Speaker Profile
Speaker Company
University of Florida
Speaker Bio
Dr. Howard Beck is a professor emeritus in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He is an expert in artificial intelligence and database management and has applied this technology to digital collections, which include the Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS), the Florida Trees database and recommendation system, the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), and the Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS). Currently, Dr. Beck is actively involved in the development of natural language processing systems for IFAS Extension and other artificial intelligence applications using the NVIDIA HiPerGator AI platform at the University of Florida. In the field of urban horticulture, he is developing virtual reality systems for the analysis, design, and visualization of landscapes, integrating site conditions, environmental impacts, and expert recommendations. His work aims to bridge the gap between technology and practical application, ensuring that advancements in AI and VR contribute to sustainable urban development and environmental stewardship.
