We are delighted to invite you to join our featured session series “The Convergence of Generative AI and GIScience at the 2026 AAG” at the 2026 AAG GeoAI and Deep Learning Symposium, taking place from March 17–21, 2026, in San Francisco. As Generative AI continues to redefine the boundaries of spatial science, these sessions provide a premier platform for discovery, debate, and networking. Whether you are an academic researcher, an industry professional, or a student, we welcome you to participate in these critical conversations shaping the future of our field.
Program Overview
This year’s series represents a landmark gathering for the GeoAI community. The program features 11 dedicated sessions and over 50 presentations, bringing together over 120 presenters and authors from 55 leading institutions worldwide. Participants are joining us from across the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and South Korea.
Sessions
Presentations
Authors
Institutions
Aim and Scope
Over the past decade, GIScience and the geospatial community have undergone rapid transformation driven by advances in deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI). The emergence of generative AI models across language, vision, audio, and multimodal modalities has introduced new ways to represent, reason about, and compute geographic information.
The convergence of generative AI and GIScience is reshaping how geographic knowledge is produced, interpreted, and shared, opening a new frontier of spatial intelligence. From intelligent geospatial data discovery and automated spatial analysis, to context-aware geo-visualization and decision support, AI-powered geospatial systems are beginning to interact with spatial data in ways that extend beyond traditional spatial computing. Within this landscape, autonomous GIS, built on various AI agents, referred to as GIS or GeoAI agents, is emerging as a transformative paradigm in which GIS is not merely another tool but becomes an artificial geospatial analyst who knows how to use geospatial tools and geographical analysis, and with what data to solve spatial problems.
While early research demonstrates strong potential, the geospatial field is only beginning to explore how generative AI can be effectively integrated into geospatial workflows. The broader vision of AI-powered geospatial ecosystems extends beyond individual tools or models, encompassing education, GIS profession, industry, government, and diverse domains such as urban planning, transportation, environment, health, digital twins, and disaster management. A recent vision paper published in Annals of GIS examines the opportunities and challenges arising from the convergence of generative AI and GIScience. Beyond technical and methodological innovations, important questions remain about reliability, bias, ethics, reproducibility, and the evolving role of human judgment in AI-assisted spatial decision-making.
This session series at the 2026 AAG GeoAI and Deep Learning Symposium aims to bring together researchers and professionals from geography, GIScience, computer science, and related fields to explore and discuss the convergence of generative AI and GIScience. We welcome contributions on conceptual frameworks, technical advances, model evaluation, agent development, case studies, benchmarking, open standards, platforms, and societal implications related to this convergence, providing insights to inform the development of next-generation AI-powered GIS and geospatial systems.
Session Series Organizers
- Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University
- Huan Ning, Emory University
- Song Gao, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Arif Masrur, ESRI
- Temitope Akinboyewa, The Pennsylvania State University
- Ruixiang Liu, The Pennsylvania State University
- Ali Khosravi Kazazi, The Pennsylvania State University
- Wenwen Li, Arizona State University
- Jinmeng Rao, Google DeepMind
- Budhendra Bhaduri, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Samantha T. Arundel, United States Geological Survey
Panel Sessions
The Convergence of Generative AI and GIScience – Research Agenda Towards Autonomous GIS
Date: 3/17/2026 | Time: 10:10 AM – 11:30 AM | Room: Bay View, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Role | Participant |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University |
| Panelist | Lauren Bennett, Esri |
| Panelist | May Yuan, The University of Texas at Dallas |
| Panelist | Shih-Lung Shaw, University of Tennessee |
| Panelist | Devika Jain, Harvard University |
| Discussant | Wenwen Li, Arizona State University |
| Q&A Moderator | Song Gao, University of Wisconsin–Madison |
The Convergence of Generative AI and GIScience – Challenges and Opportunities
Date: 3/18/2026 | Time: 10:10 AM – 11:30 AM | Room: Bay View, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Role | Participant |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University |
| Panelist | Simon Ilyushchenko, Google |
| Panelist | John Wilson, University of Southern California |
| Panelist | Xinyue Ye, The University of Alabama |
| Panelist | Amy Frazier, University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Discussant | Song Gao, University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Q&A Moderator | Wenwen Li, Arizona State University |
Paper Sessions
Autonomous AI Agents Development for Geospatial Tasks (1)
Date: 3/19/2026 | Time: 8:30 AM – 9:50 AM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Zhaoxi Zhang, University of Florida
Ruolin Wu, New York University
Feiyang Ren, New York University
Tamir Mendel, New York University
|
A Multi-User and Multi-Agent Approach to Community Engagement |
|
Yuye Zhou, University of California, Berkeley
Lu Liang, University of California, Berkeley
Wanyi Chen, South China University of Technology
Xiaoyu Chen, University of California, Berkeley
|
From Static Maps to Living Agents: Modeling Children’s Cumulative Heat Exposure |
|
Boyu Wang, University at Buffalo
Colin Frisch, Independent Researcher
Sanika Nair, Independent Researcher
Jackie Kazil, Independent Researcher
Andrew Crooks, University at Buffalo
|
Mesa-LLM: Generative agent-based modelling with large language models empowered agents |
|
Shiyu Zhang, University of Oregon
|
A Cartographic Agent for Knowledge-Driven AI Map Design |
|
Shangyu Lou, San Diego State University & University of California, Santa Barbara
Ziqi Cui, Politecnico di Milano
|
Enhancing Human Mobility Prediction through an OSINT-Based LLM Multi-Agent System |
Autonomous AI Agents Development for Geospatial Tasks (2)
Date: 3/19/2026 | Time: 10:10 AM – 11:30 AM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Ali Khosravi Kazazi, The Pennsylvania State University
Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University
M. Naser Lessani, The Pennsylvania State University
Guido Cervone, The Pennsylvania State University
|
From Questions to Queries: An AI-powered Multi-Agent Framework for Spatial Text-to-SQL |
|
Ruopu Li, Southern Illinois University
Pouria Kharazi, Southern Illinois University
Hyungtak Lee, Iowa State University
Michael Edidem, Southern Illinois University
Christopher J Quinn, Iowa State University
|
Participatory Environmental Planning Co-Pilots: Empowering Farming Communities with AI-Assisted Groundwater Sustainability Solutions |
|
Temitope Akinboyewa, The Pennsylvania State University
Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University
Huan Ning, Emory University
Wenpen Yin, The Pennsylvania State University
Manzhu Yu, The Pennsylvania State University
Louisa Holmes, The Pennsylvania State University
|
Autonomous Geographic Modeling: Towards Geographic Discovery |
|
Dining Liu, The University of Hong Kong
|
Greening by Discourse: Corporate Tree-Planting and the Evolving Landscape of Environmental Governance in China |
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Maedeh Rahimi, San Diego State University
Andre Skupin, San Diego State University
Hilary McMillan, San Diego State University
|
Automated Identification of Hydrologic Processes through Analysis of Scientific Literature |
Framework, Foundation Models, Standards, and Infrastructure
Date: 3/19/2026 | Time: 12:50 PM – 2:10 PM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Wenwen Li, Arizona State University
|
AI Foundation Models for Geographical Sciences: Opportunities, Gaps, and Future Directions |
|
Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University
|
Rethinking GIS in the Era of Generative AI: Toward Autonomous GIS |
|
Ruixiang Liu, The Pennsylvania State University
Zhenlong Li, The Pennsylvania State University
|
Towards Intelligent Geospatial Data Discovery: A Knowledge graph–driven Multi-agent Framework |
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Huan Ning, Emory University
|
GeoArchitect: An AI Copilot for Research in the Geographic Sciences |
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Wei Hu, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Shaowen Wang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
|
SpatialSearch: An LLM-Driven Framework for Integrated Geospatial and Semantic Search |
Benchmarking, Fine-Tuning, and Evaluation
Date: 3/19/2026 | Time: 2:30 PM – 3:50 PM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Xin (Selena) Feng, University of Oklahoma
Yuanpei Cao, Airbnb, Inc.
|
Leveraging LLMs as intelligent proposers in local search for the p-Median Problem |
|
Yao Tong, Tsinghua University
|
Intelligent Measurement of Primary School Vacancy in China: A Social–Physical Fusion Framework |
|
Bing Zhou, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Lei Zou, Texas A&M University
Yifan Yang, Texas A&M University
Junbo Wang, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
|
Not just coordinates: Do Multimodal GeoFMs encapsulate geospatial thinking? |
|
Wei Liu, City of Atlanta
Fuzhen Yin, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Suiyuan Wang, University at Buffalo
Vanessa Vedral, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
|
Evaluating GPT Models for Urban Environmental and Perceptual Attribute Labeling from Street View Images |
|
Zhifeng Cheng, University of Southampton
|
The potential of large language models to transcend theoretical limits in predicting human mobility from social networks |
Society Impacts, Education and Ethical Considerations (1)
Date: 3/20/2026 | Time: 8:30 AM – 9:50 AM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Xinyue Ye, The University of Alabama
|
Advancing Ethical GeoDesign: Progress, Case Studies, and Community Building |
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Gargi Chaudhuri, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
Katie Aspenson, City of Onalaska, WI
|
Artificial Intelligence and the Public Voice: Interpreting Change in Civic Priorities |
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Sisi Wang, University of Southern California
|
Generative AI in Geographic Education and Research |
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Somang Kim, The University of Texas at Austin
Yiyang Shu, Texas A&M University
Mo Hu, Texas A&M University
Yuhao Kang, University of Texas at Austin
Boqian Xu, Texas A&M University
|
Exploring Human Perception of AI and Authentic Imagery through fNIRS |
|
Eric Shook, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
|
GeoAI Education from Middle School to Mid-Career: Where are we going? |
Society Impacts, Education and Ethical Considerations (2)
Date: 3/20/2026 | Time: 12:50 PM – 2:10 PM | Room: Peninsula, 25th Floor, Nikko
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Xi Guan, Cornell University
Armita Kar, George Mason University
Jinhyung Lee, Western University
Luyu Liu, Auburn University
|
Exploring the Potential and Bias of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Assessing Pedestrian Safety Perceptions |
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Nanxi Su, Tsinghua University
Ying Long, Tsinghua University
|
Measuring Office Vacancy through AI and LBS Data: Understanding the Role of Healthy-Building Features in Occupancy Patterns |
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Qifan Wu, Emory University
Xiao Huang, Emory University
Huan Ning, Emory University
|
Mapping the Evolving GIS Workforce: An Analysis of U.S. Job Market Data Using Open-Source Large Language Models |
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Lucy McAllister, Denison University
Siddharth Vedula, Miami University
Wenxi Pu, University of Manitoba
Shizhen Jia, Quinnipiac University
Maxwell Boykoff, University of Colorado Boulder
|
Climate news by AI? A comparative analysis of original news stories from 27 countries to AI content |
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Shunyu Yao, University of Glasgow
Mingshu Wang, University of Glasgow
Pengyuan Liu, University of Glasgow
Meiliu Wu, University of Glasgow
|
AI Meets Human-Urban Interaction: Can GPT-4 Perceive Urban Safety in a Human-Like Way? |
Domain Applications and Use Cases (1)
Date: 3/21/2026 | Time: 8:30 AM – 9:50 AM | Room: Golden Gate 4, Lobby Level, Hilton Union Square
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Hao Chen, The University of Texas at Dallas
Fang Qiu, The University of Texas at Dallas
Li An, Auburn University
|
CameraTrap-Instruct: A Vision–Language Model for Structured Extraction and Interpreting of Camera Trap Imagery |
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Fanshun Shi, Columbia University
Zhaoxi Zhang, University of Florida
Prince Michael Amegbor, New York University
|
Detecting and Mapping of Soundscape using Large Language Model and Spatial Analysis: Pilot Study in New York City |
|
Yifei Wang, George Mason University
Luyu Liu, Auburn University
Jinhyung Lee, Western University
Armita Kar, George Mason University
|
Interrelationship between pedestrian streetscape, walking perceptions, and willingness: An analysis using Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) |
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Yao Zhou, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
|
Identification of tropical cyclone–related flash floods from hazard narratives using Large Language Models |
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Mary Salami, University of California, Santa Barbara
David Lopez-Carr, University of California, Santa Barbara
Grace Wu, University of California, Santa Barbara
|
Generative AI in Socio-Environmental Systems: A Systematic Review and Topic Modelling-Based Taxonomy |
Domain Applications and Use Cases (2)
Date: 3/21/2026 | Time: 10:10 AM – 11:30 AM | Room: Golden Gate 4, Lobby Level, Hilton Union Square
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Fengyi Xu, The University of Hong Kong
Jun Ma, The University of Hong Kong
Waishan Qiu, The University of Hong Kong
Cui Guo, The University of Hong Kong
Jack C.P. Cheng, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
|
Enhancing Geo-localization for Crowdsourced Flood Imagery via LLM-Guided Attention |
|
Jaehyoung Yang, Kyung Hee University
Seong-Yun Hong, Kyung Hee University
|
Analyzing the Accuracy and Determinants of Generative AI Responses on Nearest Subway Station Information for Tourist Attractions: A Case Study of Busan, Korea |
|
Ziqi Cui, Politecnico di Milano
Shangyu Lou, University of California, Santa Barbara & San Diego State University
|
Semantic Geospatial Retrieval of Urban Outdoor Spaces: Aligning Subjective Affective Needs with Multimodal Language Models |
|
Zifu Wang, Harvard Univeristy
Jiely Zhang, Harvard Univeristy
Xiao Huang, Emory University
Qian Guo, Florida State University
Lingbo Liu, Harvard Univeristy
Rachel Franklin, Harvard Univeristy
Nan Ding, Ezrouting
|
LLMs for Transportation Safety |
|
Ying Nie, University of Wisconsin Madison
|
Knowledge-enhanced foundation model for spatiotemporal modelling of wildfire spread |
Domain Applications and Use Cases (3)
Date: 3/21/2026 | Time: 12:50 PM – 2:10 PM | Room: Golden Gate 4, Lobby Level, Hilton Union Square
| Authors & Affiliations | Presentation Title |
|---|---|
|
Dave Jonathan Cook, University of Maryland/Wake Forest University
|
Show Me the Value!: Practical ROI Metrics for Agentic GIS |
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Stone Shi, University of California, Berkeley
Ruijie Mao, University of Pennsylvania
|
OASIS: An LLM Multi-Agent Network Simulator for Humanized Multi-Modal Transit Behavior and Resilience Analysis |
|
Zhihao Liu, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong
Keumseok Peter Koh, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong
|
Geographies of Refugee Discourse in Europe: Insights from Social Media |