, MI   09/2015-08/2017

M.S. Integrated Geospatial Technology 

Shandong Agricultural University – Tai’an, China   09/2010-07/2014

Bachelor of Engineering Surveying Engineering