One Hokie’s maps make a difference
Alumnus Peter Forister turns geography into global impact.
When fall colors transform forests across the United States, thousands of travelers check one website to plan their journeys in search of the brightest foliage.
One of the most popular sites is Explore Fall, co-created by Virginia Tech graduate Peter Forister ’19, M.S. ’21. Forister, who earned both degrees in geography from the College of Natural Resources and Environment, turned his passion for nature photography into a thriving project. Working with North Carolina native Evan Fisher, he helps manage the site that tracks the progression of leaf color through a gradient that ranges from unchanged to past peak.
A geographer and photographer based in Charlottesville, Forister manages the map and its social media presence, answering user questions and incorporating their feedback.
“It’s exciting to see it continue growing and breaking records,” Forister said. “We’re seeing tens of thousands of visitors each day during peak season.”
Using cartography, dendrology, and data visualization, the model forecasts color changes based on temperature, precipitation, and elevation. But its real-time accuracy comes from people. Through social media, Forister and Fisher crowdsource reports and photographs from followers, fine-tuning the map to reflect on-the-ground conditions.
“The map is just a model, and models aren’t always perfect,” Forister said. “We’re constantly making adjustments based on the photos and reports people send us. It’s a really interactive process.”
While Explore Fall isn’t yet his full-time job, the project embodies what Forister loves about geography: the intersection of technology, environmental awareness, and community.
“Geography is a very technical, scientific degree that so many people need right now,” he said. “People think of it as memorizing state capitals. It’s really about using data, imagery, and spatial analysis to understand the world and make a difference.”
Supporting global humanitarian efforts
Beyond forecasting foliage, Forister has applied his expertise in remote sensing and data visualization to support humanitarian organizations responding to natural disasters and global crises. As an independent consultant, he has contributed satellite-based analyses that help agencies assess conditions on the ground, identify areas of need, and guide the delivery of critical aid.
“Using satellite data and remote sensing expertise, I helped turn information into insights that supported humanitarian response efforts,” Forister said. “My maps made a difference by helping decision-makers understand where help was needed most. It was demanding but incredibly fulfilling work – a chance to use my skills to make a tangible impact in the world.”
Passion for photography
Forister’s fascination with geography and imagery began at Virginia Tech, where he joined the Hokie Storm Chase team in 2016.
“I picked up a camera freshman year, inspired by the storm chase,” he said. “Some friends had really nice cameras, and I thought, ‘Wow, I want to take better photos than with my little iPhone 5.’ That led to a passion for photographing storms, weather, deep space, auroras, and Appalachian landscapes.”
Forister still chases severe weather whenever he can, from Virginia to the Great Plains during late spring. Today, he balances his many interests from managing Explore Fall, running Peter Forister Photography, consulting on GIS projects, and working as a part-time meteorologist for Monarch Weather, a forecasting and forensic weather analysis company co-founded by Virginia Tech alumna Kathryn Prociv.
It’s a full schedule, especially in autumn, when Forister spends much of his time in the mountains monitoring foliage firsthand, grateful to live and work in the region that inspired it all.
“I feel really privileged to live here in the central and southern Appalachians,” he said. “It’s so beautiful in the fall, and it’s amazing that my work lets me help others appreciate that beauty while also using geography to make a difference globally.”
Enjoying his eclectic mix of projects, Forister encourages anyone with an interest in technology, maps, or nature to study geography, a field he says offers endless ways to see, understand, and serve the world.
