Songlin Fei has been selected to receive the 2025 Herbert Newby McCoy Award, Purdue University announced on Apr. 6. The award is given each year to a Purdue faculty member who has made significant contributions to the natural sciences.
Fei was chosen for his advancements in digital forestry and computational biology. As the Dean’s Chair in Remote Sensing and professor of forestry and natural resources at Purdue’s College of Agriculture, as well as director of the Institute for Digital Forestry, Fei is recognized as a leading figure in merging forest science with technology.
His team developed systems that use multiple sensors and portable backpack lidar units to measure trees over large areas efficiently. These tools have changed how forests are measured by allowing automatic inventories across hundreds of acres in one day. His research also introduced new ways to analyze ecosystem structure and sustainability through advanced data collection methods.
“This recognition reflects the collective efforts of my students, collaborators and colleagues at Purdue who share a vision of advancing digital forestry to better understand and sustain our ecosystems,” Fei said. “Purdue’s commitment to interdisciplinary innovation has made it possible to transform emerging technologies into tools that not only advance science but also address real-world challenges in natural resource management.”
Fei’s work includes AI-driven modeling, simulation, remote sensing, and collaboration with computer science researchers on AI models for reconstructing forests. He partnered with mechanical engineering experts on an application that broadens public access to forest data, and worked with graphics technology teams on drone-based tree inventory systems using multimodal artificial intelligence frameworks.
He has published more than 190 peer-reviewed articles cited over 7,500 times, was named a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2024, and received an award from the Society of American Foresters. Under his leadership at Purdue’s Institute for Digital Forestry, several educational programs have started—including a minor program and field camp—while mentoring dozens of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students.
Fei will deliver remarks at the Excellence in Research Award Lectures event scheduled from 9-11:30 a.m., May 6 at Purdue Memorial Union.
