I am the PI of the Natural Hazards Remote Sensing Lab (NHRS) at Peking University. We focus on using remote sensing tools, e.g., Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), to characterize ground deformation and land alternations associated with geohazards and surface processes in terrestrial planets. We have been working on mapping, measuring, and monitoring landslides, aquifers, dams, mines, coasts, earthquakes, extreme precipitation events, etc. We are also dedicated to investigating their natural or anthropogenic triggerings and environmental forcings using statistical, analytical, numerical models and artificial intelligence (AI). Our multidisciplinary research spans the fields of geomatics, geophysics, hydrology, geology, tectonics, climate change, civil and environmental engineering, and computer science.

I am looking for highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are intesrested in or have research experience in AI | remote sensing | geophysical models. Research topics on landslides, coastal resilience, and other aspects of geohazards and surface/shallow processes are welcome and supported. The successful applicants should have a strong background in mathematics and have some programming skills. Please email me if you are strongly interested and engaged to learn!

Education

2014-2018               Ph.D. in Geophysics               Southern Methodist Univ. (SMU), Dallas, TX, USA

Working experience

7/2021-                  Tenure-track Assistant Professor       Peking University

8/2020-6/2021       Tenure-track Assistant Professor       University of Houston

9/2018-8/2020       Postdoctoral Researcher                    University of California, Berkeley

2014-2018              Graduate Research Assistant             Southern Methodist University

2013                      Research Assistant                             King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Selected Awards

2022             AGU Natural Hazards Early Career Award

2021             NASA New (Early Career) Investigator Program in Earth Science

2018             Chinese government award for outstanding self-finance students abroad

2015             NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship

Selected Grants

2022-2025   Joint DLR-INTA Scientific Announcement of Opportunity (PI)

Joint TSX/TDX/PAZ Characterization of Mountain Excavation and City Construction

2022-2025   The 3rd Research Announcement on the Earth Observations (60 scenes quota; PI)

Slow-moving Landslide Characterization Using SAR Remote Sensing

2021-2023   Utilization of TerraSAR-X / TanDEM-X Data for Scientific Use (150 scenes quota; PI)

High-accuracy land deformation and surface change mapping for coastal resilience

2021-2024   NASA New (Early Career) Investigator Program in Earth Science ($375,000; PI)

Four-dimensional landslide quantification in the Western U.S. using remote sensing big data

2020-2021   Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) ($20,217; Co-I)        

Separation of tectonic, hydrological and anthropogenic sources of ground deformation in Southern California

2018-2021   California Energy Commission Program grant ($148,626; PI)      

Development of an integrated methodology for assessing integrity of levees protecting natural gas infrastructure

2015-2019   NASA Earth Surface & Interior Program grant ($210,097; PI)

Environmental controls on landslide motion revealed by InSAR and pixel offset tracking

2015-2018   NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship ($104,894; PI)                         

Quantifying landslide dynamics using InSAR: applications to landslides in northwestern USA

Courses

Special Topics on Microwave Remote Sensing                     Graduate         2023F

SAR Remote Sensing (3 credits)                                         Graduate         2023S

Advanced GIS Techniques and Applications (3 credits)          Undergrad       2022F | 2023F

CIVE 7397 SAR Remote Sensing (3 credits)                         Graduate         2020 Fall @ University of Houston

Journal Publications

† Student/postdoc advisee  *Corresponding

36. Ao, Z., Hu, X.L., Tao, S.*, Hu, X., Wang, G., Li, M., Wang, F., Hu, L., Liang, X., Qi, W., Ran, Q., Yusup, A., Xiao, J., Fang, J., Chang, J., Zeng, Z., Fu, Y., Xue, B., Wang, P., Zhao, K., Li, L., Li, W., Li, Y., Jiang, M., Yang, Y., Shen, H., Zhao, X., Shi, Y., Wu, B., Yan, Z., Wang, M., Su, Y., Hu, T., Ma, Q., Bai, H., Wang, L., Yang, Z., Feng, Y., Zhang, D., Huang, E., Pan, J., Ye, H., Yang, C., Qin, Y., He, C., Guo, Y., Cheng, K., Ren, Y., Yang, H., Zheng, C., Zhu, J., Wang, S., Ji, C., Zhu, B., Liu, H., Tang, Z., Wang, Z., Zhao, S., Tang, Y., Xing, H., Guo, Q., Liu, Y., Fang, J., 2024. A national-scale assessment of land subsidence in China’s major cities. Science, 384(6693), 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl4366

35. Li, X., Yu, X.†, Burgi, P., Wald, D., Hu, X., Xu, S.*, 2024. Rapid Building Damage Estimates from the M7.8 Turkey Earthquake sequence via Causality-informed Bayesian Inference from Satellite Imagery. Earthquake Spectra (Accepted)

34. Ye, X., Zhu, H.H.*, Wu, B., Tian, F., Zhang, W., Hu, X., Schenato, L.,  Pasuto, A., Catani, F., 2024. Near-surface soil hydrothermal response feedbacks landslide activity and mechanism. Engineering Geology (Accepted)

33. Zhou, C., Cao, Y.*, Gan, L., Wang, Y., Motagh, M., Roessner, S., Hu, X., Yin, K., 2024. A novel framework for landslide displacement prediction using MT-InSAR and machine learning techniques. Engineering Geology, 334, 107497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107497

32. Thomas, J., Klida, R., Oommen, T.*, Sajinkumar, K.S., Zhang, B., Hu, X., 2024. Need for a multi-sensor monitoring approach for embankment failures: lessons learned from the Edenville Dam failure. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, 30(1-2), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.21663/EEG-D-23-00056

31. Li, Y., Cui, Y.*, Hu, X., Lu, Z., Guo, J., Wang, Y., Wang, H., Wang, S., Zhou, X., 2024. Glacier retreat in Eastern Himalaya drives catastrophic glacier hazard chain. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2024GL108202. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108202

30. Welch, J., Wang, G.*, Bao, Y., Zhang, S., Huang, G., Hu, X., 2024. Unveiling the hidden threat: drought-induced inelastic subsidence in expansive soils. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2023GL107549. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107549

29. Yu, X.†, Hu, X.*, Song, Y.†, Xu, S., Li, X., Song, X., Fan, X., Wang, F., 2024. Intelligent assessment of land surface damage in 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake by multiple remote sensing observations. npj Natural Hazards, 1, 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-024-00003-0

28. Chen, X.*, Xu, X., Ma, Y.*, Wang, G., Chen, D., Cao, D., Xu, X., Zhang, Q., Li, L., Liu, Y., Liu, L., Li, M., Luo, S., Wang, X., Hu, X., 2024. Investigation of precipitation process in the water vapor channel of the Yarlung Zsangbo Grand Canyon. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, E370–E386. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0120.2

27. Wang, F.*, Xue, P., Su, W., Hu, X., 2024. The locality-adaptation theory of traditional villages. Indoor and Built Environment, 86, 171–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X241234171

26. Yang, L., Lu, Z., Ouyang, C., Zhao, C.*, Hu, X., Zhang, Q., 2023. Glacial lake outburst hazard monitoring and flooding modeling by integrating multiple remote sensing methods and HEC-RAS. Remote Sensing, 15(22), 5327. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15225327

25. Zheng, W., Hu, J.*, Lu, Z., Hu, X., Sun, Q., Liu, J., Zhu, J., Li, Z., 2023. Enhanced kinematic inversion of 3-D displacements, geometry, and hydraulic properties of a north-south slow-moving landslide in Three Gorges Reservoir. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 128, e2022JB026232. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB026232

24. Shi, X., Hu, X.*, 2023. Characterization of landslide displacements in an active fault zone in Northwest China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5594

23. Yu, X.†*, Wang, G., Hu, X., Liu, Y., Bao, Y., 2023. Land subsidence in Tianjin, China: before and after the South-to-North Water Diversion. Remote Sensing, 15(6), 1647. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061647

22. Li, X., Dimasaka, J., Zhang, X., Yu, X.†, Wang, C., Hu, X., Noh, H. Y., Zhao, X., Xu, S.*, 2023. Seismic impacts report for M7.8 and M7.5 Turkey-Syria earthquake using near real-time crowdsourcing and remote sensing information. DesignSafe-CI.

21. Qi, S.*, Hou, X., Yu, Y., Zhang, Y., Hu, X., Zhang, L., Li, Z., Guo, S., Zhang, F., Li, T., Peng, J., 2022. Collapse and subsidence mechanism of compacted loess and suitability of mountain bulldozing and city creation projects in the Loess Plateau of China. Science Bulletin.

20. Yu, X.†, Hu, X.*, Wang, G., Wang, K., Chen, X., 2022. Machine-learning estimation of snow depth in 2021 Texas statewide winter storm using SAR imagery. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL099119. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099119

19. Zhou, C., Cao, Y., Hu, X., Yin, K.*, Wang, Y., Catani, F., 2022, Enhanced dynamic landslide hazard assessment using MT-InSAR method in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Landslides, 19, 1585–1597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01796-1

18. Hu, X.*, Xue, L., Bürgmann, R., Fu, Y., 2021, Stress perturbations from hydrological and industrial loads and seismicity in the Salt Lake City region. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126, e2021JB022362. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JB022362

17. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., Fielding, E.J., Xu, X., Zhen, L., 2021, Machine-learning characterization of tectonic, hydrological and anthropogenic sources of active ground deformation in California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126, e2021JB022373. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JB022373

16. Hu, X.*, Liang, X., Yu, Y., Guo, S., Cui, Y., Li, Y., Qi, S., 2021, Remote sensing characterization of Mountain Excavation and City Construction in Loess Plateau. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL095230. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095230

15. Shi, X.G., Hu, X.*, Sitar, N., Kayen, R., Qi, S., Jiang, H., Wang, X., 2021, Hydrological control shift from river level to rainfall in the reactivated Guobu Slope besides the Laxiwa hydropower station (China). Remote Sensing of Environment, 265, 112664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112664

14. Yu, H.†, Hu, X., 2021, Knowledge-aided InSAR phase unwrapping approach. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2021.3081039

13. Shi, G.Q., Ma, P.*, Hu, X., Song, X., Huang, B., Lin, H., 2021, Surface response and subsurface features during the restriction of groundwater exploitation in Suzhou (China) inferred from decadal SAR interferometry. Remote Sensing of Environment, 256, 112327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112327

12. Shi, Z.M., Hu, X., Wang, C.-Y.*, 2021, Hydro-mechanical coupling in the shallow crust – insight from groundwater level and satellite radar imagery in a mining area. Journal of Hydrology, 594, 125649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125649

11. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., Schulz, W., Fielding, E.J., 2020, Four-dimensional surface motions of the Slumgullion landslide and quantification of hydrometeorological forcing. Nature Communications, 11, 2792. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16617-7

10. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., 2020, Aquifer deformation and active faulting in Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116471

9. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., Fielding, E.J., Lee, H., 2020, Internal kinematics of the Slumgullion landslide (USA) from high-resolution UAVSAR InSAR data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2020.112057

8. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., 2020, Rheology of a debris slide from the joint analysis of UAVSAR and LiDAR data. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL087452. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087452

7. Hu, X.*, Bürgmann, R., Lu, Z., Handwerger, A. L., Wang, T., Miao, R., 2019, Mobility, thickness, and hydraulic diffusivity of the slow-moving Monroe landslide in California revealed by L-band satellite radar interferometry. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB017560

6. Hu, X.*, Lu, Z., Wang, T., 2018, Characterization of hydrogeological properties in Salt Lake Valley, Utah using InSAR. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004497

5. Hu, X.*, Lu, Z., Pierson, T. C., Kramer, R., George, D. L., 2018, Combining InSAR and GPS to determine transient movement and thickness of a seasonally active low‐gradient translational landslide. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 1453–1462. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL076623

4. Hu, X., Oommen, T., Lu, Z.*, Wang, T., Kim, J. W., 2017, Consolidation settlement of Salt Lake County tailings impoundment revealed by time-series InSAR observations from multiple radar satellites. Remote Sensing of Environment, 202, 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.023

3. Hu, X., Wang, T., Pierson, T. C., Lu, Z.*, Kim, J. W., Cecere, T. H., 2016, Detecting seasonal landslide movement within the Cascade landslide complex (Washington) using time-series SAR imagery. Remote Sensing of Environment, 187, 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.10.006

2. Kim, J.W., Lu, Z.*, Qu, F., Hu, X., 2015, Pre-2014 mudslides at Oso revealed by InSAR and multi-source DEM analysis. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 6(3), 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2015.1016556

1. Hu, X., Wang, T, Liao, M., 2014, Measuring coseismic displacements with point-like targets offset tracking. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, 11(1), 283–287. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2013.2256104