Getting Started with CyberGIS

Dr. Anand Padmanabhan serves as a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science at the University of Illinois, where he leads groundbreaking research in advanced cyberinfrastructure and geospatial data science. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Iowa, he has established himself as a leading expert in CyberGIS, distributed computing, and geospatial solutions. At the CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies, he manages research infrastructure and operations, developing innovative solutions on platforms like NSF XSEDE and Open Science Grid. His significant contributions include creating software tools such as CyberGISX, CDC Malaria Map Application, and GISolve middleware. His research, funded by the National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency, has produced numerous peer-reviewed publications with over 1,766 citations. He teaches courses in CyberGIS, Advanced GIS, and Geospatial Data Science, while leading the spatial algorithms and systems team to harness advanced cyberinfrastructure for geospatial discovery and innovation

Shaowen Wang is a distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he also holds positions as Richard and Margaret Romano Professorial Scholar and Affiliate Professor in multiple departments, including Computer Science and Urban and Regional Planning. He has been the Founding Director of the CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital and Spatial Studies since 2013, and previously served as Associate Director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) for CyberGIS. His research interests encompass geographic information science (GIS), advanced cyberinfrastructure, complex environmental problems, and spatial analysis, with a focus on developing scalable solutions for sustainability challenges. Dr. Wang has secured significant funding from various U.S. government agencies and has led numerous multi-institution projects aimed at advancing cyberGIS. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and has served in editorial roles for several scientific journals. Recognized for his contributions to the field, he has received numerous awards, including the NSF CAREER Award and the AAG Distinguished Scholarship Honors. Dr. Wang is also actively involved in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to prominent positions in academia and industry.