01
Hydrogeologic Modeling
Environmental systems modeling from watershed processes to groundwater flow.
CIRES Earth Lab · ESIIL · CU Boulder
Lilly Jones
PhD, Geological Engineering & Environmental Hazards Modeler
Hydrogeologic modeling. Fire–vegetation and environmental hazards. Geospatial data science.
Building reproducible computational pipelines that integrate multispectral remote sensing, large environmental datasets, and sovereignty-aligned data workflows.
Background
About
I am an instructor, hydrogeologist, and environmental hazards modeler at CIRES Earth Lab and ESIIL at the University of Colorado Boulder, working with interdisciplinary teams on predictive models that inform resilience strategies.
My research integrates multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing, large environmental datasets, and reproducible computational pipelines. Current CIRES-funded work investigates whether geospatial structure in model residuals can improve predictions in data- and sensor-poor regions.
I am also the owner and primary data scientist of Daear Consulting, LLC, partnering with Oglala Lakota College on a USDA-NIFA funded grant to build hydrologic and agricultural data cubes supporting analysis, teaching, and data sovereignty workflows.
As a Tribal college graduate and former Tribal college faculty member at Oglala Lakota College, I am committed to reproducible, sovereignty-aligned geospatial workflows that center and support Tribal partners in environmental research.
Areas of Focus
Research
02
Fire–Vegetation & Environmental Hazard Modeling
Predictive models for interacting hazards, landscapes, and resilience questions.
03
Multispectral & Hyperspectral Remote Sensing
Integrating Earth-observation data to characterize complex environmental conditions.
04
Geospatial Data Engineering
Cloud-native data cubes and reproducible pipelines for large geospatial datasets.
05
Geospatial Structure in Model Residuals
Testing whether residual patterns can improve predictions in data- and sensor-poor regions.
06
Sovereignty-Aligned Data Workflows
Partner-centered computational practices for environmental research and teaching.
Selected Work
Teach · Research · Collaborate
Teach
Systems at Play
A collection of games, puzzles, and simulations that make probability, algorithms, strategy, and complex systems tangible for learners.
Explore the collection →Research
Shadow Ecology
A research series exploring whether geospatial structure in model residuals can strengthen environmental predictions in data- and sensor-poor regions.
Explore Shadow Ecology →Collaborate
Data Cubes & Partnership
Hydrologic and agricultural data workflows designed to support analysis, teaching, and Tribal data sovereignty.
Visit Daear Consulting →Leadership & Teaching
Service
- 01
Instructor · Earth Lab and ESIIL
Teaching reproducible data science, open-source geospatial tools, and environmental analysis to emerging scientists at CU Boulder.
- 02
Former Faculty · Oglala Lakota College
Tribal college educator bringing Indigenous knowledge frameworks into Earth and environmental science curriculum.
- 03
Owner & Primary Data Scientist · Daear Consulting, LLC
Partnering with Oglala Lakota College on a USDA-NIFA funded grant to build hydrologic and agricultural data cubes for analysis, teaching, and data sovereignty workflows.