Donald Robinson

Experience

• 

  ESSA Technologies Ltd

  Feb 1988 - now

  My work is focused on understanding and solving natural resource management problems in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, using skills in mathematical ecology and simulation, statistics and probability, and numerical methods.I have over 30 years’ experience in quantitative ecological modeling and analysis and work to apply these skills to the development of approaches and software tools that increase understanding of natural systems, strengthening decision making for natural resource management. I have an ongoing interest in spatial modeling of natural systems and in the development of cross-scale approaches to spatial processes. My skills include the development and implementation of numerous simulation models for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems; comprehensive understanding of a wide range of statistical methods and probability theory to address uncertainty; years of applied experience in theoretical and mathematical ecology and numerical methods, and multivariate visualization. I recently worked as part of a team that created an open source version of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) model, developing tools that enable the application of this model across multiple platforms. I have also participated in the development of the application program interface which allows the FVS model to be embedded in other forest management systems. I'm also an active member of the team developing and applying the Ecological Flows Tool (EFT), a simulation system which evaluates the effects of different water management scenarios on over 30 ecologically sensitive species in the Sacramento River basin. In related work I have worked with colleagues at ESSA and TNC to develop and implement of a novel cloud-based optimization paradigm called “Turn Taking Optimization,” demonstrating ways to flexibly manage the Sacramento River and Delta hydrosystem to meet multiple ecological objectives without sacrificing agricultural and social water needs. Show less

  • Assoc. Sr. Systems Ecologist

    Nov 2023 - now

  • Sr. Systems Ecologist

    Feb 1988 - Oct 2023