Mark Altaweel

About the Author

Mark Altaweel is a Reader in Near Eastern Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, having held previous appointments and joint appointments at the University of Chicago, University of Alaska, and Argonne National Laboratory. Mark has an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.

Author Archive Page

GIS Data

Geospatial Data and Sustainable Development Goals

October 7, 2019By Mark AltaweelGIS Data

The new initiative, called Data for Now, will see the linkage of Google Earth satellite data and other GIS data with UN data.

Community Involvement in OpenStreetMap

September 30, 2019By Mark AltaweelGIS Data

While we tend to think the community involved in OpenStreetMap (OSM) is made up of mainly individuals, there is an increasing participation by large firms in the development of OSM.

World Bank's GIS data catalog

World Bank and Geospatial Data

September 25, 2019By Mark AltaweelGIS Data

The World Bank in August 2018 launched the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework, which is seen as a way for GIS data to be provided for governments, NGOs, and companies to make more informed decisions that not only benefit their economies but also enable sustainable development.

Finding Pleasant Routes Using GIS

September 3, 2019By Mark AltaweelSpatial Analysis

GIS is being to used to plan pedestrian routes not based on the fastest way but centered on finding the quietest, shadiest, or most pleasant paths.

Using Geospatial Analysis to Map the Optimal Places for Tropical Rainforest Restoration

August 25, 2019By Mark AltaweelSpatial Analysis

Using peer-reviewed GIS datasets and remote sensing data, 88% of the needed restoration effort could focus on just six countries that are likely to help restore tropical rainforest growth.

What the Rise of Small Satellites Means for Geospatial Data

August 15, 2019By Mark AltaweelGIS Industry

Small scale satellites are changing how we can acquire our data as geospatial analysts.

Platforms for Making Deep Learning Easier for GIS

August 13, 2019By Mark AltaweelSpatial Analysis

New tools have been developed to facilitate the integration of deep learning tools within GIS applications.

Voronoi diagram for every Starbucks location. Map by James Davenport.

Voronoi Diagrams and GIS

August 9, 2019By Mark AltaweelMaps and Cartography

Voronoi diagrams can be created by many GIS packages today for understanding spatial patterns.

Mapping the Human Footprint

August 7, 2019By Mark AltaweelMaps and Cartography

The world settlement footprint, created in a online application called Urban Thematic Exploration Platform (TEP) sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), is the first map that combines optical and radar satellites to create a human urban footprint map of the world.

Using Crowdsourcing and Deep Learning to Map Human Settlements

August 6, 2019By Mark AltaweelSpatial Analysis

Machine learning techniques are being applied to crowdsourced data to map new urban and land use patterns not previously possible or difficult to determine.