Harnessing Geoinformatics for Urban and Food Sustainability

The new era of satellite-based Earth observation has fundamentally transformed our ability to study climate-ecosystem-human interactions across regional and global scales. Satellite data complement ground-based measurements by providing consistent, high-resolution, and spatially continuous information on environmental conditions, ecosystem processes, and human exposure. In this talk, I will show how we integrate satellite remote sensing and data-driven (AI) approaches to tackle pressing sustainability challenges, including: (1) Mapping urban heat inequality, (2) Quantifying co-exposure to extreme heat and wildfire smoke, and (3) Advancing smart agriculture for climate-resilient food systems. By linking satellite observations with socioeconomic, agricultural, and public health datasets, we generate actionable, policy-relevant insights. Together, these projects demonstrate how geoinformatics and AI can bridge environmental science and decision-making to enhance urban resilience, strengthen food security, and promote human well-being in a warming world. This seminar will be held in person in Grainger Hall room 1112 and online via Panopto. Click "More Event Information" to visit the seminar website for a link to attend virtually. Both attendance options are free and open to all.