Technology

CURA is hiring!

Are you a geospatial geek who wants to make cities and regions more sustainable, equitable and resilient places? Do you have technical and management skills combined with a passion for engaged urban science? Would you like to build a career at dynamic, interdisciplinary urban research and outreach center at a highly collaborative and comprehensive university?

The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) at The Ohio State University is seeking a Consulting Manager/Senior Researcher to join our team. CURA engages in a diverse portfolio of data-intensive research projects focused on urban and regional issues, with a special emphasis on geospatial data science. Many of our projects involve close collaboration with community partners in Central Ohio and beyond. The Consulting Manager is responsible for managing these projects and ensuring that they have the necessary resources and provides direct supervision for the center’s student research associates. The Consulting Manager also helps to define the strategic direction of the organization and to identify and develop new project opportunities.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Geographic Information Science, Computer Science, or a related field.  Experience in research involving geospatial analysis or data science is required, as well as experience using Python or R in this context.

Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years’ experience or Master’s degree and 3 years’ experience in a related field. Detailed understanding of urban and regional issues, as demonstrated by possession of a related degree, professional experience, or extensive personal engagement.  Supervisory experience is desired, with preference for supervision of students. Experience in a consulting service or similar is desired.

More information and to apply:

External Career Site:

https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/CURA-Consulting-Manager_R51999-1

Internal Employee Career Site:

https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/15$392530/9925$97204.htmld

Internal Student Career Site:

https://www.myworkday.com/osu/d/inst/15$392530/9925$97206.htmld

NASEM Mapping Science Committee webinar: Geospatial Needs for a Pandemic-Resilient World. 

Epidemics and pandemics such as the COVID-19 outbreak have clear geographic dimensions due to the vector spreading the virus (human contact), demographics and co-morbidity factors that vary geographically, the distributed and heterogeneous nature of health care systems, and the highly variable response and interventions from political authorities and the public-at-large. The decline and shifts in human activity also affect broader social, economic and environmental systems to varying degrees. Geospatial information can play vital roles in crafting effective government and societal responses at the operational, tactical and strategic levels.

On 17 June 2020, the Mapping Science Committee of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine will host an online workshop on Geospatial Needs for a Pandemic-Resilient World.  This workshop will explore the needs of federal agencies, organizations, and scientists for geospatial data science to understand and respond to epidemics/pandemics and developing infrastructure and policies that facilitate effective management and graceful recovery from these types of shocks.  This workshop is free and open to the public.

Why faster geographic information is not always smarter

New publication: Miller, H.J. (2020) “GIScience, fast and slow – Why faster geographic information is not always smarter,” Progress in Human Geography, 44, 129-138.

Abstract.  The growing maturity and deployment of low-cost georeferenced sensors, navigation systems, fast wireless communication, cyberinfrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT) is accelerating the speed of geographic data flowing from the environment and our capabilities for reacting quickly to geographic information, often automatically and in real-time. This is leading to the rise of real-time GIS and smart cities technologies. While reacting quickly to changing circumstances has value, there are potentials for unintended consequences and rebound effects resulting from our inability to build geographic knowledge quickly and the selective acceleration of societal processes. This report discusses why these unintended outcomes may occur, and suggests technical and scientific approaches for understanding and managing the potential impacts of fast geographic data.