GIScience News Blog

  • New Paper: “Enriching building function classification using Large Language Model embeddings of OpenStreetMap Tags”

    New Paper: “Enriching building function classification using Large Language Model embeddings of OpenStreetMap Tags”

    Rapid global urbanization is placing immense pressure on planners to make informed decisions that promote sustainable growth. A crucial aspect of this challenge is understanding how urban buildings are used. Traditionally, classifying the function of buildings—such as residential or commercial—relies on costly and subjective on-site surveys. However, advances in AI are poised to transform this…

  • Analysis of OSM building data completeness using new data

    Analysis of OSM building data completeness using new data

    With thousands of people mapping in OSM every day, missing building data in urban centers is steadily decreasing. Since OSM is a widely used source for projects researching urban phenomena around the world, a good data quality and an even distribution are important factors. If a spatial bias is present but not accounted for, researchers…

  • HeiGIT at State of the Map in Nairobi, Kenya

    HeiGIT at State of the Map in Nairobi, Kenya

    State of the Map is the annual event for all mappers and OpenStreetMap users. In 2024 the State of the Map conference will be taking place from September 6 to 8 in Nairobi, Kenya as well as online. The conference programme contains talks, workshops, discussion rounds and more. Four talks as well as a workshop…

  • World Humanitarian Day – How Maps can Help Aid Workers

    August 19th marks World Humanitarian Day (WHD) to recognize the efforts of humanitarian workers and to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers. One of many factors that are essential for effective humanitarian response and the security of people on site…

  • Join The Team: Studentische Hilfskraft (m/w/d) im HeiGIT Team Support

    Liebe Studierende,wir suchen am HeiGIT baldmöglichst eine studentische Hilfskraft (32-40h/Monat) zur Unterstützung in administrativen und organisatorischen Tätigkeiten. Die HeiGIT gGmbH ist ein gemeinnütziges Start-up mit dem Ziel des Technologietransfers und der angewandten Forschung im Bereich der Geoinformatik, insbesondere in Bereichen der humanitären Hilfe oder anderen gemeinnützigen Zwecken zum Wohle der Gesellschaft und der Umwelt. Aufgaben:…

  • Senior Spatial Data Scientist for Climate Action (m/f/d, up to 100%)

    You are a highly motivated person who loves spatial data science? You want to use your expertise for the benefit of society and the environment – in particular stimulating Climate Action? You want to improve the availability and quality of geographic information for Climate Action and develop geoinformatics methods used for related open, non-profit applications?…

  • Celebrating 20 Years of OpenStreetMap: Openrouteservice’s Support of the Community

    Celebrating 20 Years of OpenStreetMap: Openrouteservice’s Support of the Community

    August 9 marks a turning point for the global mapping community: the 20th anniversary of OpenStreetMap (OSM). For two decades, OSM has revolutionized the way we perceive and interact with maps, transforming them from static representations to dynamic, community-driven resources. OpenStreetMap began as a visionary project aimed at creating a free, editable map of the…

  • New Paper in Nature ‘Scientific Reports’: „High-resolution Mapping of Urban Aedes Aegypti Immature Abundance Through Breeding Site Detection Based on Satellite and Street View Imagery“

    New Paper in Nature ‘Scientific Reports’: „High-resolution Mapping of Urban Aedes Aegypti Immature Abundance Through Breeding Site Detection Based on Satellite and Street View Imagery“

    Knoblauch, S; Su Yin, M.; Chatrinan, Krittin; Rocha, Antonio A. de A.; Haddawy, P.; Biljecki, F.; Lautenbach, S.; Resch, B.; Arifi, D.; Jänisch, T.; Morales, I.; and Zipf, A published the paper ‘High-resolution mapping of urban Aedes aegypti immature abundance through breeding site detection based on satellite and street view imagery’ in Nature Scientific Reports.…

  • Heigit and PLANUM Join Forces: A Guide to Co-developing Climate Action Indicators

    Heigit and PLANUM Join Forces: A Guide to Co-developing Climate Action Indicators

    HeiGIT and PLANUM, are happy to announce their cooperation in the field of climate action. PLANUM is committed to driving positive change through innovative engineering solutions. The company specializes in sustainable planning, making them a crucial partner in our pursuit of creating impactful and practical solutions to combat climate change. At HeiGIT, the newly established…

  • Participatory Mapping for Cultural Landmarks

    Participatory Mapping for Cultural Landmarks

    Claudio Sossio De Simone is a PhD candidate at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in the field of Cultural Heritage, Education and Territory. His research interests include GIS science and geoinformation applied to cultural heritage, as well as the geo-historical study of rural landscapes. The Sketch Map Tool was used as part of his…

  • Staying Safe in the Heat: Routing App for Heidelberg

    Staying Safe in the Heat: Routing App for Heidelberg

    As summer temperatures soar, the health risks associated with heat stress become increasingly significant. This issue is particularly pronounced in urban areas such as Heidelberg and other cities, where dense building structures and limited green spaces exacerbate the problem. Vulnerable population groups such as the elderly, children and people with pre-existing conditions are especially susceptible…

  • Proactive Disaster Management: Pioneering Forecast-based Financing Across Global Challenges

    Proactive Disaster Management: Pioneering Forecast-based Financing Across Global Challenges

    Forecast-based Financing (FbF) is an innovative approach to disaster management that focuses on taking early action based on meteorological forecasts and risk assessments to mitigate the impacts of potential disasters. Instead of waiting for a disaster to strike and then responding, FbF enables preemptive measures that can significantly reduce the negative consequences on affected populations.…

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