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Daniel Inman

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Research Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Bioenergy Center.

Education

Ph.D., Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State University, 2002–2006
M.S., Soil Genesis and Classification, University of Tennessee, 1998–2000
B.S., Environmental Science, University of Tennessee, 1994–1997

Professional Experience

  • Research Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Bioenergy Center, 2008–present
  • Research Associate, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 2004–2008
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 2002–2004
  • Staff Soil Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2000–2001
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Tennessee, 1998–2000

Research Interests

Life Cycle Assessment

Much of my research focuses on modeling the environmental impacts of biofuel production. I use life cycle assessment (LCA) in addition to other modeling tools to quantify the environmental sustainability of biofuels production (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, consumptive water use, criteria air pollutants) across the ethanol supply chain. In addition to using LCA to quantify emissions across the ethanol supply chain, I use a hybrid LCA technoeconomic analysis approach to quantify specific environmental emissions at the biorefinery (both thermochemical and biochemical). This approach helps to identify the unit processes that are the main contributors to a given metric and allows us to examine the feasibility of alternative process configurations.

Learn more about Biomass Technology Analysis at NREL.

System Dynamics

I am also interested in dynamic modeling and the use of system dynamics to explore policies and gain insights into the development of the biofuels industry in the United States. I am currently involved in two system dynamics modeling projects: the Biomass Scenario Model (BSM) and a land-use change model.

Learn more about the Biomass Scenario Model.

Feedstocks

In addition to large-scale biofuel modeling projects, I work with feedstock interface. This work has allowed me to collaborate with other national laboratories (Idaho National Laboratory) as well as to develop research projects with land grant universities. We are currently working with researchers at Colorado State University to develop low-input biomass feedstocks, including native perennial grasses and switchgrass. In 2009 we hosted a sustainable feedstock production conference that was well attended by industry and academia. For 2010, we have teamed with the U.S. Forest Service to expand the scope of the conference to include woody biomass.

Publications

Adler, P.; Del Grosso, S.J.; Inman, D.; Jenkins, R.E.; Spatari, S.; Zhang, Y. (In Press 2011). "Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy Feedstock Production: Uncertainty, Landscape Heterogeneity, and Mitigation Opportunities." Liebig, M.; Franzluebbers, A.J.; Follett, R.F., eds. Managing Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Newes, E.; Inman, D.; Bush, B. (2011). "Understanding the Developing Cellulosic Biofuels Industry through Dynamic Modeling," Chapter 18. Bernardes, M., ed. Economic Effects of Biofuel Production, Rijeka, Croatia: InTech; pp. 373-404.

Inman, D.; Nagle, N.; Jacobson, J.; Searcy, E.; Ray, A. (2010). "Feedstock Handling and Processing Effects on Biochemical Conversion to Biofuels: A Review." Biofpr (4); pp. 562-573.

Hsu, D. D.; Inman, D.; Heath, G. A.; Wolfrum, E. J.; Mann, M. K.; Aden, A. (2010). "Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Selected U.S. Ethanol Production and Use Pathways in 2022." Environmental Science and Technology (44:13); pp. 5289-5297.

Williams, P. R. D.; Inman, D.; Aden, A.; Heath, G. (2009). "Environmental and Sustainability Factors Associated With Next-Generation Biofuels: What Do We Really Know?" Environmental Science and Technology (43:13); pp. 4763-4775.

Khosla, R.; Inman, D.; Westfall, D. G.; Reich, R. M.; Frasier, M.; Mzuku, M.; Koch, B.; Hornung, A. (2008). "A Synthesis of Multi-Disciplinary Research in Precision Agriculture: Site-Specific Management Zones in the Semi-Arid Western Great Plains of the USA." Journal of Precision Agriculture (9); pp. 85-100.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Reich, R. M.; Westfall, D. G. (2008). "Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Soil Color-Based Management Zones in Irrigated Maize." Agronomy Journal (100); pp. 60-66.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Reich, R. M.; Westfall, D. G. (2007). "Active Remote Sensing and Grain Yield in Irrigated Maize." Journal of Precision Agriculture (8); pp. 241-252.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Frasier, W. M.; Westfall, D. G; Koch, B. (2007). "Profitability of Site-Specific Nitrogen Management Strategies across Soil Color-Based Management Zones." Stafford, J. V., ed. Precision Agriculture ’07. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

Khosla, R.; Inman, D.; Westfall, D. G. (2007). "Site-Specific Management Zones: Seven Years of Research in the Western Great Plains of the US." Stafford, J. V., ed. Precision Agriculture ’07. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

Khosla, R.; Westfall, D.; Reich, R.; Inman, D. (2006). "Temporal and Spatial Stability of Soil Test Parameters used in Precision Agriculture." Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (37:15); pp. 2127-2136.

Hornung, A.; Khosla, R.; Reich, R. M.; Inman, D.; Westfall, D. G. (2006). "Comparison of Site-Specific Management Zones: Soil-Color-Based and Yield-Based." Agronomy Journal (98); pp. 407-415.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Mayfield, T. (2005). "On-the-Go Active Remote Sensing for Efficient Crop Nutrient Management." Invited paper. Sensor Review Journal (25:3); pp. 209-213.

Delgado, J. A.; Khosla, R.; Westfall, D. G.; Bausch, W. C.; Inman, D. (2005). "Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Based on Site-Specific Management Zones Reduces Potential for NO3-N Leaching." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (60); pp. 402-410.

Mzuku, M.; Khosla, R.; Reich, R.; Inman, D.; Smith, F.; MacDonald, L. (2005). "Spatial Variability of Measured Soil Properties across Site-Specific Management Zones." Soil Science Society of America Journal (69); pp. 1572-1579.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Lefsky, M.; Westfall, D. G. (2005). "Early Season Grain Yield Prediction using Remote Sensing and Site-Specific Management Zones." Stafford, J. V., ed. Precision Agriculture ’05. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers; pp. 835-841.

Khosla, R.; Inman, D.; Westfall, D. G. (2005). "Optimum N Management using Site-Specific Management Zones." Stafford, J. V., ed. Precision Agriculture ’05. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers; pp. 827-834.

Inman, D.; Khosla, R.; Westfall, D. G. (2005). "Nitrogen Uptake across Site Specific Management Zones in Irrigated Corn Production Systems." Agronomy Journal (97); pp. 169-176.

Koch. B.; Khosla, R.; Frasier, M.; Westfall, D. G.; Inman, D. (2004). "Economic Feasibility of Variable Rate Nitrogen Application Utilizing Site-Specific Management Zones." Agronomy Journal (96); pp. 1572-1580.

Freeland, R. S.; Inman, D. J. (2002). "Detecting Vertical Anomalies within Loessial Soils Using Ground-Penetrating Radar." Technical Note. Transactions of the ASAE (18:2); pp. 263-264.

Inman, D. J.; Freeland, R. S.; Ammons, J. T.; Yoder, R. E. (2002). "Soil Investigations using Electromagnetic Induction and Ground-Penetrating Radar in Southwest Tennessee." Soil Science Society of America Journal (66); pp. 206-211.

Inman, D. J., Freeland, R. S.; Yoder, R. E.; Ammons, J. T.; Leonard, L. L. (2001). "Evaluating GPR and EMI for Morphological Studies of Loessial Soils." Soil Science Journal (166:9); pp. 622-630.

Contact Information

Daniel Inman
Research Scientist
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
15013 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
Phone: 303-384-6845
Fax: 303-384-6877
E-mail: Daniel.Inman@nrel.gov