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Xi Gong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health and the Institute of Computing and Data Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, where he leads the Gong Lab. His research focuses on Geospatial Data Science, integrating GIScience, computational methods, and statistical analysis to study environmental health and social dynamics. He holds a PhD in Geographic Information Science from Texas State University, an M.Sc. from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a B.Eng. from Wuhan University. Dr. Gong's research interests include spatio-temporal data mining, environmental exposure modeling, and visual analytics for big data. His work bridges Environmental Health Science (EHS) and Spatially Integrated Social Science (SISS), addressing public health concerns through geospatial modeling and interdisciplinary collaboration. He currently accepts graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for projects in Geospatial Data Science and EHS. Education: PhD (2016, Texas State University), M.Sc. (2011, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences), B.Eng. (2008, Wuhan University) Labs/Teams: Director of Gong Lab, focused on geospatial big data analysis for health and environmental studies Advising: Mentors PhD and MS students in Biobehavioral Health and related fields

• Geographic Information Science
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Big Data Science and Analytics
• +3 more

Professor Desheng Liu is affiliated with the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University , within the College of Arts and Sciences . His research focuses on developing spatial and statistical methodologies for environmental monitoring and ecological processes. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from UC Berkeley (2006) and additional degrees in Statistics, Environmental Science, and GIS. Education: Ph.D., 2006: Environmental Science, University of California, Berkeley M.A., 2004: Statistics, University of California, Berkeley M.S., 2003: Environmental Science, University of California, Berkeley B.E., 2001: GIS, Wuhan University, China Research interests include Remote Sensing , Spatial Statistics , GIScience , and Land Cover Change . His work emphasizes statistical modeling of spatial-temporal dynamics in environmental systems. Recent publications (2008–2012) explore topics like land-cover trajectory reconstruction, thermal infrared downscaling, and object-based classification techniques. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. Advising and grants information is not detailed here, though his CV may contain additional details. He is involved in teaching advanced courses such as Quantitative Geographical Methods and Spatial Statistics.

• Remote Sensing
• Spatial Statistics
• GIScience
• +1 more

Somayeh Dodge is an Associate Professor of Spatial Data Science in the Department of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She leads the MOVE Lab and serves as Co-Associate Director of the UCSB Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science. Her research focuses on computational movement analysis, spatiotemporal data science, and the application of these tools to study human and ecological systems. She holds editorial roles in major journals including Journal of Spatial Information Science and Geographical Analysis. Education: PhD in GIScience (University of Zurich, 2011), MS in GIS Engineering (K.N.Toosi University of Technology, 2005), and BS in Geomatics Engineering (2003). Postdoctoral work at The Ohio State University and University of Zurich. Prior faculty positions include University of Minnesota (2016–2019) and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (2013–2016). Research interests include wildfire impact analysis, mobility patterns during disasters, environmental vulnerability modeling, and geovisualization techniques. Her NSF CAREER project explores movement responses to environmental disruptions. Teaching focuses on GIScience, movement analytics, and spatial modeling courses. Awards: 2021 NSF CAREER Award and 2022 AAG Emerging Scholar Award. Active in editorial boards for multiple journals and serves on the Board of Directors for the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). Advising: Supervises 7 graduate students in mobility analytics and environmental modeling. Labs/Teams: MOVE Lab (https://move.geog.ucsb.edu/) focuses on computational movement ecology and human mobility studies.

• Spatial Data Science
• GIScience
• Movement Analysis
• +5 more

May Yuan is the Ashbel Smith Professor of Geospatial Information Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas), affiliated with the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. She directs the Geospatial Analytics and Innovative Applications (GAIA) Lab. Her research focuses on space-time representation, GIS analytics, and environmental/social problem-solving (e.g., disaster risk, pollution, crime mapping). She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from SUNY Buffalo (1994) and B.S. from National Taiwan University (1987). Previously, she was Brandt Professor and Director of the Center for Spatial Analysis at the University of Oklahoma (1994–2014). Education: Ph.D. in Geography, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1994 M.A. in Geography, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1992 B.S. in Geography, National Taiwan University, 1987 Research Interests: Her work integrates space-time GIS databases with cognitive science, environmental modeling, and social dynamics. Key areas include: - Spatiotemporal query and analytics for geographic processes - GIS-based disaster risk assessment (wildfires, tornadoes) - Urban air quality modeling - Neurogeography and Alzheimer’s disease prediction using environmental complexity metrics - Deep mapping and spatial narratives. Grants & Partnerships: Supported by NSF, NASA, DoD, DHS, NOAA, EPA, and state agencies. Her GAIA Lab explores 'place' concepts in space-time analytics. Awards & Roles: Fellow, AAAS and AAG Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Geographical Information Science (2017–present) Former President, Cartography and Geographic Information Society (2020–2021) and UCGIS (2011–2012) Member, NOAA Environmental Information Services Working Group (2016–2022) Labs/Teams: Leads the GAIA Lab, collaborating on geospatial AI, environmental health, and urban analytics.

• Geospatial Information Science
• Space-Time Representation
• GIS Analytics
• +5 more

Stephanie Rogers is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics, specializing in geospatial technologies and environmental applications. She leads the GeoIDEA Lab, focusing on GIScience, water quality modeling, and environmental impacts on honey bee colonies. Her research integrates emerging technologies like drones for ecological monitoring and addresses interdisciplinary challenges such as groundwater management and pollution tracking. Education: PhD in Geosciences from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Research Interests: Rogers' work bridges geospatial innovation with real-world problem-solving. Key areas include: GIS-driven environmental monitoring and modeling Drone-based assessment of water quality and algal blooms Groundwater contamination dynamics and public health implications Honey bee colony health through spatial analysis Advising & Grants: Currently mentors two trainees (Bethany Foust and Mallory Jordan) and collaborates on projects funded by environmental agencies. Her grants focus on geospatial data integration for ecological decision-making. Labs/Teams: GeoIDEA Lab coordinates multidisciplinary efforts in environmental geoscience, with active projects in Alabama's Black Belt region and international glacial archaeology initiatives.

• Geospatial Technologies
• Environmental Applications
• Water Quality and Contamination
• +6 more

Bing Zhou serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography and the John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence within the College of Earth & Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, focusing on advancing geospatial education and research. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Geography from Texas A&M University Dr. Zhou pioneers research in geospatial data science and GeoAI, developing advanced algorithms to extract insights from big geospatial data (crowd-sourced data, mobility data, social media) for climate resilience and disaster response. He founded the revolutionary field of Responsible GIScience, which integrates ethical principles, human values, and societal interests into geospatial research and education. His work specifically targets identifying location-based help information from social media to support disaster response in high-risk communities, aiming to build resilient, equitable, and healthy societies through responsible spatial thinking. He teaches core courses including GEOG 589: Emerging Trends in Remote Sensing and GEOG 480: Exploring Imagery and Elevation Data in GIS Applications. Information regarding scientific awards, student advising, grant funding, and laboratory teams is not documented in the provided materials.

• Geospatial Data Science
• GeoAI
• Remote Sensing
• +6 more

Guofeng Cao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Colorado . His research integrates GIScience , GeoAI , geostatistics , and remote sensing to develop advanced methodologies for analyzing heterogeneous geospatial data and modeling complex spatiotemporal patterns. Focus areas: Uncertainty-aware geographic knowledge discovery, land cover/land use dynamics, spatiotemporal bias analysis, geospatial cyberinfrastructure development Applications: Natural hazards, environmental science, public health, global change studies Recent publications emphasize generative adversarial networks for climate downscaling, neural processes for uncertainty modeling, and fusion transformers for disaster assessment. His work combines deep learning with Bayesian inference to address scalability challenges in geospatial data processing. Scientific Recognition : NASA and USDA grants for spatiotemporal research Advising : Mentoring graduate students in geospatial data science Laboratory : Leads the STAR lab (Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis & Research)

• GIScience
• GeoAI
• Geostatistics
• +10 more

Dr. Steven Manson is a Professor in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Society at the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts, where he also served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs. He directs the Human-Environment Geographic Information Science (HEGIS) laboratory and leads major data science initiatives like the National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) and IPUMS Terra. PhD in Geography, Clark University (2002) BA Honours in Geography, University of Victoria (1995) His research focuses on geographic information science and human-environment systems , using agent-based modeling and big data to analyze land use change, urban dynamics, and sustainability challenges. Recent work explores spatiotemporal data harmonization and geospatial cyberinfrastructure . The articles reveal trends in GIScience methodology , urbanization analysis , and data-intensive sustainability research . Key contributions include self-organizing map applications for health data and hybrid statistical-GIS techniques for environmental policy. Scientific accolades include: Ecological Society of America Sustainability Science Award NASA Earth System Science Fellow McKnight Land Grant Professorship As Principal Investigator for NHGIS and IPUMS Terra, he secured over $40M in NSF, NIH, and DOJ grants for spatiotemporal data infrastructure. Outreach initiatives include developing open geospatial textbooks adopted globally and collaborating with Twin Cities K-12 programs.

• Geographic Information Science
• Environmental Science
• Biocomplexity
• +12 more

Jennifer Mason is an Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the Geographic Information Science & Technology (GIST) Program at the University of Arizona. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography (GIScience) from Penn State University, an M.S. in GIScience from San Diego State University, and a B.A. in Geography from UCLA with a GIS&T minor. Her research focuses on GIScience, cartography, and geovisual analytics, particularly exploring uncertainty visualization in maps and spatial decision-making. She teaches courses such as Web GIS, Geovisualization, and Raster/Vector Spatial Analysis, emphasizing practical applications of geographic information systems. Jennifer's work bridges theoretical research and pedagogy, with a strong emphasis on improving cartographic design and usability for diverse audiences. Her publications consistently address spatial uncertainty representation, cognitive aspects of geographic visualization, and open-source tools for education. She has contributed to advancing methodologies for visualizing spatial data uncertainty through noise annotation lines and thematic mapping techniques.

• GIScience
• Cartography
• Geovisual Analytics
• +3 more

Cynthia Brewer is a Professor of Geography and Information Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania State University. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), a position she began in August 2024. Previously, she was a faculty member in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) where she served as head of the Department of Geography from 2014 to 2021. Dr. Brewer's research focuses on cartographic communication and visualization, map design, color theory, multi-scale mapping, atlas production, and topographic maps. She is especially well known for her ColorBrewer online tool for selecting map color schemes and her work on ScaleMaster for organizing multiscale mapping. Her research falls primarily within the Geospatial Big Data Analytics and Spatial Modeling and Remote Sensing research clusters at Penn State. Her publications include more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and 60 additional publications and cartographic design resources, generating over 7,000 citations. She has authored four books, including the popular 'Designing Better Maps' with the 3rd edition published by Esri Press in 2024. Carl Mannerfelt Gold Medal from the International Cartographic Association (ICA) in 2023 O. M. Miller Cartographic Medal from the American Geographical Society (AGS) in 2019 Henry Gannett Award for Exceptional Contributions to Topographic Mapping from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2013 EMS Wilson Award for Outstanding Service in 2014 As an administrator, Dr. Brewer has extensive experience in departmental leadership, having served as head of the Department of Geography for seven years. She has also served on numerous university committees, was elected to the University Faculty Senate, and served as an Administrative Fellow shadowing the Provost. She is not currently taking on graduate advisees due to her full-time administrative role in IST.

• cartographic communication
• visualization
• map design
• +7 more

Don Lafreniere is Professor of Geography and GIS at Michigan Technological University, where he also serves as Graduate Director and Director of the Geospatial Research Facility. He is affiliated with the Department of Social Sciences in the College of Sciences and Arts. His interdisciplinary research integrates GIS, historical data, and community engagement to study urban environments, population health, and postindustrial landscapes. PhD, Geography, University of Western Ontario BS, History, Eastern Michigan University BS, Geography, Eastern Michigan University His research interests include Historical GIS, Deep Mapping, Public Participatory GIS, children's health and lifecourse epidemiology, deindustrialization, and urban health. He leads the Keweenaw Time Traveler and Historical Environments Spatial Analytics Lab (HESAL), focusing on creating spatiotemporal models of historical urban change. His recent publications (2016–2023) reflect a strong trend in integrating GIS with historical, archaeological, and public health data, particularly in industrial and postindustrial cities. Themes include environmental justice, cumulative hazards, community heritage, and spatial narratives, often using deep mapping and historical spatial data infrastructures. He has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), serving as Principal Investigator or Co-PI on projects such as the Keweenaw Time Traveler, GRACE, and Three Centuries of Francophone Migration. These grants support transdisciplinary, community-engaged, and public-facing scholarship in the spatial humanities. Labs and initiatives include the Geospatial Research Facility, HESAL, and the Keweenaw Time Traveler, which combine geospatial technologies with historical research and public education.

• Historical GIS
• Deep Mapping
• Public Participatory GIS
• +9 more

Ningchuan Xiao is a Professor of Geography at The Ohio State University's Department of Geography. His work bridges Geographic Information Science (GIScience) with computational methods, emphasizing spatial optimization, cartography, and machine learning integration. Education: Ph.D. in Geography from The University of Iowa (2003). Courses taught include GIS fundamentals, cartography, and Python-based spatial analysis. Research Interests: Spatial Optimization: Developing algorithms for land acquisition, redistricting, and resource allocation. Machine Learning & Cartography: Exploring AI-driven map interpretation and ethical visualization of complex data. Census Data: Innovating privacy-preserving techniques while maintaining data utility, including temporal/spatial modeling. Open Source Tools: Authored GIS Algorithms (2016) and maintains GitHub repository 'gisalgs' for accessible code. Publications: Recent work (2023-2025) highlights advancements in synthetic microdata generation, privacy-utility tradeoffs in census aggregation, and AI-driven cartographic recognition. His 2022 studies include traffic camera analytics and choropleth map QA systems. Awards: Not explicitly listed in the provided texts. Advising & Grants: Collaborated with researchers like Y. Lin, J. Li, and S. Bao. Projects include the Sustainable Columbus Observatory (SCO) for urban sustainability metrics. Research is supported through academic partnerships and computational initiatives.

• Machine Learning and Spatial Data
• Census Data
• Spatial Optimization
• +3 more

Dr. Chunyuan Diao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He serves as Director of Graduate Studies and leads the Remote Sensing Space-Time Innovation (RSSI) Lab. His research focuses on computational remote sensing, ecosystem dynamics, and geospatial data science, integrating satellite imagery, AI, and high-performance computing to study climate change impacts, agriculture, and biodiversity. Dr. Diao has received prestigious awards including the 2024 AAG Fellowship and the NSF CAREER Award. He teaches courses such as GGIS 477 (Intro to Remote Sensing) and GGIS 489 (Programming for GIS). His lab actively mentors students in advanced remote sensing techniques, with notable alumni like Zijun (now a tenure-track professor at UNC Wilmington) and Chishan (Frontera Computational Science Fellow). Key research themes include multi-scale land surface phenology, intelligent agriculture, and invasive species monitoring. The RSSI Lab collaborates on large-scale projects like CropSight, leveraging street view and satellite data for crop monitoring. Dr. Diao’s work bridges remote sensing with field observations to address global environmental challenges.

• Remote Sensing
• GIScience
• Ecosystem Dynamics
• +4 more

Anand Padmanabhan is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the School of Earth, Society & Environment within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa, alongside an MS in Computer Science (University of Iowa) and a BE in Computer Engineering (University of Mumbai). His research focuses on advanced cyberinfrastructure, cyberGIS, geospatial data science, and high-performance computing. He leads the spatial algorithms and systems team at the CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies, developing cyberGIS capabilities to leverage advanced computing for geospatial innovation. His work emphasizes scalable geocomputation, cloud-based frameworks, and reproducible research environments, with contributions to tools like CyberGIS-Compute and EasyScienceGateway. Recent publications highlight advancements in science gateway frameworks, middleware systems, and geospatial education platforms. He serves as Online MS Program Adviser and has secured NSF and EPA grants for interdisciplinary projects. His work spans transdisciplinary training programs, urban sensing analytics, and integration of social media with geospatial data.

• Advanced Cyberinfrastructure
• CyberGIS
• Geospatial Data Science
• +5 more

Yiyi He is an Assistant Professor at the School of City and Regional Planning (SCaRP) in the College of Design at Georgia Tech. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to climate change resilience, urban planning, GIScience, and artificial intelligence. She examines the impacts of extreme weather events—such as flooding, wildfires, and heat—on critical infrastructure and vulnerable communities, leveraging data-driven methods like GIS, machine learning, and spatial statistics. Education: Bachelor’s degree from Nanjing University Master’s and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley Research Interests: Her work emphasizes understanding uncertainties and asymmetric impacts of climate change on urban systems. Specific areas include: Climate-resilient infrastructure networks GIS-based flood modeling Social vulnerability analysis Policy-driven resilience strategies Articles Overview: Recent publications highlight global flood impacts on road networks, cascading failures in health infrastructure, and lightning strike hazards in aviation systems. Themes consistently address data-driven resilience strategies and interdisciplinary solutions to climate challenges. Awards and Grants: No specific awards or grants mentioned in the provided text. Labs and Teams: While not explicitly detailed, her research aligns with Georgia Tech’s initiatives in climate resilience and urban systems.

• Urban Planning
• GIScience
• Climate Science
• +6 more