Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) Professors and Supervisors in Switzerland

Pierre LacroixView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of GenevaSwitzerland

Dr. Pierre Lacroix is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, where he conducts research and teaches in GIS, Spatial Data Infrastructure, and programming. He is also Head of Unit at UNEP/GRID-Geneva, leading initiatives such as the MapX platform for natural resource data management. His work bridges environmental science and policy through geospatial technologies. His research focuses on environmental modelling, geoprocessing, and the science-policy interface , with a strong emphasis on Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and Earth Observation. He applies these domains to critical global challenges including sustainable mining, land degradation, water security, and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His expertise is grounded in both technical GIS development and policy-oriented applications. The trend in his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on leveraging satellite data and open geospatial platforms—such as Data Cube and MapX—to monitor environmental change, detect artisanal mining, assess land degradation, and support evidence-based environmental governance. His work spans multiple continents, particularly Africa and Europe, and integrates interdisciplinary methods from remote sensing, data science, and environmental policy. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards mentioned in the provided text. Dr. Lacroix has led and contributed to numerous international research projects, including H2020 ERA-PLANET, FP7 IASON, EOPOWER, enviroGRIDS, and GEF TWAP. He has trained over 1,500 professionals in GIS and has mentored multiple researchers in environmental geoinformatics. His grants and projects often involve collaboration with UNEP, the European Commission, and academic institutions worldwide. He is actively involved in the enviroSPACE Lab at the University of Geneva and leads technical teams at UNEP/GRID-Geneva , particularly on the MapX platform. These teams focus on developing scalable tools for environmental data integration, visualization, and policy support using open-source geospatial technologies.

Official University Profile

Yaniss GuigozView profile

Lecturer

University of GenevaSwitzerland

Dr. Yaniss Guigoz is a Lecturer in the GeoHealth group at the Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, and an expert in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) at UN Environment/GRID-Geneva. He is also affiliated with the enviroSPACE and GeoHealth laboratories at the University of Geneva, where he contributes to research and teaching in geomatics and environmental sciences. He coordinates the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in 'Geomatics for a Sustainable Environment' at the university. PhD in Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva (2016) Certificate of Specialization in Geomatics, University of Geneva Bachelor/Master in Geography, University of Geneva Dr. Guigoz's research focuses on the development and application of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Earth Observation technologies to address environmental and global health challenges. His work spans geospatial data integration, accessibility modeling, climate variables, and sustainable development. He applies GIS to public health projects, such as optimizing emergency obstetric care networks and modeling access to urban green spaces. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, combining environmental science, computer science, and health geography. His recent publications (2017–2025) reflect a strong trend in leveraging Earth Observation data cubes, cloud-based processing, and open geospatial platforms to support sustainable development and environmental monitoring. Topics include shoreline detection, snow cover evolution, air temperature forecasting, and urban green space accessibility, with applications across Europe, Africa, and the South Caucasus. The work frequently involves international collaboration and contributes to UN-led initiatives and SDGs. Dr. Guigoz has been involved in several major international research projects, including FP7 (AFROMAISON, ECOArm2ERA, IASON, EOPOWER), H2020 ECOPOTENTIAL, and SCOPES initiatives (ARPEGEO, Sustainable Caucasus). He has also contributed to capacity-building efforts through training and teaching in GIS and SDI, particularly in Africa. He has held professional positions at the World Health Organization (2000–2010) and has been continuously engaged with UN Environment/GRID-Geneva since 2005 as a GIS officer, webmaster, and SDI specialist. His dual affiliation with the United Nations and the University of Geneva enables impactful translational research bridging science and policy.

Official University Profile

Gregory GiulianiView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of GenevaSwitzerland

Gregory Giuliani is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva. He also serves as Head of the Digital Earth Unit at GRID-Geneva and is actively involved in numerous international research initiatives including GEO, EARSeL, and the International Society for Digital Earth. PhD in Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva (2009–2011) Master in Natural Sciences of the Environment, University of Geneva (1998–2001) Bachelor in Earth Sciences, University of Geneva (1995–1998) His research is centered on Land Change Science, particularly land degradation, and the application of Earth Observations for environmental monitoring and sustainable development. He is a key figure in advancing Spatial Data Infrastructures, Digital Earth, and Earth Observation Data Cubes. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, open and reproducible science, and the integration of Essential Variables for environmental sustainability. The most recent publications highlight his leadership in the Swiss Data Cube initiative, digital twins for environmental modeling, and the use of machine learning for land cover mapping. His work bridges satellite data, geospatial analytics, and policy support for the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities). Associate Editor, Big Earth Data (since 2020) Associate Editor, Frontiers in Environmental Science (since 2022) Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Digital Earth (since 2022) Editorial Board Member, Remote Sensing (since 2019) Guest Editor, special issues on Sentinel ARD, Earth Observation Data Cubes, and Essential Variables Dr. Giuliani supervises numerous PhD and Master’s students and leads major research projects such as SNF DT4LC, Horizon Europe LandShift, Monalisa, and Nostradamus. He has coordinated national and international efforts in geospatial capacity building and data interoperability. He is also involved in citizen science and open-source GIS initiatives, contributing to education and training at multiple levels. He leads the Digital Earth Unit at GRID-Geneva and is a driving force behind the Swiss Data Cube and Living Switzerland digital twin projects, aiming to create integrated, data-driven systems for environmental monitoring and policy support.

Official University Profile