Geographic information science

Science Sundays: Using AI and GIS to create virtual worlds from old maps

On December 7th, I gave the OSU Arts and Sciences Science Sundays lecture, “Using AI and GIS to create virtual worlds from old maps.”

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and Geographic Information Science (GIS) enable researchers to unlock the rich historical information trapped in old maps. The Ghost Neighborhoods of Columbus project is applying AI and GIS to old Sanborn Fire Insurance maps to create immersive, virtual worlds of how neighborhoods in Columbus looked in the past, prior to urban highway construction and urban renewal projects. In this presentation, I highlight the incredibly detailed data in these old fire insurance maps, the 3D virtual worlds we have built from these maps, and our partnership with the community to ensure the historical virtual worlds are authentic. 

View a recording here

“Voices” podcast: Mapping the  Ghost Neighborhoods of Columbus

I was a guest on a recent edition of the OSU Arts and Sciences Voices of Excellence podcast, hosted by Prof. David Staley. In this podcast, we talk about CURA’s Ghost Neighborhoods of Columbus project which uses AI, machine learning, and GIS to extract data from historic Sanborn fire insurance maps and construct 3D virtual models of neighborhoods that have been altered or destroyed by urban renewal, highway construction, and redlining.

Listen to the podcast

UCGIS 30th anniversary symposium

I participated in the recent University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) symposium in Laramie WY, June 22-27. This year’s symposium celebrated the 30th anniversary of the organization.

The 30th anniversary symposium featured the largest gathering of UCGIS Presidents (past, present and future) in the organization’s history. Pictured in the photo are (L-R): Jeremy Mennis (President, 2020-2021), Jane Read (2021-2022), Shaowen Wang (2016-2017), John Wilson (2005-2006), Sean Ahearn (2006-2007), Nina Lam (2004-2005), Harvey Miller (2023-2024), Jeff Hamerlinck (President), Kathleen Stewart (President-elect) and Angela Yao (newly elected President-elect).

The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is a non-profit organization that creates and supports communities of practice for GIScience research, education, and policy endeavors in higher education and with allied institutions. The UCGIS is the professional hub for the academic GIS community in the United States, with partnerships extending this capacity abroad. The Ohio State University is a founding member of the UCGIS; OSU faculty member John Bossler was the first President (1994-1995). Ohio State hosted the first UCGIS symposium in 1995, and the symposium in 2024. OSU faculty Carolyn Merry also served as President in 2002-2003; the UCGIS offers the annual Carolyn Merry Mentoring Award in her name.

For more information about the UCGIS, see https://www.ucgis.org/