Derek Norpchen

Title: Visualization Scientist
Affiliation: Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Location: DRI Reno
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 775.674.7018

Professional Interests

Mr. Norpchen is a staff visualization and GIS/LiDAR scientist for the Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV. He has 10 years of 3d modeling / terrain development experience. He also has 7 years experience in GIS related products, and is currently working on his Master’s of Geography (MS) thesis at University Nevada, Reno. Mr. Norpchen has been actively involved with a variety of visualization and GIS projects at DRI. He has a passion for creating 3d terrains and implementing data into animations for scientists. He is also an associate astronomer and a board director for Space Science for Schools, and is involved with teaching students (K-12) about space and earth sciences.

Areas of Expertise and Interests

• 3d Modeling / Animations
• GIS mapping / Analysis
• GIS Data analysis / Terrain expertise
• LiDAR Scanning / Data / Analysis
• Virtual Reality maps, terrains, data inside CAVE environment
• Graphical expertise
• Surveying and DEM development
• Cartographic expertise / Map and Poster creation

Current Projects

• Data Modeling and Visualization
• Idaho National Lab / Atomic Test Reactor Visualization + Modeling
• LiDAR scanning / Idaho National Lab / Sequoia National Park Cave system
• Walker Lake Visualization
• Research Park Visualization + Modeling + LiDAR Scanning
• STTC Desert Terrain Modeling
• Mars Visualization Project
• CST Las Vegas / West Point interactive training simulation
• Hydrology, Stream Ecology, BMP animation projects
• Alaska, Antarctica, Mars Virtual Reconnaissance projects

Software

• 3d modeling (Lightwave, 3DS + Maya, Blender, NuGraf, Terragen, Bryce, FlederMaus)
• GIS (Esri, MicroDEM, 3DEM, GlobalMapper, Erdas)
• LiDAR (Cyclone, 3d Reshaper, AutoCAD, Cloudworx, Terrascan, Matlab)
• Graphics (Adobe CS, Final Cut Pro, Gimp)
• Microsoft Office