ASU’s Spatial Analysis Research Center welcomes new director

ASU professor of geographic information science WenWen Li has been named the new director of the Spatial Analysis Research Center (SPARCSPARC faculty include Peter Rogerson, Daoqin Tong, Elizabeth Wentz, Wei Li, Dylan Connor, Aaron Flores, Heather Baier, Patricia Solis, Wen-Ching Chuang and Drew Trgovac.), one of the university’s leading hubs for innovation in geospatial research.

Housed within the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, SPARC is a geographic information science and Earth-observing center dedicated to developing transdisciplinary applications of spatial data solutions to address global challenges. 

“As the new director of SPARC, I’m excited to build on the center’s powerful legacy of advancing spatial analytics and using spatial thinking as a guiding principle to tackle complex challenges at the human-environment interface,” Li said. “SGSUP and SPARC have deeply inspired my research by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving real-world impact through geospatial innovation — a spirit I’m eager to carry forward.”

Li’s research focuses on GIScience — at the intersection of cyberinfrastructure, big data and geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) — with applications in data and computation-intensive environmental and social sciences. Her expertise in advanced spatial analysis and AI places her at the cutting edge of geospatial innovation.

A recognized leader in the emerging field of GeoAI, Li describes the discipline as “a transdisciplinary expansion of artificial intelligence that leverages geospatial data, advanced computing and big data analytics to better understand the Earth and human activities.”

Her work integrates vast and varied datasets — from satellite imagery and climate models to social media streams and census records — to develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. Under her leadership, SPARC will expand its ability to map the natural environment, model urban heat, forecast environmental change and improve disaster preparedness.

“This is a very exciting era for advancing spatial science,” Li said. “We are moving from traditional spatial analysis into advanced big data analytics and GeoAI, creating new opportunities to connect disciplinary dots and address complex challenges such as extreme weather, disaster preparedness, access to clean water and human mobility.”

Founded in 2017, SPARC has built a reputation as a premier research center advancing spatial analysis and geospatial technologies. Li plans to build on that foundation by emphasizing three areas:

1. Advancing spatial science through cutting-edge research in GeoAI and big data.
2. Expanding applications of geospatial analysis to urgent issues like climate resilience, public health and water security.
3. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations at ASU and with global partners.

Recent projects highlight this collaborative vision. In partnership with the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), Li and her colleagues are developing AI-powered tools to support emergency response across Arizona. By combining geospatial data with AI-based reasoning, their work helps predict disaster occurrences and generate actionable insights for state agencies and first responders.

“We are creating an AI-based ecosystem — from analyzing raw data and making forecasts to translating research into practical solutions for emergency officers,” Li said.

From climate change to humanitarian aid, Li sees geospatial technology as a central tool in addressing today’s most pressing challenges.

“Geospatial science enables us not only to understand what is happening now, but also to forecast future environmental changes,” she said. “This capability is critical for building more resilient communities, whether we are tackling urban heat in Phoenix, responding to hurricanes or supporting humanitarian efforts abroad.”

Collaboration, Li says, is core to SPARC’s mission. The center will continue to host its GIScience Lecture Series and SPARC specialist meetings and workshops. These events aim to spark dialogue across disciplines and generate tangible research outcomes.

“Geospatial technology is inherently interdisciplinary, and collaboration comes naturally,” Li said. “Our workshops and lecture series are opportunities to bring together computer scientists, social scientists, engineers and geographers to tackle shared challenges and advance SPARC’s mission.”

With Li at the helm, SPARC is poised to expand its global leadership in geospatial innovation.

“SPARC has always been at the forefront of spatial science,” she said. “I look forward to leading the center into its next chapter — where advanced analytics, GeoAI and interdisciplinary collaboration drive solutions that benefit communities here in Arizona and around the world.”