The Geoinformation and Big Data Research Lab (GIBD) at Penn State was well-represented at the Penn State GIS Day 2024, held on November 13. This year’s event, themed “Geographers Take Action,” highlighted the transformative role of geographic information systems (GIS) in addressing pressing global challenges. GIBD lab members made significant contributions, presenting their cutting-edge research to the Penn State community and beyond.
Dr. Zhenlong Li, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of the GIBD Lab, led the team in a dynamic series of presentations. PhD students Temitope Ezekiel Akinboyewa, Huan Ning, and Mohammad Naser Lessani each presented innovative projects that demonstrate the lab’s interdisciplinary focus and commitment to leveraging geospatial technologies for societal benefit.
- Temitope Ezekiel Akinboyewa presented “GIS Copilot: Towards an Autonomous GIS Agent for Spatial Analysis.” His talk explored the development of an intelligent GIS assistant designed to automate spatial analyses.
- Huan Ning delivered a presentation titled “Estimating Hourly Neighborhood Population Using Mobile Phone Data.” He discussed methodologies for utilizing mobile phone data to estimate population dynamics at the neighborhood level, providing insights into urban mobility patterns.
- Mohammad Naser Lessani presented “Enhancing the Computational Efficiency of Similarity and Geographically Weighted Regression Model.” His research focused on improving the performance of spatial statistical models through parallel computing techniques.
- Dr. Zhenlong Li rounded out the presentations by providing an overview of the lab’s latest projects, including its pioneering work in applying generative AI for geospatial analysis. He also emphasized the lab’s ongoing collaborations across disciplines, reinforcing the importance of geospatial data science in tackling real-world challenges.
The event was an excellent platform for lab members to engage with fellow researchers, students, and industry professionals, fostering meaningful discussions and future collaborations. As part of the GIBD Lab’s mission to advance geospatial knowledge and innovation, participation in events like GIS Day underscores the lab’s dedication to impactful research and outreach.
For more information about the GIBD Lab and its research initiatives, visit https://giscience.psu.edu/research-overview/.
For more information about Penn State GIS Day 2024, visit https://www.psu.edu/news/university-libraries/story/penn-state-gis-day-activities-focus-theme-geographers-take-action
