Spatially Integrated Social Science (SISS) Lab
Welcome to the Spatially Integrated Social Science (SISS) Lab at University of New Mexico (UNM)! The SISS Lab explores the spatial-temporal dimension of the complex human and social dynamics using Geographical Information Science (GIScience). Driven by this common interest, a group of UNM scholars and student researchers have been working collaboratively on
- Developing and implementing novel methodologies to study complex spatial-temporal patterns and dynamics.
- Using spatial-temporal analysis to assist theoretical understanding and empirical testing in the social sciences.
- Facilitating spatial thinking in the social sciences and promoting collaboration across disciplines and paradigm.
Faculty
Dr. Xi Gong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE) at University of New Mexico, where he is also the director of the Spatially Integrated Social Science (SISS) Lab. He received his PhD in Geographic Information Science (2016) from Texas State University, M.Sc. in Cartography & Geographic Information System (2011) from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and B.Eng. in Spatial Informatics and Digitalized Technology (GIS & Software Engineering) (2008) from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. His main research interests include developing and implementing novel spatial-temporal data mining algorithms, environmental exposure assessment methods, and visual analytics approaches for big data to better understand the relationships among human health, society, and environment.
Students
Yujian Lu obtained his Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. He joined the PhD program in Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at University of New Mexico in 2020 fall. Yujian studies GIS application, urban planning, and statistics to explore complex real-world environmental and urban problems. He is interested in social media data mining, spatial statistics, urban land use, and sustainability, especially how social media data can help us find people’s transit behavior during natural disasters and how to use his knowledge to solve social and environmental problems caused by urbanization. In his free time, he likes hiking and swimming.
Luke Andrews holds a B.S. in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from the University of New Mexico, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at University of New Mexico. He currently works as a Research Scientist at the Southwest Environmental Finance Center, where he collects and manages water utility GIS data, develops GIS standard operating procedures, creates asset maps for water systems, performs risk assessment via spatial and data analysis, and assesses affordability via water rates studies.
Yanhong Huang obtained her Master’s degree in Agricultural Informatization from Zhejiang University, China (2020). She did research on agriculture and remote sensing especially on extracting plantation area of crops based on multi-sourced satellite data. Her research interests focus on spatial data analysis, environmental health and remote sensing. She will join the PhD program in Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at University of New Mexico in 2021 fall.
David Jacobs obtained his B.S. degree in Geography from Univerity of New Mexico. He is now a Database Design and Analysis Manager at the Geospatial and Population Studies at Univerity of New Mexico. He has overseen many research projects and database developments. He created a custom address locator to geocode the over 40,000 traffic crashes that occur in New Mexico annually, and also works closely on data requests, community reports, the DWI report, and the annual report. He will join the M.S. program in Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at University of New Mexico in 2021 fall.
Yong Wang is a Ph. D. student in the Department of Health, Exercise & Sports Sciences with a sport administration concentration at the University of New Mexico. His research interests focus on identity and its impact on marketing, endorsement, and consumer behavior in the sport context. Formerly a sports journalist and PR manager, he received a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Sun Yat-sen University, China (2006), and a master’s degree in Sport Management from Springfield College, MA (2017).
Lin Liu is a PhD student from Department of Computer Science at University of New Mexico. He obtained his Master degree of Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. His primary research interest focuses on machine learning techniques and data mining. Lin is also interested in statistical inference method, analyzation and optimization of computer algorithms.
Affiliated Faculty
Dr. Maria Lane is a Professor in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at the University of New Mexico. Her research focuses on the historical geographies of science and environmental knowledge, with a particular interest in maps, arid landscapes, and colonialism. Dr. Lane directs UNM’s R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography, and she serves as an editor for the Journal of Historical Geography. She also teaches a class in GES on “Critical Cartography” that is open to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.
Dr. Chris Lippitt is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Geography and Environmental Studies Department at University of New Mexico (UNM). Dr. Lippitt directs the Center for the Advancement of Spatial Informatics Research and Education (ASPIRE) at UNM, and is the Faculty Coordinator of UNM Interdisciplinary Science Cooperative (Co-op). His interests include Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Science, Time-Sensitive Geographic Information, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Spatial Modeling, and User-Oriented Design. He is particularly interested in the use of remote sensing and spatial modeling technology to address time-sensitive information requirements and enterprise decision support systems.
Dr. Yan Lin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of New Mexico. She is a geographer in GIS and health/medical geography with a research focus on the development of GIS and spatial analysis methods as well as their applications to gain a better understanding of relationships between human health, society, and the environment.
Collaborators
Dr. Shuyang Peng is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at The University of New Mexico. She received her PhD in Public Administration from Rutgers University. Her research interests lie in areas of nonprofit and public management, with particular focuses on public-nonprofit collaboration, employee motivation and attitudes, and social enterprise. She is a fellow of the Center for Organizational Research and Design at Arizona State University.
Dr. Young Joo Park is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at The University of New Mexico. She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany – State University of New York. She studies public financial management and the allocation of scarce public health resources.
Xi Gong 