Geographic information science

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/

Building enduring smart city data platforms to provide urban management support

Former CURA visiting scholar Kristina Wolf recently published the paper “Building enduring smart city data platforms to provide urban management support: lessons learnt from UK Urban Observatories and the US Smart Columbus Operating System” in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. Former CURA post-doctoral fellow Jonathan Stiles and myself are also co-authors. The paper is a case study of the Smart City Operating System (SCOS), part of a Smart City project awarded by the US Department of Transportation in 2016 in Columbus Ohio. SCOS was developed as a robust smart city data management platform. However, despite a well-designed organization, methodology, and processes, the platform did not sufficiently capture city users, and was no longer used soon after demonstration funding ended in 2021. The study compares the SCOS with urban data observatories in the UK, concluding their more restrained scope, university support and stable funding environment made them more successful.

Wolf, K., Stiles, J., Miller, H.J., Dawson, R.J., Mills, J.P., Blythe, P. and Morley, J. (2025) “Building enduring smart city data platforms to provide urban management support: Lessons learnt from UK Urban Observatories and the US Smart Columbus Operating System,” Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 7:1512847.

Check out our Ghost Neighborhoods models!

After extensive work from CURA’s research associates and engagement with the community, we are excited to share drafts of two interactive Ghost Neighborhood models: a three-block stretch of Mt. Vernon Avenue in 1951, and Poindexter Village in 1941. These models will be displayed in Ohio History Connection’s Poindexter Village Museum opening in 2028. You can find out more about our process, explore the models, and complete a feedback survey on our website.

Check out the models here