Dr. Jonathan Thayn
Professor
Office
FHS Felmley Hall Of Science 200a
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Selected Research
Biography
I grew up in a relatively small coal-mining community in southeastern Utah, halfway between the Book Cliff Mountains and the desert of the San Rafael Swell. My interest in geography first took root as I hiked, explored and camped with my family and friends in the wilderness around my home. Fieldwork continues to be a principal element of my research, which focuses on understanding landscape-scale ecosystems, their response to perturbation, and their seasonal variations. My primary tools are remote sensing, GIS and statistical spatial analysis.
Current Courses
GEO 344.001 Biogeography: Distribution of Life
GEO 445.001 Biogeography: Distribution of Life
GEO 293.001 Career Preparation in Environmental Systems
GEO 287.006 Independent Study - Geography
GEO 398.001 Professional Practice: Internship in Environmental Systems
GEO 308.001 Statistics for Geographers II
GEO 408.001 Statistics For Geologists
Teaching Interests & Areas
I am a proponent of research-based learning. My remote sensing and biogeography courses are built around research projects. Students typically complete the bulk of the project during the semester with the goal of submitting the completed work to scientific peer-review. This holds students’ attention, introduces them to research and the value of the material discussed in class, and introduces a sense of authenticity to coursework. Smaller research projects are used in my geography of Latin America course.
Research Interests & Areas
Most of my work focuses on characterizing and modeling landscape-scale ecosystem function and response to perturbation using time-series' of satellite imagery. I am particularly interested in applications associated with agriculture, grassland and forest ecosystems, and archaeology. Much of my work is done in the Great Plains region of the United States and in Latin America.
Other
Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas (CICIMAR)
La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Other Remote Pilot Certification
Parkland College
Champaign, Illinois
Ph D Geography
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Other Geography
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, Texas
MA Public Administration
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
BS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Cartography
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
AA Spanish
College of Eastern Utah
Price, Utah
Douglas Clay Ridgley Endowed Fellow
Illinois State University
2018
Kenneth A. and Mary Ann Shaw Teaching Fellowship
College of Arts and Sciences, Illinois State University
2017
Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Pre-Tenure
College of Arts and Sciences
2014
Research Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2014
Douglas Clay Ridgley Endowed Fellow
Illinois State University
2013
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
Robert N. Colwell Memorial Fellowship
2008
Eugene Dehner Award
Kansas Academy of Science
2008
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
Ta Liang Memorial Award
2007
Francis E. "Gene" Lortz Memorial Award
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
2006
Grants and Contracts
Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship (ARCS)
Lea Kimberly Cline, Katie Jasper, Abigail Chipps Stone, John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Illinois State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies. October 1 2025 - September 30 2026
Advancing Research and Creative Scholarship (ARCS)
Lea Kimberly Cline, Katie Jasper, Abigail Chipps Stone, John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Illinois State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies. August 2023 - June 2025
Combining Deep Learning, Drones and Cloud Computing for Weed Growth-Stage and Proliferation Detection
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, John Christian Kostelnick.
Illinois Innovation Network. July 1 2023 - June 30 2024
Vertical Assets Mapping for Broadband Breakthrough – Phases 1 and 2
John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Illinois Soy Bean Association. 2023 - 2024
Mapping and Spatial Analysis of Rural Broadband Access and Quality to Develop a Roadmap for Smart Farming in Illinois
John C Kostelnick, Jonathan B Thayn, .
Illinios Innovation Network. July 1 2021 - June 30 2021
Cherokee Towns at the Time of Spanish Contact: Discovering the Genesis of the Overhill Cherokees
Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Elizabeth Scott.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation. May 1 2013 - May 20 2014
Modeling the Spread of Invasive Insects using Circular Probabilities: A Case Study - Gypsy Moths in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
NSF Geography and Spatial Sciences. 2013 - 2015
Promoting Students' Spatial Thinking in Upper Elementary Grades using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, May Jadallah.
NSF DRK-12. 2013 - 2015
Building In-Field and Off-Field Nutrient Practices to Reduce Nutrient Export, Improve Drinking Water Quality, and Address Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). 2012 - 2014
Flood Regimes and Carbon Cycling in Anthropogenic Landscapes of the Bolivian Amazon
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
NASA, Space Archaeology Grant. 2012 - 2014
ASPRS Student Assistant Scholarship
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. - 2008
ASPRS Student Travel Grant
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. - 2007
ASPRS Ta Liang Memorial Award
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. - 2007
Alaska Satellite Facility JERS-1 Imagery
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
NASA. - 2008
Cherokee Towns at the Time of Spanish Contact
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation. - 2013
Development of a Tile Drainage Mapping System in Central Illinois
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
The Environmental Defense Fund. - 2011
Eugene Dehner Award
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Kansas Academy of Science. - 2008
Francis E. "Gene" Lortz Memorial Scholarship
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ASPRS Central Region. - 2006
Locating Amazonian Dark Earths
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Kansas Academy of Science, Student Research Grant. - 2006
Monitoring the Effect of Possible Climate Change on the Phenology of Corn, Soy and Prairie Grasses in Central Illinois
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU New Faculty Initiative Grant. - 2009
Promoting Students’ Spatial Reasoning: Using Geographic Information Systems in Upper Elementary Grades
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, May Jadallah.
ISU Cross-Disciplinary Grant Development Program. - 2012
Robert N. Colwell Memorial Fellowship
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. - 2008
Spatial Filtering with Eigenvector Approach Scholarship
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
University of Texas at Dallas. - 2008
Training K-12 Grade Teachers to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in their Classrooms
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, May Jadallah.
ISU CeMaST Professional Innovation Grant. - 2010
University of Kansas Graduate Student Paper Presenter Travel Grant
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
University of Kansas. - 2007
Book, Chapter
Translating Tastes: A Cartography of Chocolate Colonialism
Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
(2017), Substance and Seduction: Ingested Commodities in Early Modern Mesoamerica, University of Texas Press
Locating Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) using satellite remote sensing - a possible approach
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, K P Price, W I Woods.
(2008), Amazonian Dark Earths: Wim Sombroek’s Vision
Journal Article
Controls on Longitudinal Stream Profile Evolution in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Samuel Schoenmann, Lisa Tranel, Eric Peterson, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Annals of the American Association of Geographers, (2025), https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2025.2511941
Designing optimal middle-mile network architecture for smart farming applications in rural areas
Mousumi Bhattacharyya, Sadip Midya, Bhabani P Sinha, Anupam Ghosh, John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Sri Jyothi Chinta, Koushik Sinha.
Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering, (2024)
Mapping and spatial analysis to expand rural broadband access
John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Koushik Sinha.
Papers in Applied Geography, 10 (2), 154-175, (2024)
Detecting Geo-Positional Bias in Imagery Collected Using Small UASs
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Aaron M. Paque, Megan C. Maher.
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 87 (9), 631-638, (2021)
Detecting Narrow Mangrove Stands in Baja California Sur, Mexico using Linear Spectral Unmixing and LandSat 8 Data
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Marine Geodesy, 43 (5), 493-508, (2020)
Predicting gypsy moth population size in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park using a satellite disturbance index
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Courtney Ballard, Emily Eichholzer, John Richards, Jordan Hawks, Mike Genard.
Geographical Bulletin, 59, 116-127, (2018)
Integrating geospatial technologies in fifth-grade curriculum: Impact on spatial ability and map-analysis skills
May Jadallah, Alycia Marilyn Hund, PhD, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Joel Garth Studebaker, Zachary J Roman, Elizabeth Kirby.
Journal of Geography, 116 (4), 139--151, (2017)
Refining Hernando de Soto’s route using Electric Circuit Theory and CircuitScape
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck, Matthew Spaccapaniccia.
Professional Geographer, 68 (4), 595-602, (2016)
Geographic Information System Modeling of De Soto’s Route from Joara to Chiaha: Archaeology and Anthropology of Southeastern Road Networks in the Sixteenth Century
Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Howard H Earnest, Jr.
American Antiquity, 80 (1), 46–66, (2015)
Monitoring fire recovery in a tallgrass prairie using a weighted disturbance index
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Korey Buss.
GIScience and Remote Sensing, 52 (5), 527-542, (2015)
Improved Monitoring of Forest Disturbance and Succession Using an Optimized Satellite Image Index
Matthew Klotzbach, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
The Geographical Bulletin, 55 (2), 97, (2014)
Accounting for spatial autocorrelation in linear regression models using spatial filtering with eigenvectors
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Joseph M Simanis.
Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 103 (1), (2013)
The affects of spatial patterns of neighborhood risk factors on adverse birth outcomes
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Elizabeth Miklya Legerski.
The Social Science Journal, 50, 635-645, (2013)
Using a remotely sensed optimized Disturbance Index to detect insect defoliation in the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, USA
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Remote Sensing of Environment, 136, 210-217, (2013), 10.1016/j.rse.2013.05.008
Assessing vegetation cover on the date of satellite-derived start-of-season
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Remote Sensing Letters, 3 (8), 721-728, (2012)
Locating Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE) using Vegetation Vigour as a Surrogate for Soil Type
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kevin P. Price, William I Woods.
International Journal of Remote Sensing, 32 (21), 6713-6729, (2011)
Julian dates and introduced temporal error in remote sensing vegetation phenology studies
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kevin P. Price.
Intenational Journal of Remote Sensing, 29 (20), 6045-6049, (2008)
Rangeland biocomplexity and cattle stocking rates in Kansas
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kevin P. Price, Randall B. Boone.
Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 111 (3/4), 292-300, (2008)
Map/Diagram/Artwork
Hernando de Soto's Route Across the Appalachian Mountains
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Kathryn Elizabeth Sampeck.
Pearson Press, (2017)
A Cartography of Chocolate
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
The Recipes Project: Food, Magic, Art, Science, and Medicine, (2015)
Various Maps of Civil War Battle Fields
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
University Press of Kansas, (2008)
Map of the Eastern Mediterranean
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Johns Hopkins University Press, (2006)
Various Historical Maps of Russia
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Cornell University Press, (2006)
Various Maps Depicting the Korean War
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
University Press of Kansas, (2006)
Various Maps Showing Spanish Colonial Textile Shipments
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Palgrave Macmillan, (2006)
Technical Report
Mapping Tile-Drained Agricultural Lands
Jonathan Boyd Thayn, M Campbell, T Deloriea.
Institute for Geospatial Analysis and Mapping (GEOMAP) at Illinois State University, (2011)
Presentations
Characterizing Trends in Primary Productivity in the Sea of Cortes
Mary K Thayn, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
CLAG Annual Meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, January 8, 2026
Comprehensive Watershed Changes of the Endorheic Lago Atitlán of Western Guatemala
Wesley Lebron, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
West Lakes AAG Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 24, 2025
Integrating Machine Learning into Environmental Health Risks Across U.S. Census Tracts
Nicholas Marchelewicz, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
West Lakes AAG Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 24, 2025
Remote Sensing of Vegetation
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU MANRRS, Normal, Illinois, October 7, 2025
Processing Drone Images using Machine Learning AI
Jaylon Newsom, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Normal, Illinois, April 11, 2025
Assessing the impacts of chloride concentration on nitrate loss in sediment using column studies
Zainab Suleiman, Eric Peterson, Lisa Tranel, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
GSA 2025 Joint Northeastern/North-Central Section Meeting, Erie, PA, March 30, 2025
Working as a Geographer
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Urbana High School, Urbana, Illinois, December 3, 2024
50 years of change: Arches National Park
Liv Durica, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU GIS Day, Normal, Illinois, November 15, 2023
Influence of tile water on nitrate concentrations in the groundwater: A case study of a saturated riparian buffer zone, McLean County, central Illinois
Aminat Abdulsalam, Eric Peterson, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, William Perry.
The Geological Society of America Connects 2023, Pittsburgh, PA, October 17, 2023
Assessment of spatial and temporal variations in chloride concentration in an agricultural tile-drained area in central Illinois
Okiemute Commander, Eric Peterson, Catherine O'Reilly, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, William Perry, Rick Twait.
Illinois Groundwater Association Spring Meeting, Normal, IL, April 14, 2023
Jackrabbits or Cotton-Tails?
Indira Robinson, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Normal, Illinois, April 14, 2023
Monitoring Invasive Species Dieback in Response to an Introduced Predator
Jake Brasen, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
ISU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Normal, Illinois, April 14, 2023
Mapping to Support Rural Broadband Access
John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Broadband Breakthrough Workshop, Online, February 9, 2023
Toolkit for Expanding Broadband in Rural Areas with GIS and Remote Sensing
John Christian Kostelnick, Sara Schelinski, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Koushik Sinha, Ryan Hogan, Eric Richmond.
Rural Broadband Infrastructure Planning Tool Program Workshop, Normal, Illinois, December 2, 2022
Analyzing rural broadband access for agriculture in Illinois with GIS and remote sensing
John Christian Kostelnick, Sara Schelinski, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Ryan Hogan, Eric Richmond, Koushik Sinha.
Illinois Innovation Network Research Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, November, 2022
GIS and Remote Sensing Methodologies to Analyze Rural Broadband Access for Agriculture in Illinois
John Christian Kostelnick, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Koushik Sinja, Sara Schelinski.
ILGISA Annual Meeting, Normal, Illinois, October 17, 2022
Assessment of spatial and temporal variations in chloride concentration in an agricultural tile-drained area in central Illinois
Okiemute Commander, Eric Peterson, Catherine O'Reilly, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, William Perry, Rick Twait.
The Geological Society of America Connects 2022, Denver, CO, October 10, 2022
Mapping and spatial analysis of rural broadband access for agriculture in Illinois
John Christian Kostelnick, Sara Schelinski, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Koushik Sinja.
Southwest Illinois Rural Broadband Workshop, Glen Carbon, Illinois, June, 2022
Mapping and spatial analysis of rural broadband access to agriculture in Illinois
John Christian Kostelnick, Sara Schelinski, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, Koushik Sinja.
AAG Annual Meeting, Online, February, 2022
Remote Sensing the Sea of Cortés
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Graduate Colloquia, Ames, Iowa, October 15, 2021
Mapping Subsurface Tile Drainage Systems in Agricultural Fields Using Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)-Based Radiometric Thermal and Optical Sensors
Tewodros Tilahun, Wondwosen Seyoum, Jonathan Thayn.
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 10, 2019
Invigorating Learning with Genuine Research Experiences
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Geography Education in the 21st Century Conference, Normal, Illinois, November 2, 2019
Assessing the Accuracy of Drones and GPS Devices
Aaron Paque, Jonathan Boyd Thayn, L Gallagher, M Maher.
Illinois GIS Association (ILGISA) Annual Conference, Normal, Illinois, October 21, 2019
Environmental Research in Latin America
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Peace Corp Recruitment, Normal, Illinois, February 26, 2019
The Environmental Geography of Baja California Sur
Jonathan Boyd Thayn.
Colloquia Series, Normal, Illinois, October 26, 2018