Vaclav Petras

My research includes landscape evolution analysis in coastal areas based on space-time cube concept, GIS-based environmental modeling of natural phenomena, web-based spatio-temporal visualizations for communicating research, and finally geospatial software quality assessment, which allows he and other scientists to test the proper functionality of various geospatial algorithms. I collaborate on free and open source software development, most notably, development of GRASS GIS. I believe that open source software is a crucial part of open and reproducible science and that providing my work as open source allows equal opportunities for all scientists around the world to use, critique, and further develop the results of his research.

Works (23)

Updated: February 14th, 2025 10:36

2024 journal article

The safe development paradox of the United States regulatory floodplain

PLOS ONE, 19(12).

By: G. Sanchez n , M. Lawrimore n, A. Petrasova n , J. Vogler n , E. Collins n, V. Petras n , T. Harper n, E. Butzler n, R. Meentemeyer n 

Ed(s): W. Zaman

MeSH headings : United States; Floods; Humans; Conservation of Natural Resources / legislation & jurisprudence
topics (OpenAlex): Flood Risk Assessment and Management; Fire effects on ecosystems; Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger (Web of Science)
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: December 31, 2024

2023 journal article

An open-source platform for geospatial participatory modeling in the cloud

ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE, 167.

By: C. White n , A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , L. Tateosian n , J. Vukomanovic n , H. Mitasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: GRASS GIS; Interactive modeling; Urban growth modeling; Watershed analysis; Actinia
topics (OpenAlex): Flood Risk Assessment and Management; Land Use and Ecosystem Services; Geographic Information Systems Studies
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Sources: ORCID, Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries
Added: July 6, 2023

2023 journal article

Integrating GRASS GIS and Jupyter Notebooks to facilitate advanced geospatial modeling education

Transactions in GIS, 27(3), 686–702.

By: C. Haedrich n , V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , S. Blumentrath * & H. Mitasova n 

topics (OpenAlex): Geographic Information Systems Studies; Scientific Computing and Data Management; Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
TL;DR: A new GRASS GIS package is introduced, grass.jupyter, that enhances the existing GRASS Python API to allow J upyter Notebook users to easily manage and visualize GRASS data including spatiotemporal datasets. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Source: ORCID
Added: March 4, 2023

2023 journal article

Point Density Variations in Airborne Lidar Point Clouds

SENSORS, 23(3).

By: V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , J. McCarter n, H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: airborne lidar; laser scanning; point density pattern; nonuniform point distribution; geospatial mapping; remote sensing; surface topography
topics (OpenAlex): Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications; 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage; Remote Sensing in Agriculture
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Sources: ORCID, Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries
Added: February 2, 2023

2023 journal article

Redesigning Graphical User Interface of Open-Source Geospatial Software in a Community-Driven Way: A Case Study of GRASS GIS

ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION, 12(9).

By: L. Karlovska *, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n  & M. Landa *

author keywords: user-centered design; participatory design; geospatial; open-source software development; scientific software development; usability testing; eye-tracking; social coding; GRASS GIS
topics (OpenAlex): Scientific Computing and Data Management; Geographic Information Systems Studies; Semantic Web and Ontologies
TL;DR: This paper describes the community-driven redesigning process on the GRASS GIS case study and sets a foundation for applying community- driven design in other open-source scientific projects by providing insights into effective software development practices driven by the needs and input of the project’s community. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
Sources: ORCID, Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries
Added: September 12, 2023

2022 article

Contaminated consignment simulation to support risk-based inspection design

Montgomery, K., Petras, V., Takeuchi, Y., & Katsar, C. S. (2022, May 12). RISK ANALYSIS, Vol. 5.

By: K. Montgomery*, V. Petras n , Y. Takeuchi n  & C. Katsar*

author keywords: biological invasions; phytosanitary inspections; simulation
topics (OpenAlex): Forest Insect Ecology and Management; Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control; Insect Resistance and Genetics
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: May 13, 2022

2022 journal article

Spotted lanternfly predicted to establish in California by 2033 without preventative management

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, 5(1).

By: C. Jones n , M. Skrip n , B. Seliger n, S. Jones n, T. Wakie *, Y. Takeuchi n , V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

MeSH headings : Animals; California; Hemiptera; Introduced Species; Natural Resources
topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Fire effects on ecosystems; Plant and animal studies
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger (Web of Science)
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: June 9, 2022

2021 article

Evaluating online and tangible interfaces for engaging stakeholders in forecasting and control of biological invasions

Gaydos, D. A., Jones, C. M., Jones, S. K., Millar, G. C., Petras, V., Petrasova, A., … Meentemeyer, R. K. (2021, September 21). ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, Vol. 31.

By: D. Gaydos*, C. Jones n , S. Jones n, G. Millar n, V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , H. Mitasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: D. Gaydos*, C. Jones n , S. Jones n, G. Millar n, V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , H. Mitasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: adaptive management; ecological forecasting; geospatial; interface design; participatory modeling; plant pathogen
MeSH headings : California; Environmental Monitoring / methods; Forecasting; Internet; Introduced Species; Oregon; Plant Diseases; Quercus
topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Animal and Plant Science Education; Plant and animal studies
TL;DR: Recognizing the strengths of both tangible and online interfaces for collaboratively forecasting biological invasions and devising control strategies, workbench‐style interfaces that support simultaneous interactions and dynamic geospatial visualizations are suggested. (via Semantic Scholar)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: September 27, 2021

2021 article

Iteratively forecasting biological invasions with PoPS and a little help from our friends

Jones, C. M., Jones, S., Petrasova, A., Petras, V., Gaydos, D., Skrip, M. M., … Meentemeyer, R. K. (2021, June 3). FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Vol. 6.

By: C. Jones n , S. Jones n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , D. Gaydos n, M. Skrip n , Y. Takeuchi n , K. Bigsby*, R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: C. Jones n 

topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Forest Insect Ecology and Management; Plant and animal studies
TL;DR: This work describes a species‐agnostic, open‐source framework – called the Pest or Pathogen Spread (PoPS) Forecasting Platform – for co‐designing near‐term iterative forecasts of biological invasions and demonstrates that iterative calibration yields higher forecast skill than using only the earliest‐available data to predict future spread. (via Semantic Scholar)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: June 14, 2021

2021 journal article

Open Source Software Development

Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge.

By: V. Petras* , H. Mitasova*  & A. Petrasova* 

topics (OpenAlex): Scientific Computing and Data Management
Source: ORCID
Added: May 16, 2021

2020 journal article

Geospatial simulation steering for adaptive management

Environmental Modelling & Software, 133, 104801.

By: A. Petrasova n , D. Gaydos *, V. Petras n , C. Jones n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: A. Petrasova n , D. Gaydos *, V. Petras n , C. Jones n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: Stochastic; Participatory modeling; Adaptive management; Computational steering; Forecasting; Disease spread modeling
topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Land Use and Ecosystem Services; Complex Systems and Decision Making
TL;DR: This work identified conceptual challenges associated with steering stochastic, spatio-temporal simulations and developed solutions that better represent the realities of decision-making by allowing both reactive and proactive, spatially-explicit interventions. (via Semantic Scholar)
Source: ORCID
Added: August 11, 2020

2019 journal article

Projecting Urbanization and Landscape Change at Large Scale Using the FUTURES Model

Land, 8(10), 144.

By: D. Berkel  n, A. Shashidharan n, R. Mordecai *, R. Vatsavai  n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n , J. Vogler n , R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: D. Van Berkel  n, A. Shashidharan n, R. Mordecai *, R. Vatsavai  n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n , J. Vogler n , R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: land change model; urbanization; parallel computing; ecosystem services; land sharing; land sparing
topics (OpenAlex): Land Use and Ecosystem Services; Urban Heat Island Mitigation; Urban Green Space and Health
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger (Web of Science)
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science)
Source: ORCID
Added: September 29, 2019

2019 journal article

r.sim.terrain 1.0: a landscape evolution model with dynamic hydrology

GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 12(7), 2837–2854.

By: B. Harmon*, H. Mitasova n , A. Petrasova n  & V. Petras n 

Contributors: B. Harmon*, H. Mitasova n , A. Petrasova n  & V. Petras n 

topics (OpenAlex): Soil erosion and sediment transport; Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes; Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
TL;DR: This free and open-source Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based topographic evolution model uses empirical models for soil erosion and a physics-based model for shallow overland water flow and soil erosion to compute short-term topographic change. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
2. Zero Hunger (Web of Science)
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: July 29, 2019

2018 journal article

Tangible topographic modeling for landscape architects

International Journal of Architectural Computing, 16(1), 4–21.

By: B. Harmon  n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: B. Harmon  n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

topics (OpenAlex): Land Use and Ecosystem Services; 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage; Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
TL;DR: Tangible Landscape is a tangible interface powered by a geographic information system that gives three-dimensional spatial data an interactive, physical form so that users can naturally sense and shape it. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
4. Quality Education (Web of Science)
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities (OpenAlex)
Sources: NC State University Libraries, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018

2018 article

g.citation: Scientific citation for individual GRASS GIS software modules

Löwe, P., Petras, V., Neteler, M., & Mitasova, H. (2018, September 14). (Vol. 9). Vol. 9.

By: P. Löwe *, V. Petras n , M. Neteler * & H. Mitasova  n

topics (OpenAlex): Geographic Information Systems Studies; Geological Modeling and Analysis
TL;DR: The authors introduce the GRASS GIS add-on module g.citation, which extends the existing citation capabilities of GRass GIS, which until now only provide for automated citation of the software project as a whole, authored by the GRass Development Team, without reference to individual persons. (via Semantic Scholar)
Source: ORCID
Added: August 15, 2019

2018 article

g.citation: Scientific citation for individual GRASS GIS software modules

Löwe, P., Petras, V., Neteler, M., & Mitasova, H. (2018, September 14). (Vol. 9). Vol. 9.

By: P. Löwe *, V. Petras n , M. Neteler * & H. Mitasova  n

topics (OpenAlex): Geographic Information Systems Studies; Geological Modeling and Analysis
Source: ORCID
Added: August 15, 2019

2017 journal article

Open data and open source for remote sensing training in ecology

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS, 40, 57–61.

By: D. Rocchini *, V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , N. Horning *, L. Furtkevicova*, M. Neteler *, B. Leutner *, M. Wegmann *

author keywords: Education; Free and Open Source Software; Remote sensing; Spatial complexity; Spatial ecology
topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Scientific Computing and Data Management; Remote Sensing in Agriculture
TL;DR: The potential of open access data and open source software and the importance of the inter-linkages between these and remote sensing training, with an interdisciplinary perspective are highlighted. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries
Added: August 6, 2018

2017 journal article

Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management

ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE, 92, 176–188.

By: F. Tonini n, D. Shoemaker n, A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, V. Petras n , R. Cobb *, H. Mitasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: F. Tonini n, D. Shoemaker n, A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, V. Petras n , R. Cobb *, H. Mitasova n , R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: Stakeholder engagement; Participatory research; Geospatial modeling; Landscape epidemiology; Forest disease; Tangible user interface
topics (OpenAlex): Species Distribution and Climate Change; Land Use and Ecosystem Services; Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
TL;DR: This work applies Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems, to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
15. Life on Land (OpenAlex)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018

2016 article

Immersive Tangible Geospatial Modeling

24TH ACM SIGSPATIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCES IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS 2016).

By: P. Tabrizian n, A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

Contributors: P. Tabrizian n, A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n  & R. Meentemeyer n 

author keywords: immersive virtual environments; augmented reality; tangible user interfaces; tangible interaction; landscape modeling; head mounted display; Oculus Rift
topics (OpenAlex): Interactive and Immersive Displays; Computer Graphics and Visualization Techniques; Augmented Reality Applications
TL;DR: The Tangible Landscape Immersive Extension is presented, its physical setup and software architecture is described, and its features are demonstrated with a case study. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018

2016 conference paper

Overland flow analysis using time series of sUAS- derived elevation models

International archives of the photogrammetry remote sensing and spatial, 3(8), 159–166.

By: J. Jeziorska  n, H. Mitasova n , A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , D. Divakaran n & T. Zajkowski n

Contributors: J. Jeziorska  n, H. Mitasova n , A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , D. Divakaran n & T. Zajkowski n

topics (OpenAlex): Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications; Soil erosion and sediment transport; Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
Sources: NC State University Libraries, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018

2016 journal article

Spatio-ecological complexity measures in GRASS GIS

COMPUTERS & GEOSCIENCES, 104, 166–176.

By: D. Rocchini *, V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , Y. Chemin *, C. Ricotta *, A. Frigeri *, M. Landa *, M. Marcantonio * ...

author keywords: Free and Open Source Software; Remote sensing; Spatial complexity; Spatial ecology
topics (OpenAlex): Land Use and Ecosystem Services; Remote Sensing in Agriculture; Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
TL;DR: This paper will summarize the most straightforward measures of spatial complexity available in the Free and Open Source Software GRASS GIS, relating them to key ecological patterns and processes. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
13. Climate Action (Web of Science)
14. Life Below Water (Web of Science)
15. Life on Land (Web of Science; OpenAlex)
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries
Added: August 6, 2018

2016 conference paper

Tangible landscape: cognitively grasping the flow of water

International archives of the photogrammetry remote sensing and spatial, 41(B2), 647–653.

By: B. Harmon n, A. Petrasova n , V. Petras n , H. Mitasova n  & K. Meentemeyer  n

topics (OpenAlex): Augmented Reality Applications; Spatial Cognition and Navigation; Interactive and Immersive Displays
TL;DR: Tangible Landscape is designed, a tangible interface powered by an open source geographic information system, so that users can naturally shape topography and interact with simulated processes with their hands in order to make observations, generate and test hypotheses, and make inferences about scientific phenomena in a rapid, iterative process. (via Semantic Scholar)
Sources: NC State University Libraries, NC State University Libraries
Added: August 6, 2018

2015 journal article

Integrating Free and Open Source Solutions into Geospatial Science Education

ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION, 4(2), 942–956.

By: V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, R. Meentemeyer n  & H. Mitasova n 

Contributors: V. Petras n , A. Petrasova n , B. Harmon n, R. Meentemeyer n  & H. Mitasova n 

author keywords: online course; GRASS GIS; ArcGIS; FOSS; geospatial modeling; visualization
topics (OpenAlex): Geographic Information Systems Studies; Research Data Management Practices; Scientific Computing and Data Management
TL;DR: Only when free and open source software is fully integrated into geospatial education is able to encourage a culture of openness and, thus, enable greater reproducibility in research and development applications. (via Semantic Scholar)
UN Sustainable Development Goals Color Wheel
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
Sources: Web Of Science, NC State University Libraries, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018

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