Andrew Danner

Andrew Danner is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Swarthmore College. His research focuses on I/O-efficient algorithms, geographic information systems (GIS), and parallel computing education. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Duke University (2006) and a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Gettysburg College (1999).

Current research emphasizes scalable solutions for large geospatial datasets, including lidar point interpolation and watershed hierarchies. His TerraStream project developed I/O-efficient algorithms for elevation data analysis. He also created TPIE, a C++ library for developing I/O-efficient applications.

Teaching includes introductory and advanced courses such as CS 21 (Introduction to Computer Science), CS 40 (Computer Graphics), and CS 46 (Theory of Computation). He integrates parallel computing concepts across the curriculum, publishing work on CUDA visualization tools (ParaVis) and pedagogical strategies for distributed systems.

His work addresses challenges in large-scale data processing, including terrain modeling, grid DEM construction, and efficient watershed decomposition algorithms. Recent efforts focus on improving introductory CS education through support programs that enhance retention of underrepresented groups.