Tracking Urban Change and Recovery with Satellite Data and AI

October 3, 2025 1:00 PM

Presenter

Dr. Yiming Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Bureau of Economic Geology
Jackson School of Geosciences
The University of Texas at Austin

Description

Rapid economic growth is intensifying urban change with lasting impacts on sustainability and society. Using high-spatial (3–10 m) and high-temporal (1–3 days) satellite imagery and AI, my research monitors both gradual urban expansion and post-disturbance recovery. Case studies demonstrate: (1) in Washington DC–Baltimore (2018–2019), ~1% of urban land changed, led by commercial then residential construction; (2) across 30 Ukrainian cities (2016–2021), 3.5% of urban land changed, with losses in green space and gains in urban fabric, construction sites, and industrial zones; and (3) time-series satellite imagery mapped blue tarps after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, revealing slower recovery for vulnerable communities. Together, these results demonstrate scalable mapping for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.

Dr. Yiming Zhang

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