Research & Outreach Overview:
Our research group conducts mission-oriented, applied research supported in part by USDA Hatch and Multistate funds. This work plays an important role in fulfilling the mission of the Agricultural Experiment Station at UC Riverside. We focus on developing practical solutions and science-based tools to support sustainable water management in both urban landscapes and agricultural systems. Our team conducts field trials, lab studies, and computer modeling to help communities and growers use water more efficiently while protecting natural resources. Current research areas include water conservation, smart irrigation technologies, safe use of recycled water for food production and precision agriculture. We also use advanced technologies such as drones, satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GIS), and machine learning to collect and analyze data that improve decision-making and extend the reach of our findings. Our goal is to bridge research and outreach, ensuring that our work leads to real-world impact across California and beyond.
On-going Projects:
PI: Haizhou Liu | Co-PIs: Amir Verdi, Patricia Holden, Thomas Young
This project aims to improve agriculture sustainability and agro-urban ecosystem health by developing innovative recycled water treatment technologies and management strategies for recycled wastewater irrigation in agriculture, and evaluating downstream contaminant removal from food production and water-soil-food ecosystem using edible crop irrigation research trials.
PI: Gerardo Spinelli | Co-PIs: Amir Verdi
This project will test plant physiological response to three growing media under greenhouse conditions in SCREC, Irvine, CA.
PI: Zhaowei Tan| Co-PIs: Amir Verdi
This project aims to develop AGLINK, an end-to-end system that supports remote sensing with drones and supports its communication with in situ sensors. The system will incorporate cutting-edge long-range sensor communication, customized mobile IoT gateways, and a robust cloud analysis platform.
Previous Projects:
PI: Amir Verdi
PI : Amir Haghverdi | co-PI: Don Merhaut
PI: Haizhou Liu | Co-PI: Amir Haghverdi
PI: Haizhou Liu | Co-PI: Amir Haghverdi
PI: Amir Haghverdi |Co-PI: Aliasghar Montazar
PIs : Amir Haghverdi and Mehdi Nemati
PI: Mehdi Nemati | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Amir Haghverdi, Etaferahu Takele, Janet Hartin
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Darren Haver, Laosheng Wu
(support provided by NWRI and SCSC will be graduate student fellowship to PhD student Amninder Singh)
(support provided by NWRI and SCSC will be graduate student fellowship to PhD student Amninder Singh)
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Darren Haver, Laosheng Wu, Maggie Reiter, Janet Hartin, Alireza Pourreza
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Donald Merhaut, Janet Hartin, Laurent Ahiablame
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Maggie Reiter, Alireza Pourreza, Janet Hartin
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Laosheng Wu, Janet Hartin
PI: Amir Haghverdi | Co-PIs & Collaborators: Laosheng Wu