Xingong Li

Photo of Xingong Li
  • Professor

Contact Info

Office Phone:
785-864-5545
Department Phone:
785-864-5143
Malott Hall #4029

Personal Links

Biography —

Dr. Li is a Professor of Geography with expertise in geographic information science. His current research focuses on understanding the nature of information, computation, and intelligence through the lens of life–environment interactions. His work advances spatial data analysis methods and their application to environmental mapping and analysis, with particular emphasis on surface water resources.

 Dr. Li teaches courses in geographic data analysis, GIS application programming, and geospatial technologies for water resources. He has served the department as Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, supporting curriculum development and student preparation for geospatial careers. He has also directed both the Undergraduate and Graduate GIS Certificates programs since their inception.

Research —

My current research focus on developing the Map Compute framework for spatial data analysis and advancing surface water mapping and analysis methods utilizing both optical sensors and active radar sensors and employing multi-altitude sensors that range from ground-based observations to drones and satellites. I'm also interested in exploring and understanding the nature of intelligence, computation, and information through the lens of life–environment interaction.

Research interests:

  • Surface Water Mapping and Analysis
  • Terrain Analysis
  • Generic Spatiotemporal Analysis Methods

Teaching —

Teaching interests:

  • Spatial Data Analysis
  • GIS Application Programming
  • Geospatial Technology for Water Resources

Selected Publications —

Balachandran, S., Nikrou, P., Nemnem, A., Alipour, R., Cohen, S., Li, X., Goharian, E., Imran, J., Burian, S. (2025). Rapid flood inundation mapping for dam failure and operations. Journal of Hydrology - Volume 666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134759.
Edwards, J., Gomez, F., Do, S., Weiss, D., Kastens, J., Cohen, S., Moradkhani, H., Lakshmi, V., Li, X. (2025). FLDSensing: Remote Sensing Flood Inundation Mapping with FLDPLN. Remote Sensing - Volume 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193362.
Wang, L., Wang, J., Wang, L., Zhu, L., Li, X. (2023). Lake Evaporation and Its Effects on Basin Evapotranspiration and Lake Water Storage on the Inner Tibetan Plateau. Water Resources Research - Issue 10 | Volume 59. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034030.
Wang, J., Wang, L., Li, M., Zhu, L., Li, X. (2022). Lake volume variation in the endorheic basin of the Tibetan Plateau from 1989 to 2019. Scientific Data - Issue 1 | Volume 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41597-022-01711-W.
Wang, L., Wang, J., Wang, L., Zhu, L., Li, X. (2022). Terrestrial water storage regime and its change in the endorheic Tibetan Plateau. Science of the Total Environment - Volume 815. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2021.152729.
Weekley, D., Weekley, D., Li, X. (2021). Tracking Lake Surface Elevations with Proportional Hypsometric Relationships, Landsat Imagery, and Multiple DEMs. Water Resources Research - Issue 1 | Volume 57. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR027666.
Chen, Y., She, J., Li, X., Zhang, S., Tan, J. (2020). Accurate and Efficient Calculation of Three-Dimensional Cost Distance. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information - Issue 6 | Volume 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJGI9060353.
Zhang, S., Li, X., She, J. (2020). Error assessment of grid‐based terrain shading algorithms for solar radiation modeling over complex terrain. Transactions in GIS - Issue 1 | Volume 24. https://doi.org/10.1111/TGIS.12594.
Weekley, D., Li, X. (2019). Tracking Multidecadal Lake Water Dynamics with Landsat Imagery and Topography/Bathymetry. Water Resources Research - Issue 11 | Volume 55. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025500.
Zhang, S., Li, X., She, J., Peng, X. (2019). Assimilating remote sensing data into GIS-based all sky solar radiation modeling for mountain terrain. Remote Sensing of Environment - Volume 231. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSE.2019.111239.
Coll, J., Li, X. (2018). Comprehensive accuracy assessment of MODIS daily snow cover products and gap filling methods. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing - Volume 144. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ISPRSJPRS.2018.08.004.
Grady, C., Li, X. (2018). A distributed approach for calculating inundation height based on Dijkstra's algorithm. Transactions in GIS - Issue 3 | Volume 22. https://doi.org/10.1111/TGIS.12453.
Liu, W., Li, X. (2016). Life Cycle Characteristics of Warm-Season Severe Thunderstorms in Central United States from 2010 to 2014. Climate - Issue 3 | Volume 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/CLI4030045.
She, J., Li, X. (2016). Map algebra based analysis for directed flow networks. Transactions in GIS - Issue 3 | Volume 20. https://doi.org/10.1111/TGIS.12234.
Liu, W., Li, X., Rahn, D. (2016). Storm event representation and analysis based on a directed spatiotemporal graph model. International Journal of Geographical Information Science - Issue 5 | Volume 30. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2015.1081910.
Li, X., Zhang, S., Chen, Y. (2016). Error assessment of grid-based diffuse solar radiation models. International Journal of Geographical Information Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2016.1155215.
Zhang, S., Li, X., Chen, Y. (2015). Error assessment of grid-based direct solar radiation models. International Journal of Geographical Information Science - Issue 10 | Volume 29. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2015.1055273.
She, J., Zhang, Y., Li, X., Feng, X. (2015). Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Snow Cover in the Tizinafu Watershed of the Western Kunlun Mountains. Remote Sensing - Issue 4 | Volume 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/RS70403426.
Li, X., Grady, C., Peterson, A. (2014). Delineating Sea Level Rise Inundation Using a Graph Traversal Algorithm. Marine Geodesy - Issue 2 | Volume 37. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490419.2014.902884.
French, K., Li, X. (2010). Feature‐based cartographic modelling. International Journal of Geographical Information Science - Issue 1 | Volume 24. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658810802492462.
Tucker, D., Li, X. (2009). Characteristics of warm season precipitating storms in the Arkansas–Red River basin. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres - Issue D13 | Volume 114. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD011093.
Li, X., Rowley, R., Kostelnick, J., Braaten, D., Meisel, J., Hulbutta, K. (2009). GIS Analysis of Global Impacts from Sea Level Rise. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing - Issue 7 | Volume 75. https://doi.org/10.14358/PERS.75.7.807.
Li, X., Williams, M. (2008). Snowmelt runoff modelling in an arid mountain watershed, Tarim Basin, China. Hydrological Processes - Issue 19 | Volume 22. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7098.
Li, X., Larson, C., Rex, A. (2005). Creating Buffers on Surfaces. Cartography and Geographic Information Science - Issue 3 | Volume 32. https://doi.org/10.1559/1523040054738945.
Li, X., Hodgson, M. (2004). Vector Field Data Model and Operations. GIScience and Remote Sensing - Issue 1 | Volume 41. https://doi.org/10.2747/1548-1603.41.1.1.