Department of Geography, Binghamton University

Department of Geography, Binghamton University A place for Binghamton University Department of Geography students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

The Department of Geography is pleased to announce that Alana McKeon will be defending her thesis on Monday, May 11 at 3...
05/07/2026

The Department of Geography is pleased to announce that Alana McKeon will be defending her thesis on Monday, May 11 at 3 pm in Old Johnson 126. I hope you can join us for Alana's presentation. Alana's presentation (3:00-3:45) is open to the public.

Regression Based Correction of UAV-Derived Surface Temperature Models Using In-Situ Observations to Reduce Measurement Bias

Urban heat poses increasing risks to human health and infrastructure, yet accurately measuring fine-scale surface temperatures in urban environments remains a challenge. While uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer high-resolution thermal data, their sensor limitations and environmental factors affect their measurement accuracy. This study evaluates UAV-derived temperature observations (n = 457) collected across multiple sites, surface types, and environmental conditions, using thermocouple measurements as validation. A consistent temperature-dependent warm bias in UAV measurements was found, particularly over built surfaces and during daytime conditions. A regression-based correction model reduced root mean square error from 10.35 °C to 3.67 °C, improving accuracy by 65%. Surface material and time of day were the primary drivers of error, while NDVI provided limited improvement unless artificial turf was excluded. These findings demonstrate that UAV temperature error is largely systematic and can be effectively corrected without emissivity correction by material, enhancing the reliability of high-resolution thermal mapping for urban heat mitigation.

We would like to thank all Alumni who continue to make gifts in support of the Geography Department. Your gifts help adv...
05/07/2026

We would like to thank all Alumni who continue to make gifts in support of the Geography Department. Your gifts help advance excellence in teaching, research, and student mentorship at all levels. Whether you are a consistent donor or new to philanthropy, we have made the giving process easier than ever. We are excited to announce that a new giving link has been made available and, now, supporting the department is only one click away. ⬇️

https://www.binghamton.edu/geography/giving.html

The Dept of Geography is pleased to announce that Liam Heppard will be defending his thesis on Friday, May 8 at 1:30pm i...
04/30/2026

The Dept of Geography is pleased to announce that Liam Heppard will be defending his thesis on Friday, May 8 at 1:30pm in Old Johnson 101. I hope you can join us for Liam's presentation. Liam's presentation (1:30-2:15) is open to the public.

"An Evaluation of Advanced 3D Visualizations in Archaeological Contexts"

Three dimensional (3D) visualization techniques have reshaped how space can be represented digitally, however this still has seen limited applications in archaeological research. New technologies like 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) open new ways to visualize archaeological data. This study evaluates the differences of three different visualizations: point clouds, 3D meshes, and splats, in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and their utility for archaeological research. Additionally this study uses eight semi-structured interviews to assess the state of 3D visualization use in archaeology in order to identify how they are currently being used, what else they could be used for, and what is preventing their implementation into standard methodology. Through visual comparison, this study showed that point clouds capture general structure well but suffer significantly regarding the preservation of fine textural details, meshes show the highest textural detail at close distances at the cost of structure shape, and splats have high detail and structure at a distance but become blurred at close range. The interviews indicate that current use of 3D visualizations is centered on creating digital replicas for preservation purposes and as a way to speed up data documentation, with 3DGS techniques being almost entirely unknown. Future goals of this technology were shown to include creating models retaining high levels of detail to facilitate post field data analysis and if splats were able to achieve this they would become more instrumental in research methods.

Classroom Update! 🙌Students of Environmental Planning/Policy got to tour the Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant. They lear...
04/29/2026

Classroom Update! 🙌

Students of Environmental Planning/Policy got to tour the Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant. They learned about the process of wastewater treatment and its importance. They learned about all the environmental improvements over the years, got to engage with community members, learn about a possible career option, and were treated with all the wildlife at the facility! They even got to feed the resident fish and mascot turtle named E. coli!

Special thanks to Erin Potter for organizing this for our students.

Alumnus Update📢👏Shibbir Ahammad, Geography MA class of '25 After developing a strong interest in transportation planning...
04/27/2026

Alumnus Update📢👏

Shibbir Ahammad, Geography MA class of '25

After developing a strong interest in transportation planning and spatial analysis, Shibbir pursued opportunities in this field. Prior to joining the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 10), he served as a Traffic Engineering Planner with the Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, contributing to roadway safety, Complete Streets, and Vision Zero initiatives.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh. In 2023, he began his fully funded master’s program in Urban Planning and Applied Geography under the Geography department at Binghamton University (State University of New York).

During his graduate studies, he served as the President of the Geography Graduate Student Organization (GGSO). He also worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and contributed as a Graduate Research Assistant on the Johnson City Revitalization Project under Dr. John Frazier and Kevin Heard, as well as with the Binghamton Urban Remote Sensing Team (BURST) under
Dr. Adam Mathews.

Additionally, he served as a Graduate Assistant under Brendan McGovern during summer and winter breaks outside of work.

Shibbir values family, a healthy lifestyle, and enjoys cooking traditional Bangladeshi food. No matter where his journey takes him or what he accomplishes, Binghamton will always hold a special place in his heart and he will deeply miss it.

The time of year is approaching for our Gamma Theta Upsilon Induction and Investiture Ceremony! Join us May 1st at 3:30 ...
04/23/2026

The time of year is approaching for our Gamma Theta Upsilon Induction and Investiture Ceremony!

Join us May 1st at 3:30 PM in Old Johnson, room 101 to induct our eligible students into the Honor Society. Hope to see you there!

The Geography Department would like to congratulate Geography Master's student Alana McKeon on winning the Edward H. Pre...
04/21/2026

The Geography Department would like to congratulate Geography Master's student Alana McKeon on winning the Edward H. Prentice Award for her contributions to academia and extracurricular life!

Eligible students are graduating seniors and graduate students who have, during their college careers, most distinguished themselves, by character, scholarship and contributions to the academic and extra-curricular life of the University.

Alana is involved in many areas of the Binghamton University campus and also as a volunteer in her local community. Besides being a Geography Master's student, she works for the Dickinson Community as a Graduate Assistant for Residential Education in Res Life. She was the GGSO President for the 24-25 year, WHRW Binghamton Radio jazz music show host, and the director for the station's weekly news program.

She is active in the Vestal Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter, Assistant Foreman, and water rescue team member. She is also involved with the St. James Food Pantry in Johnson City as a weekend volunteer.

Congratulations, Alana!

The Department of Geography is hiring! We are looking for a Lecturer in Geographic Information Science.Job Description:T...
04/20/2026

The Department of Geography is hiring! We are looking for a Lecturer in Geographic Information Science.

Job Description:

The Department of Geography at Binghamton University invites applications for a full-time lecturer position in Geographic Information Science (GIS). The initial appointment is for up to three years, with the possibility of renewal. The preferred candidate will be capable of teaching courses across the range of GIScience topics, including introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in GIS, cartography and geovisualization, spatial analysis, as well as other areas (e.g., web GIS). This is a teaching-focused appointment, with support for the candidate to continue development of a research program and contribution of service. The teaching load for the position is 3/3, and the start date will be August 17, 2026.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

-Ph.D. in Geography, or a closely related field, conferred by August 17, 2026.

-Experience teaching GIScience courses, as an instructor or teaching assistant.

Preferred Qualifications:

-Demonstrated excellence in college-level teaching.

-Experience teaching introductory geospatial courses such as Digital Earth, Foundations of GIS, etc.

-Experience mentoring/advising undergraduate and/or graduate student projects/research.

-Demonstrated ability to teach a range of GIScience courses/topics, as evidenced by coursework, teaching experience, or research expertise.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that Binghamton University if not an E-Verify employer.

Additional Information:

Binghamton University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the ADA Coordinator by completing the following Request Form.

The State University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is the policy of Binghamton University to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus effective August 1, 2017.

Offers of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

Application Instructions:

To apply, submit the following documents via: http://binghamton.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=199480

-Cover letter

-Curriculum vitae

-Teaching philosophy statement

-Evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., course evaluations, syllabi, course materials, professional development) [optional]

Contact information for three references

Applications received by May 20, 2026, will receive full consideration. Reference letters will be requested for selected candidates at a later date. The search will remain open until the position is filled.

The Geography Department Awards Committee invites geography graduate students to submit their research projects for the ...
04/13/2026

The Geography Department Awards Committee invites geography graduate students to submit their research projects for the annual Shin-Yi Hsu and Jane Wang Hsu Awards. The Shin-Yi Hsu and Jane Wang Hsu Awards recognize outstanding scholarly geographic projects that incorporate the use of geospatial technologies, especially remote sensing.

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens at the time of submission.

Format: Projects may be submitted in one of the following formats: academic poster, StoryMap, thesis draft, or research paper. Please submit it as a single PDF or an appropriate URL for StoryMaps.

Deadline: Please email your final submission to the Geography Awards Committee via Wan Yu ([email protected]) by Sunday April 26th 11:59PM.

Address

4400 Vestal Pkwy E
Binghamton, NY
13902

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