Alfonso Torres-Rua

Publications | Abstracts

• Black, B.L, Cardon, G., Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., (2025). Enhancing uniformity in tart cherry orchards through precision management and variable rate fertilization. *
• Yost, M., Barker, B., Torres-Rua, A., (2025). Estimating evapotranspiration of various agricultural water optimization practices using soil moisture sensors. *
• Singh, T., Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., Barker, B., (2025). Estimating evapotranspiration of various agricultural water optimization practices using soil moisture sensors. *
• Hashemi, M., Singh, T., Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., Barker, B., (2025). Evaluating Openet Products to Assess Agriculture Water Optimization Practices in the Colorado River and Great Salt Lake Basins. *
• Hashemi, M., Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., Barker, B., (2025). Evaluating water optimization strategies for agriculture in the Colorado River and the Great Basin Watersheds. *
• Singh, T., Hashemi, M., Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., Barker, B., (2025). Using soil moisture sensors to evaluate water use and efficiency of water optimization options for the intermountain west. *
• Yost, M., Torres-Rua, A., (2023). Closed loop alfalfa monitoring to improve irrigation efficiency. American Water Resources Association Annual Meeting *
• Capcha, K.M, Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kopp, K., Straw, C., Duran, M., Osorio, K., Alvarez, S., Gowing, I., Coopman, C., (2023). Spatial estimation of actual evapotranspiration and turfgrass quality on golf courses using remote sensing information. ASA/CSSA/SSSA
• Stewart, S., Hipps, L.E, Torres-Rua, A., (2023). Multi-Approach Evaprotranspiration Estimates for Irrigation Plot Research. American Society of Civil Engineers World Environmental and Water Resources Congress *
• Meza-Capcha, K., Torres-Rua, A., Gao, R., Hargreaves, O., Osorio, K., Hipps, L., Kopp, K., Christiansen, L., Gowing, I., Coopmans, C., (2022). Estimation of leaf area index in urban turfgrass using high resolution multispectral imagery for the two-source energy balance model. American Geophysical Union

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Curriculum

• Meza, K., Bateni, S., Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Remote Sensing Applications in Irrigation. HydroLearn

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

• dos Santos Safre, A.L, Black, B.L, Wedegaertner, K., Torres-Rua, A., Cardon, G., (2025). Development of a low-cost yield monitor system for tart cherries. Precision Agriculture, 26:6, doi: 10.1007/s11119-025-10299-1
• Meza, K., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kopp, K., Straw, C.M, Kustas, W.P, Christiansen, L., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., (2025). Relating spatial turfgrass quality to actual evapotranspiration for precision golf course irrigation. Crop Science, 65:1, doi: 10.1002/csc2.21446
• Safre, A., Torres-Rua, A., Black, B.L, Wedegaertner, K., Cardon, G., (2025). Development of a low-cost yield monitor system for tart cherry mechanical harvesting. Precision Agriculture, 26, 103. doi: 10.1007/s11119-025-10299-1
• Jarro-Espinal, I., Huanuqueño-Murillo, J., Quille-Mamani, J., Quispe-Tito, D., Ramos-Fernández, L., Pino-Vargas, E., Torres-Rua, A., (2025). Field-Scale Rice Yield Prediction in Northern Coastal Region of Peru Using Sentinel-2 Vegetation Indices and Machine Learning Models. Agriculture, 15:19, 2054. doi: 10.3390/agriculture15192054
• Safre, A.L, Torres-Rua, A., Black, B.L, Young, S., (2025). Deep learning framework for fruit counting and yield mapping in tart cherry using YOLOv8 and YOLO11. Smart Agricultural Technology, 11, 100948. doi: 10.1016/j.atech.2025.100948
• Sewell, A., Payne, E., Coopmans, C., Torres-Rua, A., Petruzza, S.N, (2025). Towards Real-Time SLAM-Based Orthomosaic Generation for High-Resolution Scientific Multi-Band sUAS Imagery: 2025 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS). IEEE, 264-271. doi: 10.1109/icuas65942.2025.11007794 *
• Ramos-Fernández, L., Peña-Amaro, R., Huanuqueño-Murillo, J., Quispe-Tito, D., Maldonado-Huarhuachi, M., Heros-Aguilar, E., Flores del Pino, L., Pino-Vargas, E., Quille-Mamani, J., Torres-Rua, A., (2024). Water Use Efficiency in Rice Under Alternative Wetting and Drying Technique Using Energy Balance Model with UAV Information and AquaCrop in Lambayeque, Peru. Remote Sensing, 16:20, 3882. doi: 10.3390/rs16203882
• Torres-Rua, A., Black, B.L, Cardon, G., (2024). Advanced methods for yield mapping in tart cherries: Tank change tracking and YOLO-DeepSort Fruit counting. Acta Horticulturae, 1395, 289-296. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1395.38 *
• Black, B.L, Cardon, G., Torres-Rua, A., (2024). Assessing the relationship between soil variability, canopy density, and yield in Utah tart cherry orchards. Acta Horticulturae, 1395, 157-162. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1395.21 *
• Anderson, M.C, Kustas, W.P, Norman, J.M, Diak, G.T, Hain, C.R, Gao, F., Yang, Y., Knipper, K.R, Xue, J., Yang, Y., Crow, W.T, Holmes, T.R, Nieto, H., Guzinski, R., Otkin, J.A, Mecikalski, J.R, Cammalleri, C., Torres-Rua, A., Zhan, X., Fang, L., Colaizzi, P.D, Agam, N., (2024). A brief history of the thermal IR-based Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) model – diagnosing evapotranspiration from plant to global scales. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 350
• Quispe-Tito, D.J, Ramos-Fernández, L., Pino-Vargas, E., Quille-Mamani, J., Torres-Rua, A., (2024). RPAS para precisión de la evapotranspiración en arrozales y reducir el consumo de agua. Agronomía Mesoamericana, 56529. doi: 10.15517/am.2024.56529
• Ramos-Fernández, L., Gonzales-Quiquia, M., Huanuqueño-Murillo, J., Tito-Quispe, D., Heros-Aguilar, E., Flores del Pino, L., Torres-Rua, A., (2024). Water Stress Index and Stomatal Conductance under Different Irrigation Regimes with Thermal Sensors in Rice Fields on the Northern Coast of Peru. Remote Sensing, 16:5, 796. doi: 10.3390/rs16050796
• Bambach, N., Knipper, K., McElrone, A.J, Nocco, M., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W., Anderson, M., Castro, S., Edwards, E., Duran-Gomez, M., Gal, A., Tolentino, P., Wright, I., Roby, M., Gao, F., Alfieri, J., Prueger, J., Hipps, L.E, Saa, S., (2024). The Tree-Crop Remote Sensing of Evapotranspiration Experiment (T-REX): A Science-Based Path for Sustainable Water Management and Climate Resilience. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 105:1, E257-E284. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-22-0118.1
• Meza, K., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W.P, Gao, R., Christiansen, L., Kopp, K., Nieto, H., Burchard-Levine, V., Martin, M.P, Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., (2023). Spatial estimation of actual evapotranspiration over irrigated turfgrass using sUAS thermal and multispectral imagery and TSEB model. Irrigation Science, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00899-y
• Moyers, K., Sabie, R., Waring, E., Preciado, J., Naughton, C.C, Harmon, T., Safeeq, M., Torres-Rua, A., Fernald, A., Viers, J.H, (2023). A Decade of Data‐Driven Water Budgets: Synthesis and Bibliometric Review. Water Resources Research, 59:11, doi: 10.1029/2022wr034310
• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., Nieto, H., Zahn, E., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W.P, Alsina, M.M, Bambach, N., Castro, S.J, Prueger, J.H, Alfieri, J., McKee, L.G, White, W.A, Gao, F., McElrone, A.J, Anderson, M., Knipper, K., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., Agam, N., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2023). ET Partitioning Assessment Using the TSEB Model and sUAS Information across California Central Valley Vineyards. Remote Sensing, 15:3, 756. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15030756
• Machaca-Pillaca, R., Pino-Vargas, E., Ramos-Fernández, L., Quille-Mamani, J., Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Estimación de la evapotranspiración con fines de riego en tiempo real de un olivar a partir de imágenes de un drone en zonas áridas, caso La Yarada, Tacna, Perú. Idesia (Arica), 40:2, 55-65. doi: 10.4067/s0718-34292022000200055
• Safre, A., Torres-Rua, A., Nassar, A., Aboutalebi, M., Saad, J.C, Manzione, R.L, de Castro Teixeira, A.H, Prueger, J.H, McKee, L.G, Alfieri, J.G, Hipps, L.E, Nieto, H., White, W.A, del Mar Alsina, M., Sanchez, L., Kustas, W.P, Dokoozlian, N., Gao, F., Anderson, M.C, (2022). Performance of Sentinel-2 SAFER ET model for daily and seasonal estimation of grapevine water consumption. Irrigation Science, 40:4-5, 635-654. doi: 10.1007/s00271-022-00810-1
• Pino-Vargas, E., Taya-Acosta, E., Ingol-Blanco, E., Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Deep Machine Learning for Forecasting Daily Potential Evapotranspiration in Arid Regions, Case: Atacama Desert Header. Agriculture, 12:12, 1971. doi: 10.3390/agriculture12121971
• Crump, M.S, Singleton, P., Torres-Rua, A., Pack, A.B, (2022). Active Transportation Routes Using Canal Corridors: Decision Tools in Creating Successful Canal Trail Projects. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 148:3, doi: 10.1061/(asce)up.1943-5444.0000854
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, A., Prueger, J.H, McKee, L., Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2022). Downscaling UAV land surface temperature using a coupled wavelet-machine learning-optimization algorithm and its impact on evapotranspiration. Irrigation Science, 40:4-5, 553-574. doi: 10.1007/s00271-022-00801-2
• Kang, Y., Gao, F., Anderson, M., Kustas, W., Nieto, H., Knipper, K., Yang, Y., White, W., Alfieri, J., Torres-Rua, A., Alsina, M.M, Karnieli, A., (2022). Evaluation of satellite Leaf Area Index in California vineyards for improving water use estimation. Irrigation Science, 40:4-5, 531-551. doi: 10.1007/s00271-022-00798-8
• Crump, M., Singleton, P., Torres-Rua, A., Pack, A., (2022). Active transportation routes using canal corridors: Decision tools in creating successful canal trail projects. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 148:3, 04022030. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000854
• Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., Garcia-Tejera, O., Bambach, N., McElrone, A.J, Gao, F., Alfieri, J.G, Hipps, L.E, Prueger, J.H, Torres-Rua, A., Anderson, M.C, Knipper, K., Alsina, M.M, McKee, L.G, Zahn, E., Bou-Zeid, E., Dokoozlian, N., (2022). Impact of advection on two-source energy balance (TSEB) canopy transpiration parameterization for vineyards in the California Central Valley. Irrigation Science, 40:4-5, 575-591. doi: 10.1007/s00271-022-00778-y
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, A., Prueger, J.H, McKee, L., Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2022). Downscaling UAV land surface temperature using a coupled wavelet-machine learning-optimization algorithm and its impact on evapotranspiration. Irrigation Science, 40:4-5, 553-574.
• Gao, R., del Mar Alsina, M., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W.P, White, W.A, Anderson, M., Alfieri, J.G, Dokoozlian, N., Nieto, H., Gao, F., McKee, L.G, Prueger, J.H, Sanchez, L., McElrone, A.J, Bambach-Ortiz, N., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Exploratory analysis of vineyard leaf water potential against UAS multispectral and temperature information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VII. SPIE *
• Gao, R., del Mar Alsina, M., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W.P, White, W.A, Anderson, M., Alfieri, J.G, Dokoozlian, N., Nieto, H., Gao, F., McKee, L.G, Prueger, J.H, Sanchez, L., McElrone, A.J, Bambach-Ortiz, N., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Exploratory analysis of vineyard leaf water potential against UAS multispectral and temperature information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VII. SPIE *
• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., Aboutalebi, M., White, W.A, Anderson, M., Kustas, W.P, Agam, N., Alsina, M.M, Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Dokoozlian, N., Nieto, H., Gao, F., McKee, L.G, Prueger, J.H, Sanchez, L., Mcelrone, A.J, Bambach-Ortiz, N., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., (2022). LAI estimation across California vineyards using sUAS multi-seasonal multi-spectral, thermal, and elevation information and machine learning. Irrigation Science
• Tunca, E., Köksal, E.S, Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., (2022). Estimation of bell pepper evapotranspiration using two-source energy balance model based on high-resolution thermal and visible imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 16:02, doi: 10.1117/1.jrs.16.022204
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W., McKee, M., Stevens, D.K, Nieto, H., Keller, D., Gowing, I., Coopmans, C., (2022). Using Remote Sensing to Estimate Scales of Spatial Heterogeneity to Analyze Evapotranspiration Modeling in a Natural Ecosystem. Remote Sensing, 14:2, 372. doi: 10.3390/rs14020372
• Machaca-Pillaca, R., Pino-Vargas, E., Ramos-Fernández, L., Quille-Mamani, J., Torres-Rua, A., (2022). Estimation of evapotranspiration for irrigation purposes in real time of an olive grove from drone images in arid areas, case of La Yarada, Tacna, Peru. Idesia, 40:2, 55-65.
• Nassar, A.M, Torres-Rua, A., Merwade, V., Dey, S., Zhao, L., Kim, I.L, Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., Hipps, L.E, Gao, R., others, , (2021). Development of high performance computing tools for estimation of high-resolution surface energy balance products using sUAS information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VI. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers - Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VI, 11747, 117470K. *
• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., Nassar, A., Alfieri, J., Aboutalebi, M., Hipps, L.E, Ortiz, N.B, Mcelrone, A.J, Coopmans, C., Kustas, W., others, , (2021). Evapotranspiration partitioning assessment using a machine-learning-based leaf area index and the two-source energy balance model with sUAV information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VI. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers - Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping VI, 11747, 117470N. *
• GOMES, M.D, ROMÁN, R.M, Torres-Rua, A., ÁLVES, É.D, McKee, M., (2021). COMPARAÇÃO DO NDVI OBTIDO POR MEIO DE DRONE E SATÉLITE NAS FASES FENOLÓGICAS DA VIDEIRA. IRRIGA – Brazilian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 26:3, 605-619.
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W., Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Prueger, J., Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, W., McKee, L., Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2021). Assessing Daily Evapotranspiration Methodologies from One-Time-of-Day sUAS and EC Information in the GRAPEX Project. Remote Sensing, 13:15, 2887. doi: 10.3390/rs13152887
• Xue, J., Anderson, M.C, Gao, F., Hain, C., Sun, L., Yang, Y., Knipper, K.R, Kustas, W.P, Torres-Rua, A., Schull, M., (2020). Sharpening ECOSTRESS and VIIRS land surface temperature using harmonized Landsat-Sentinel surface reflectances. Remote Sensing of Environment, 251, 112055. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2020.112055
• Parajuli, K., Jones, S.B, Tarboton, D.G, Hipps, L.E, Zhao, L., Sadeghi, M., Rockhold, M.L, Torres-Rua, A., Flerchinger, G.N, (2020). Stone Content Influence on Land Surface Model Simulation of Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration at Reynolds Creek Watershed. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 21:8, 1889-1904. doi: 10.1175/JHM-D-19-0075.1
• Parajuli, K., Jones, S.B, Tarboton, D.G, Hipps, L.E, Zhao, L., Sadeghi, M., Rockhold, M.L, Torres-Rua, A., Flerchinger, G.N, (2020). Stone Content Influence on Land Surface Model Simulation of Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration at Reynolds Creek Watershed. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 21:8, 1889-1904. doi: 10.1175/jhm-d-19-0075.1
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., McKee, M., Hipps, L.E, Alfieri, J.G, Prueger, J.H, Alsina, M.M, McKee, L.G, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). Implications of soil and canopy temperature uncertainty in the estimation of surface energy fluxes using TSEB2T and high-resolution imagery in commercial vineyards: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, doi: 10.1117/12.2558715 *
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., McKee, M., Hipps, L.E, Alfieri, J.G, Prueger, J.H, Alsina, M.M, McKee, L.G, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). Implications of soil and canopy temperature uncertainty in the estimation of surface energy fluxes using TSEB2T and high-resolution imagery in commercial vineyards: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, doi: 10.1117/12.2558715 *
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., McKee, M., Hipps, L.E, Alfieri, J.G, Prueger, J.H, Mar Alsina, M., McKee, L.G, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). To what extent does the Eddy Covariance footprint cutoff influence the estimation of surface energy fluxes using two source energy balance model and high-resolution imagery in commercial vineyards: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, 11414, doi: 10.1117/12.2558777 *
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., McKee, M., Hipps, L.E, Alfieri, J.G, Prueger, J.H, Mar Alsina, M., McKee, L.G, Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). To what extent does the Eddy Covariance footprint cutoff influence the estimation of surface energy fluxes using two source energy balance model and high-resolution imagery in commercial vineyards: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, 11414, doi: 10.1117/12.2558777 *
• Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A.M, Aboutalebi, M., Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, A., Prueger, J.H, Alfieri, J.G, Hipps, L.E, McKee, L.G, Kustas, W.P, Coopmans, C., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). Estimation of evapotranspiration and energy fluxes using a deep-learning-based high-resolution emissivity model and the two-source energy balance model with sUAS information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, 11414, doi: 10.1117/12.2558824 *
• Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A.M, Aboutalebi, M., Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, A., Prueger, J.H, Alfieri, J.G, Hipps, L.E, McKee, L.G, Kustas, W.P, Coopmans, C., Dokoozlian, N., Thomasson, J.A, Torres-Rua, A., (2020). Estimation of evapotranspiration and energy fluxes using a deep-learning-based high-resolution emissivity model and the two-source energy balance model with sUAS information: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping V, 11414, doi: 10.1117/12.2558824 *
• Chavez, J., Torres-Rua, A., Boldt, W.E, Zhang, H., Robertson, C., Marek, G., Wang, D., Heeren, D., Taghvaeian, S., Neale, C.M, (2020). A Decade of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Irrigated Agriculture in the Western US. Applied Engineering in Agriculture ASABE, 36:4, 423-436. doi: 10.13031/aea.13941
• Nassar, A., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W., Nieto, H., McKee, M., Hipps, L.E, Stevens, D.K, Alfieri, J., Prueger, J., Alsina, M.M, McKee, L., Coopmans, C., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2020). Influence of Model Grid Size on the Estimation of Surface Fluxes Using the Two Source Energy Balance Model and sUAS Imagery in Vineyards. Remote Sensing, 12:3, 342. doi: 10.3390/rs12030342
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, H., Alsina, M.M, White, W., Prueger, J.H, McKee, L., Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Coopmans, C., Dokoozlian, N., (2019). Incorporation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Point Cloud Products into Remote Sensing Evapotranspiration Models. Remote Sensing, 12:1, 50. doi: 10.3390/rs12010050
• Aboutalebi, M., Allen, L., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Coopmans, C., (2019). Estimation of soil moisture at different soil levels using machine learning techniques and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping IV. SPIE Autonomus Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping, 11008, 110080S. *
• Torres-Rua, A., Aboutalebi, M., Wright, T., Nassar, A., Guillevic, P., Gao, F., Hipps, L.E, Jim, K., Alsina, M., Nieto, H., Coopmans, C., McKee, M., Kustas, W., (2019). Estimation of surface thermal emissivity in a vineyard for UAV microbolometer thermal cameras using NASA HyTES hyperspectral thermal, and landsat and AggieAir optical data. SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping *
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Nieto, H., Kustas, W., Coopmans, C., (2019). The impact of shadows on partitioning of radiometric temperature to canopy and soil temperature based on the contextual two-source energy balance model (TSEB-2T): Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping IV. SPIE, 11008, 1100804. *
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W., Nieto, H., Coopmans, C., (2019). Validation of digital surface models (DSMs) retrieved from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) point clouds using geometrical information from shadows: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping IV. SPIE, 11008, 110080L. *
• Tarboton, D.G, Richards, C., McKee, M., Torres-Rua, A., Neilson, B.T, Tullis, B.P, Rosenberg, D.E, Stevens, D.K, Horsburgh, J.S, McLean, J.E, Johnson, M.C, Dupont, R.R, (2019). The Utah Water Research Laboratory: Empowering Water and Environmental Research in Utah and Around the World. Water Resources Impact, American Water Resources Association, 21:5, 13-15. *
• Garousi-Nejad, I., Tarboton, D.G, Mahyar, A., Torres-Rua, A., (2019). Data For Terrain Analysis Enhancements to the Height Above Nearest Drainage Flood Inundation Mapping Method: HydroShare Resources. HydroShare, 55:10, 7983-8009. doi: 10.4211/hs.7235a0d6a18343078b2028085b7d8018
• Nieto, H., Kustas, W., Torres-Rua, A., Alfieri, J., Gao, F., Anderson, M., White, A., Song, L., Alsina, M., Prueger, J., McKee, M., Elarab, M., (2019). Evaluation of TSEB turbulent fluxes using different methods for the retrieval of soil and canopy component temperatures from UAV thermal and multispectral imagery. Irrigation Science, 37:3, 389-406. doi: 10.1007/s00271-018-0585-9
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W.P, Nieto, ., Coopmans, C., McKee, M., (2019). Assessment of different methods for shadow detection in high-resolution optical imagery and evaluation of shadow impact on calculation of NDVI, and evapotranspiration. Irrigation science, 37:3, 407.
• Torres-Rua, A., Nieto, H., Parry, C., Elarab, M., Collatz, W., Coopmans, C., McKee, L., McKee, M., Kustas, W., (2018). Inter-comparison of thermal measurements using ground-based sensors, UAV thermal cameras, and eddy covariance radiometers: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III. SPIE, 10664, 106640E. *
• Kustas, W., Anderson, M.C, Alfieri, J.G, Knipper, K., Torres-Rua, A., Parry, C.K, Nieto, H., Agam, N., White, A., Gao, F., McKee, L., Prueger, J.H, Hipps, L.E, Alsina, M., Sanchez, L., Sams, B., Dokoozlian, N., Jones, S.B, McKee, M., McElrone, A., Heitman, J.L, Howard, A., Post, K., Melton, F.S, Hain, C., (2018). The Grape Remote Sensing Atmospheric Profile and Evapotranspiration eXperiment (GRAPEX). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, doi: doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0244.1
• Kustas, W.P, Anderson, M.C, Alfieri, J.G, Knipper, K., Torres-Rua, A., Parry, C.K, Nieto, H., Agam, N., White, W.A, Gao, F., McKee, L., Prueger, J.H, Hipps, L.E, Los, S., Alsina, M.M, Sanchez, L., Sams, B., Dokoozlian, N., McKee, M., Jones, S.B, Yang, Y., Wilson, T.G, Lei, F., McElrone, A., Heitman, J.L, Howard, A.M, Post, K., Melton, F., Hain, C., (2018). The Grape Remote Sensing Atmospheric Profile and Evapotranspiration Experiment. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 99:9, 1791-1812. doi: 10.1175/bams-d-16-0244.1
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W., Nieto, H., Coopmans, C., McKee, M., (2018). Behavior of vegetation/soil indices in shaded and sunlit pixels and evaluation of different shadow compensation methods using UAV high-resolution imagery over vineyards: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III. SPIE, doi: 10.1117/12.2305883 *
• Nassar, A., Aboutalebi, M., McKee, M., Torres-Rua, A., Kustas, W., (2018). Implications of sensor inconsistencies and remote sensing error in the use of small unmanned aerial systems for generation of information products for agricultural management: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III. CONFERENCE: SPIE Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III, doi: 10.1117/12.2305826 *
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., Allen, L., (2018). Multispectral remote sensing for yield estimation using high-resolution imagery from an unmanned aerial vehicle: Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III. SPIE/Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)/Autonomous Air and Ground Sensing Systems for Agricultural Optimization and Phenotyping III, doi: 10.1117/12.2305888 *
• Torres-Rua, A., (2017). Drones in agriculture: an overview of current capabilities and future directions. Utah Water Users Workshop, Saint George, UT, 1--9. *
• Hassan-Esfahani, L., Ebtehaj, A., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., (2017). Spatial Scale Gap Filling Using an Unmanned Aerial System: A Statistical Downscaling Method for Applications in Precision Agriculture. Sensors, 17:9, 2106. doi: 10.3390/s17092106
• Nieto, H., Bellvert, J., Kustas, W.P, Alfieri, J., Gao, F., Prueger, J., Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Elarab, M., Song, L., (2017). Unmanned airborne thermal and mutilspectral imagery for estimating evapotranspiration in irrigated vineyards: Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, doi: 10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8128252 *
• Torres-Rua, A., (2017). Vicarious Calibration of sUAS Microbolometer Temperature Imagery for Estimation of Radiometric Land Surface Temperature. Sensors, 17:7, 1499. doi: 10.3390/s17071499
• Torres-Rua, A., (2017). Use of UAV for support of intensive agricultural management decisions: from science to commercial applications: SPIE Proceedings. SPIE, 10218, 102180A. doi: 10.1117/12.2267725 *
• Hassan-Esfahani, L., Torres-Rua, A., Jensen, A., McKee, M., (2017). Spatial Root Zone Soil Water Content Estimation in Agricultural Lands Using Bayesian-Based Artificial Neural Networks and High- Resolution Visual, NIR, and Thermal Imagery. Irrigation and Drainage, 66:2, 273-288. doi: 10.1002/ird.2098
• Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A.M, Bachour, R., McKee, M., (2016). Estimation of Surface Soil Moisture in Irrigated Lands by Assimilation of Landsat Vegetation Indices, Surface Energy Balance Products, and Relevance Vector Machines. Water/MDPI/Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture, 8:4, 167. doi: 10.3390/w8040167
• Elarab, M., Ticlavilca, A.M, Torres-Rua, A., Maslova, I., McKee, M., (2015). Estimating chlorophyll with thermal and broadband multispectral high resolution imagery from an unmanned aerial system using relevance vector machines for precision agriculture. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 43, 32--42. doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2015.03.017
• Hassan-Esfahani, L., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., (2015). Assessment of optimal irrigation water allocation for pressurized irrigation system using water balance approach, learning machines, and remotely sensed data. Agricultural Water Management, 153:1, 42-50. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.02.005
• Hassan-Esfahani, L., Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A.M, Jensen, A., McKee, M., (2014). Topsoil moisture estimation for precision agriculture using unmmaned aerial vehicle multispectral imagery: 2014 IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. IEEE, 3263-3266. doi: 10.1109/igarss.2014.6947175 *
• Al-Arab, M., Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A., Jensen, A., McKee, M., (2013). Use of high-resolution multispectral imagery from an unmanned aerial vehicle in precision agriculture: 2013 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium - IGARSS. 2013 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium - IGARSS, 2852-2855. doi: 10.1109/igarss.2013.6723419 *
• Bachour, R., Walker, W., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., (2013). Assessment of reference evapotranspiration by the Hargreaves method in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 139:11, 933--938. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000646
• Torres-Rua, A., Ticlavilca, A.M, Walker, W., McKee, M., (2012). Machine learning approaches for error correction of hydraulic simulation models for canal flow schemes. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 138:11, 999--1010. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000489
• Torres-Rua, A., Walker, W., McKee, M., (2010). Forecasting daily potential evapotranspiration using machine learning and limited climatic data. Agricultural water management, 98:4, 553--562. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2010.10.012
• Torres-Rua, A., Merkley, G.P, (2008). Cutthroat measurement flume calibration for free and submerged flow using a single equation. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 134:4, 521--526. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:4(521)
• Weber, R., Merkley, G.P, Skogerboe, G., Torres-Rua, A., (2006). Improved calibration of Cutthroat flumes. Irrigation science, 25:4, 361--373. doi: 10.1007/s00271-006-0052-x

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | MultiMedia

Software

• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., Aboutalebi, M., Nassar, A., (2021). Feature extraction approaches for leaf area index estimation in California vineyards via machine learning algorithms: HydroShare Resources. Hydroshare *
• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., (2021). Footprint area generating based on eddy covariance records: HydroShare Resources. Hydroshare *
• Gao, R., Torres-Rua, A., Nassar, A., (2021). TSEB modeling and the comparison between the model results and the eddy-covariance monitored data within the footprint area: HydroShare Resources. Hydroshare *
• Torres-Rua, A., Aboutalebi, M., (2020). prj_earthengine_hydroshare. GitHub
• Aboutalebi, M., Torres-Rua, A., McKee, M., Kustas, W., Nieto, H., Alsina, M., White, A., Prueger, J., McKee, L., Alfieri, J., Hipps, L.E, Coopmans, C., Dokoozlian, N., (2019). Vegetation Spectral-Structural Information eXtraction Algorithm (VSSIXA). GitHub

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Technical Reports

Research Reports

• Crump, M., Singleton, P., Torres-Rua, A., Pack, A., (2022). Active transportation facilities in canal corridors. Utah Department of Transportation *
• Kopp, K., Endter-Wada, J.L, Baker, M.A, Brahney, J., Chikamoto, Y., Kettenring, K., Neilson, B.T, Null, S., Rivers, E., Rosenberg, D.E, Schmidt, J.C, Shilton, R., Tarboton, D.G, Torres-Rua, A., Wang, S., Wheaton, J.M, Wurtsbaugh, W.A, Yost, M., Zhang, W., (2021). Utah State University 2021 Report to the Governor on Utah’s Land, Water, and Air.
• Cabot, P., Derwinson, A., Torres-Rua, A., (2021). Evaluating Conserved Consumptive Use in the Upper Colorado 2020 Report. Colorado Water Conservation Board *
• Allen, L., Torres-Rua, A., Thayer Hassett, A., Larsen, R., Yost, M., (2021). Utah Agricultural Water Optimization Water Use and Irrigation Methods. Utah Division of Water Resources
• DenBleyker, J., Allen, L., Hipps, L.E, Allen, R., Torres-Rua, A., (2020). Depletion Accounting for Irrigation Water Rights in Utah: A Review of Potential Agricultural Depletion Accounting Methods. Utah Division of Water Resources *
• Allen, L., Torres-Rua, A., (2018). Verification of Water Conservation from Deficit Irrigation Pilot Projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin. *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

Magazine/Trade Publications

• Black, B.L, Torres-Rua, A., (2024). Utah State University (USA) proposes a technological model for monitoring tart cherry yields during harvesting. Cherry Times: The taste of Knowledge online newsletter *

Other

• Osorio-Diaz, K., Torres-Rua, A., Austin, A., Jedlicka, J., Miller, C., Aveek, M., Zimmerman, J., (2025). Agricultural Non-Consumptive Water Use Estimation and Water Management Performance Assessment Through a Remote Sensing-Based Water Balance Under Different Climate Conditions Across Utah Irrigation Canal Companies. Wiley
• Duran-Gomez, M.R, Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L.E, Kustas, W., Bambach, N.E, Knipper, K., Wright, I.R, McElrone, A.J, Prueger, J.H, Alfieri, J.G, Hipps, L.E, Meza, K., Gowing, I., Nocco, M., Castro, S.J, Gal, A.J, Tolentino, P., (2025). Influence of almond's canopy-induced shadows on actual evapotranspiration estimation by the TSEB model using sUAS multispectral and thermal imagery. Springer Science and Business Media LLC
• Gao, R., Alsina, M.M, Torres-Rua, A., Hipps, L., Kustas, W.P, Anderson, M., Nieto, H., McElrone, A.J, Knipper, K., Bambach, N., Castro, S.J, Prueger, J.H, Alfieri, J., McKee, L.G, White, W.A, Gao, F., Coopmans, C., Gowing, I., Agam, N., Sanchez, L., Dokoozlian, N., (2025). Integrating Time-Series Meteorological Data and sUAS Information into a Machine Learning Framework for California Vineyard Water Stress Monitoring. Springer Science and Business Media LLC
• Hashemi, M., Singh, T., Hargreaves, O., Torres-Rua, A., Yost, M., Hipps, L.E, (2025). Soil Moisture Evapotranspiration (SMET): A Low-Cost Method for Determining Seasonal Crop Water Demand. Springer Science and Business Media LLC
• Kustas, W., Bambach, N., McElrone, A., Knipper, K., Torres-Rua, A., Roby, M., Alsina, M.M, Prueger, J., Alfieri, J., Castro, S., Hipps, L.E, McKee, L., Belfiore, O., D'Urso, G., (2023). Improving water resource management through the development of a flux tower network and remote sensing modeling of evapotranspiration and water stress of woody perennial crops in California. Copernicus GmbH
• McKee, M., Torres-Rua, A., Villiger, M., (2015). Technologies will tackle irrigation inefficiencies in agriculture’s drier future. The Conversation *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.