Ryer Becker

Support the advancement of the forest operations and products manufacturing sectors through workforce development and training, applied research and diverse educational efforts.

Degrees

• Ph.D., University of Idaho, 2022
• M.S., Natural Resources, University of Idaho, 2017
• B.S., Forest Operations, Paul Smith's College, 2014
• B.S., Ecological Forest Management, Paul Smith's College, 2014
• A.A.S., Forest Technology, Paul Smith's College, 2013

Research Interests

• Workforce development
• Forest operations
• Smart forestry
• Forest products manufacturing
• Remote sensing and GIS
• Logging safety

Selected Publications

• Becker, R.M. (2024). Leveraging technology to engage the next generation of forest operations workers. Forest Resources Association, Technical Release 24-R-12.
• Becker, R.M., Keefe, R.F. (2022) A novel smartphone-based activity recognition modeling method for tracked equipment in forest operations. PLoS ONE. 17(4):e0266568. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266568
• Becker, R.M., Keefe, R.F. (2022) Development of activity recognition models for mechanical fuel treatments using consumer-grade GNSS-RF devices and lidar. Forestry. doi:10.1093/forestry/cpab058
• Becker, R.M., Keefe, R.F. (2020). Prediction of fuel loading following mastication treatments in forest stands in North Idaho, USA. Sustainability. 12(17), 7025. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12177025
• Keefe, R.F., Wempe, A.M., Becker, R.M., Zimbelman, E.G., Nagler, E.S., Gilbert, S.L., Caudill, C.C. (2019). Positioning methods and the use of location and activity data in forests. Forests. 10(5), 458. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050458
• Becker, R.M., Keefe, R.F., Anderson, N.M., Eitel, J.U.H. (2018). Use of LiDAR-derived landscape parameters to characterize alternative harvest system options in the Inland Northwest. International Journal of Forest Engineering. 29(3), 179-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/14942119.2018.1497255
• Becker, R.M., Keefe, R.K., Anderson, N.M. (2017). Use of real-time GNSS-RF data to characterize the swing movements of forestry equipment. Forests. 8(2), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/f8020044

Awards and Honors

• Western Region Technical Writing Award - Forest Resources Association, 2023
• SAF Forest Science and Technology Board Presentation Award, 2015