The USC Spatial Sciences Institute faculty and staff conduct research and collaborate in many areas within Geographic Information Science and the related disciplines. In particular, we specialize in building GIScience models, spatial decision support systems, and tools, as well as spatial data capture, remote sensing, spatial analysis, the modeling of environmental and human health outcomes, urban ecology, conservation, and sustainability.
Learn more about our faculty expertise and focus areas, and read some of our recent publications:
Bernstein, J. "(Dis)agreement over what? The challenge of quantifying environmental worldviews." Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, February 15, 2020.Chen, Y., Tan, H., Wilson, John P., Zhan10, 169-177 g, J., Cao, J., & Chu, T. “An eigenvector spatial filtering based spatially varying coefficient model for PM2.5 concentration estimation: A case study in the Yangtze River Delta region of China.” Atmospheric Environment, 223, 117205, February 15, 2020.
Chiang, Yao-Yi; Duan, Weiwei; Leyk, Stefan; Uhl, Johannes H; Knoblock, Craig A. Using Historical Maps in Scientific Studies: Applications, Challenges, and Best Practices. Springer, 2020.
Gilliam, Shea Ellen (Ph.D. student, Population, Health and Place). “A Cautionary tale: Trauma, ethics and mentorship in research in the USA.” Gender, Place & Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography. Published online May 31, 2019; “Feminist Methodologies.” International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. November 2019.
Henningsson, Elin (M.S. Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence ’19); Ibanga, Elisha (Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence ’18; M.S. Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence ’19); Anguiano, Victor (M.S. Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence ’19). “Forward Support—Cloud Based Mosaic Imagery for Emergency Operations.” Journal of Geographic Information System, 12, 84-95, April 2020.
Loyola, Laura. “Tana River Red Colobus.” International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 2019.
Loyola, Laura; Knowles, Jason; Marx, Andrew; McAlinden, Ryan and Fleming, Steven. Research and Teaching Applications of Remote Sensing Integrated with GIS: Examples from the Field. Journal of Geographic Information System (JGIS) Vol. 11, No. 6.
Ma, T., Zhao, N., Ni, Y., Yi, J., Wilson, John P., Du, Y., Pei, T., Zhou, C., Song, C., & Cheng, W., “China’s improving inland water quality since 2003.” Science Advances, 6(1) eaau3798, January 3, 2020.
Marder, Christopher (M.S. GIST ’19). “The Role of Precision in Spatial Narratives: Using a Modified Discourse Quality Index to Measure the Quality of Deliberative Spatial Data.” International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing. Vol. 14, Issue 1-2, Pages 197-217. Available online February 2020.
Marx, Andrew; McFarlane, Donald. “Combining Unmanned Aerial Systems and Satellite Data to Monitor Phenological Changes in Tropical Forests: A Case Study from Costa Rica.” Case Studies in the Environment, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pgs. 1 – 11, December 2019.
Tom-Jack, Quincy (M.S GIST ’19). “The Role of Geoprocessing in Mapping Crime Using Hot Streets.” International Journal of Geo-Information. Vol. 8, Issue 12, Pg. 540. Published November 28, 2019.
Wu, An-Min; Johnston, Jill. “Assessing Spatial Characteristics of Soil Lead Contamination in the Residential Neighborhoods Near the Exide Battery Smelter.” Case Studies in the Environment, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pgs. 1 – 9, January 2019.
Vos, Robert O. “The Spatially Explicit Water Footprint of Blue Jeans: Spatial Methods in Action for Sustainable Consumer Products and Corporate Management of Water.” Case Studies in the Environment, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pgs. 1 – 14, December 2019.
Yi, Li (Ph.D. candidate, Population, Health and Place), Wilson, John P., Mason, T., Habre, Rima, Wang, S., & Dunton, Genevieve. F. “Methodologies for assessing contextual exposure to the built environment in physical activity studies: A systematic review.” Health & Place. Vol. 60, November 2019.
We have worked with and seek new opportunities to partner with fellow USC faculty members, USC departments and centers, faculty with other institutions, not-for-profit and governmental agencies, and private sector entities.
Our collaborations include long-term ongoing partnerships, defined-length grants and projects, and pilot “proof-of-concept” projects.
Contact John P. Wilson, USC Spatial founding director and professor, to discuss how we together could forge new contributions to our understanding of the world around us through the spatial sciences and technologies.
