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Research in Focus: Geospatial Science

Geospatial science is a multibillion-dollar industry, and researchers at Saint Louis University are leading the charge to turn St. Louis into a national hub for geospatial research.

Hear three 橘子视频researchers discuss the importance of geospatial research and its impact on the world. Their work is just a small sample of the innovative and compassionate research being done at SLU.

Geospatial science is an interdisciplinary field that examines how location impacts a variety of complex issues, from health inequity to national security. St. Louis is poised to become the national center of this multibillion-dollar industry. 鈥淭he St. Louis community is engaged in a great opportunity to transform the city into a national hub for geospatial research,鈥 said Vasit Sagan, Ph.D., associate professor of GIScience.

Innovative, Interdisciplinary Research

Sagan鈥檚 research centers on the nexus of food, water and energy. He uses geospatial science to monitor climate change, food security and crop productivity. Using remote sensing, Sagan is able to determine how large crop yields will be in a given year.

鈥淵ou see the power of geospatial tools,鈥 Sagan said of his research.

Sagan is one of several researchers at 橘子视频 seizing on this exciting opportunity. Investments in geospatial science can yield innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges of the day. This is because location is at the root of many of these challenges.

鈥滈僮邮悠祌esearchers鈥 are looking at why location matters. It matters to your health outcomes, to your employment opportunities, to your education,鈥 said Enbal Shacham, Ph.D., M.Ed., associate professor of behavioral science and health education.

The Service of Humanity 

Shacham studies health inequity and how neighborhoods influence behavior.

鈥淭here are worse [health] outcomes if you live in a poorer neighborhood 鈥 even if you have access to care,鈥 Shacham said. 鈥淲here you live shouldn鈥檛 dictate how long you live and how good of a life you live.鈥

Because of the University鈥檚 mission 鈥 the pursuit of truth for the service of humanity 鈥 橘子视频is uniquely positioned to make a serious impact through geospatial research.

鈥淏ecause of SLU鈥檚 mission, because of where 橘子视频is located, we can really make an impact,鈥 said Ness Sandoval, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology.

Sandoval uses geospatial science to study economic inequality in St. Louis.

鈥淸SLU] can really make an impact in the neighborhoods that have opportunities for redevelopment, opportunities to attract resources," he said. "We want to empower people to be at the table, using [SLU] as a resource, helping them dream about a vision that they see for their neighborhoods.鈥

The 橘子视频 Geospatial Institute

Sagan, Shacham, and Sandoval are the leaders of , a collaborative effort to coordinate and grow the already rich geospatial research and training underway at SLU. Also known as GeoSLU, the Geospatial Institute is a consortium of faculty and students from various disciplines to promote and develop new research ideas, and house high-tech computational facilities to advance research and enhance graduate and undergraduate education.

The mission of the 橘子视频Geospatial Institute is to understand our ever-changing world for informed decision making, on the ground and from above, connected together through space and time. 

The goal of the Geospatial Institute is to build distinctive strengths in geospatial research, training, service and innovation at SLU, contribute to establishing St. Louis as a national geospatial hub, apply geospatial insights to regional and global challenges, and develop new partnerships with innovators, industry, federal agencies, as well as local and regional governments and universities.

The Geospatial Institute began as 鈥淕eoSLU: The Geospatial Research, Training, and Innovation Enterprise,鈥 which received a $50,000 planning grant as part of Saint Louis University鈥檚 Big Ideas competition. This competition identifies and invests in projects that have the potential to grow into University-wide strategic research priorities. The Geo橘子视频leadership team used that opportunity wisely, and since then, the project has evolved into the Geospatial Institute.

About the Faculty

Learn more about the three faculty members featured in this article and video:

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Vasit Sagan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Faculty Director, 橘子视频Geospatial Institute
 

Sagan is the director of SLU鈥檚 Ph.D. Integrated Applied Sciences and M.S. Geographic Information Science programs. His research is concerned with water resources and crop productivity, and he uses to better understand climate and land use changes.


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Enbal Shacham, Ph.D., M.Ed.

Associate Professor, Behavioral Science and Health Education
Associate Director, Geospatial Institute
 
Shacham is the director of SLU鈥檚 Ph.D. in Public Health Studies Program. Her research interests include HIV treatment and prevention, and neighborhood conditions and related adverse sexual health events. She conducts research in both clinical and community settings.
 

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Ness Sandoval, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Sociology
Associate Director, Geospatial Institute. 
 
Sandoval is the Co-Director of the Ph.D. Program in Public and Social Policy and the Director of the M.A. Program in Sociology. His primary research interest is inequity in St. Louis, and he . As part of his research, Sandoval works with local community organizations to study the unique challenges facing individual streets and neighborhoods. His granular, spatial analysis can often pinpoint where, exactly, problems such as crime and economic insecurity are worse, thus informing effective responses.