Rethinking Systems. Reimagining Place. This defines how I approach research, problem-solving, and the future of planning and design. I explore the systems that shape our built and natural environments, leveraging computational tools, AI, and geospatial science to make them more just, effective, and meaningful. By reimagining place, I seek to create environments that inspire, function better, and serve a broader range of people across society. As a cross-disciplinary (or convergence) researcher I can identify as a computational environmental planner. My work spans a variety of topics (see my CV), and I am broadly active in three main research foci:
- Visualization and Spatial Data Science – Developing geospatial techniques to analyze data, explain spatial phenomena between human and natural systems, and create software to support decision-making (e.g., what-if analyses, multi-criterion decision analyses).
- Applied Computational Approaches – Integrating AI, optimization, and machine learning to rethink planning and design challenges both practically and theoretically.
- Environmental Perception and Affect – Exploring how humans experience and emotionally respond to the built and natural environment, informed by psychological constructs and spatial cognition research.
I believe the future of place is not just something to model—it’s something we can create!
I am an Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University. I was recently a Visiting Professor at ETH Zurich in the Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems Chair. I recently began a US Fulbright Scholar in Portugal at the beginning of 2025 at the University of Lisbon. Previous to my current appointments, I was an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning; a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of British Columbia with joint appointments in the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Computer Science and Faculty of Forestry (with a stint at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, EAWAG); and a Liu Scholar.
I love what I do professionally, but I also try to embrace the opportunities of a beautiful world. I ride a bike (or scooter) just about everywhere, grinding at ultra long distance cycling events (see Lotoja), love renewable energy (built my own 7.7 Kwh solar array), maintain a pollinator-friendly backyard garden topped off with a diverse breed of chickens, eat a vegetarian diet and I enjoy building and designing (still play with Legos and working with my grandfather’s Shopsmith Mark V). I have enjoyed circling landscapes as a pilot and offer an occasional vocal performance. I also have my partner to thank for a regular dose of artistic inspiration (http://andreachamberlain.org/) and my kids for reminding me that deep learning is hard and rewarding. Let’s strive to create a more just and sustainable world than was given to us – and enjoy the journey!