Meet our faculty & staff

Dr. Frank Zhang is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and an Associate Member of the Department of Geography, the Food and Agriculture Institute (FAI), and the Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). The head of the Digital Canopy Lab. He also holds several external leadership and service roles, including Vice-Chair of the BCCAT Computing Education Committee, Treasurer of the Western Canadian Computing Education Society (WCCES), Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee for the 2024 Western Canadian Conference on Computing Education (WCCCE), and a member of the Awards and Fellows Workgroup of the Canadian Society of Remote Sensing (CSRS).

In addition, Dr. Zhang holds adjunct professorships at Fujian Normal University and the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and serves as an editor for APSP Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology (JAET) and a reviewer for several academic journals, including MDPI Remote Sensing, Fire, Land, Forest and Sustainability.

His research focuses on leveraging advances in machine learning and deep learning to improve multi-platform remote sensing image processing and information retrieval across satellite-borne, airborne, drone, and close-range platforms. This work supports the development of robust, automated 3D modelling, monitoring, and analytic systems for environmental, economic, and social applications.

More information can be found on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kongwen-frank-zhang-257ba8111/

PhD, Earth and Space Science, Remote Sensing, York University, 2014. Dissertation Title: Exploring hyperspectral and very high spatial resolution imagery in vegetation characterization

MSc., Earth and Space Science, Remote Sensing, York University, 2008, Thesis Topic: The FIFEDOM (Frequent Image Frames Enhanced Digital Ortho-rectified Mapping) camera calibration and its applications

BASc., Geomatics Engineering with special Honours, York University, 2005, Thesis Topic: Subsurface Utility Mapping System (SUMS)

• Canadian Remote Sensing Society working group member
• IEEE member

Put student first. Education should always focus on the students' future, emphasizing both career aspirations and personal passions. Recognize and celebrate the differences and unique strengths of each individual. Teaching methods should be flexible and adaptable to meet the diverse needs of every student.

Continuously explore and evolve new teaching strategies to keep pace with technological advancements and meet the evolving needs of a new generation of students.

Leveraging advancements in machine learning and deep learning to enhance multi-platform remote sensing (e.g., satellite-borne, airborne, drone, close-range) image processing and information retrieval, enabling the development of highly robust and automated 3D modeling, monitoring, and analytic systems for environmental, economic, and social applications.

• Li, W.; Zhang, K.; Xiong, Q.; Chen, X. "Three-Dimensional Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Path Planning in Simulated Rugged Mountainous Terrain Using Improved Enhanced Snake Optimizer (IESO)". World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16, 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16060295
• Wong, T.; So, J.; and Zhang F. "A Scaffolding Framework for Multidisciplinary Learning: A Case-study of ESG, IoT and Data Analytics", proceedings of 2025 International Conference on Open and Innovative Education, Hong Kong, China, 2025.
  
• Massesa, B.; Zhang, K. F.; and Ndunguru, C., “Geotagging UAV Video Frames for Enhanced 3D Reconstruction: A DJI Flight Log Integration Approach”, proceedings of 46th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, 2025.
  
• Shi, J. ; Li, H.; Hua J.; and Zhang, K. “Individual Tree Crown Segmentation based on YOLOv5N-Seg using High Spatial Resolution Satellite Images of Tropical Rainforest”, proceedings of International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2025.
  
• Deng, R.; Yu Z.; Yu. J.; and Zhang, K. “Autofocus Back Projection Method based on Time-frequency Information of a Single Point for Airborne SAR with Nonlinear Trajectory”, proceedings of International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2025.
  
• Jiang C.; Li, H.; Jing L.; and Zhang, K. (2025) “Illuminated Road Extraction based on Deep Learning using the Nighttime Light and Multispectral Imageries of SDGSAT-1”, proceedings of International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2025.
• Miao, S., Zhang, K. F., Zeng, H., Liu, J. “Improving Artificial-Intelligence-Based Individual Tree Species Classification Using Pseudo Tree Crown Derived from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery”, Remote Sensing, 2024 16(11), 1849, doi:10.3390/rs16111849.
• Sharma, R., Zhang, K. “Conifer Tree Classification using ConvNeXt from UAV Imagery Data”, proceedings of the 45th Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2024.
• Shi, J., Li, H., Lin, Y., Jing, L., Zhang, K. “Individual tree crown delineation based on Deep Learning for ARD areas Using High resolution Satellite Imagery”, processings of the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Athens, Greece, 2024.
• Xie, Q., Li, H., Jing, L., Zhang, K. “Road Eextraction based on Deep Learning using SDGSAT-1 Nighttime Light Data”, processings of the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Athens, Greece, 2024.

Drone micro-credential development with Sea Bird Island.