Welcome and thank you for getting to knowing a bit more about my research and interests! I am passionate about well designed, beautiful, and sustainable landscape and urban systems. I love combining my computer science and business background to help make these a reality. I am an Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at Utah State University. I am currently a Visiting Professor at ETH Zurich in the Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems Chair. I begin my 2024-2025 US Fulbright Scholar in Portugal at the beginning of 2025 at the University of Lisbon and University Institute 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 identify as a computational environmental planner and publish in a variety of topics, including geographical (and data) information science, artificial intelligence, design and spatial cognition, and cultural ecosystem services. My primary foci are along three areas of expertise:
Visualization and spatial data science: I primarily focus on the development of geospatial techniques to analyze data, explain spatial phenomenon between human and natural systems, and develop software to facilitate planning (e.g. what-if analyses, multi-criterion decision analyses).
Applied computational approaches (including optimization and artificial intelligence): As a computer scientist wrapped within planning and landscape architecture I apply and develop computational approaches toward planning and design problems both practically and theoretically.
Environmental perception and affect related to built and natural environments: My inspiration for pursuing graduate school stemmed from a strong personal drive to better understand linkages between humans and our natural world – I attempt to understand and explaining these connections through psychological constructs.
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!