Short Description
Dr.George Grekousis is an Associate Professor at the School of
Geography and Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Guangzhou, China. He is included in the Stanford University list (2023) with the world’s top 2% scientists. He studied in Greece and the USA and has been teaching Geographical Information Systems and Spatial Analysis courses for over fifteen years. George’s core research interests are Data Science, Spatal Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Health Geodemographics, and Artificial Intelligence.
His interdisciplinary research combines machine learning and spatial modeling with social data to study significant challenges related to human health and well-being from a geographical perspective.George has been awarded several grants from well-known international bodies, and he has published more than 30 scientific papers in SSCI journals, including Computers Environment and Urban Systems, Landscape and Urban Planning, Health and Place, and Applied Geography. Three of his papers have been selected as ESI Highly Cited Papers (Claritive Web of Science).He has authored the book “Spatial analysis methods and practice: Describe – Explore – Explain through GIS”, Cambridge University Press, NY (532 pages), and has presented his research at numerous international scientific conferences.
Join us
Currently my lab is seeking for Postdoctoral and Master students interested in high-impact large-scale interdisciplinary studies, using Machine Learning techniques and Spatial Analysis
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
a) Health Geography,
b) Geodemographical analysis,
c) Air-quality and Sustainability,
If you have a research idea and you have basic Python knowledge (or you are willing to acquire), feel free to contact me directly at: graikousis@mail.sysu.edu.cn
To avoid emails are accidently sent to SPAM, do not include any attachments in the first contact. Just use the main body of the email to present your shelf briefly.
Academic Background
11/2011 - 08/2013
Postdoctoral Research Associate. State University of New York. Department of Environmental Research Engineering.
08/2002 - 10/2005
Ph.D. in Geography. Department of Geography and Regional Planning. National Technical University of Athens Greece.
09/2001 - 07/2002
Master of Science in Geoinformatics. Department of Geography and Regional Planning. National Technical University of Athens Greece.
09/1996 - 02/2001
Diploma in Engineering. Department of Geography and Regional Planning. National Technical University of Athens Greece.
Working Experience
2013-2017
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, Greece
2008-2011
Lecturer, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Greece
2008-2009
Consultant in Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
2008-2011
Project Manager, Geoinformation SA.
2006-2007
Military Service in Greek Army
International Memberships
American Association of Geographers (Member ID:90064501)
Regional Science Association (International
European Working Group for Location Analysis
Courses
Urban Spatial Analysis and Applications,
Urban Geography,
Human Geography,
Urban Systems and Engineering,
Literature review and Thesis writing
Publication List
Books (and chapters in books)
4. Grekousis G. 2020. Spatial analysis methods and practice: Describe – Explore – Explain through GIS. Cambridge University Press, NY (532 pages) DOI:10.1017/9781108614528. www.cambridge.org/9781108498982
3. Grekousis G., Lagos A., 2011. Principles of Surveying and Geoinformation. Synchroni Ekdotiki, Athens. (in Greek) http://www.synekdot.gr/product/978-960-6674-62-4/
2. Grekousis G. 2005. Spatio-temporal demand analysis in location allocation modesl utilizing Artificial Intelligence. PhD Dissertation. National Technical University of Athens, Greece.
1. Grekousis G., Koutsopoulos K., 2005. Artificial Neural networks. In “Spatial Analysis, theory, methods and techniques.’ Ed Koutsopolous K. Vol II. Dihnekes. Athens (in Greek).
Journals
34. Chen Y., Liu Y., Grekousis G., Qian Z., Vaughn M., Bingheim E., Yang B., Chen G., Dong G. 2024. Examining the non-linear association between the built environment around residence and the risk of obesity among children and adolescents at different school stages in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China. Cities, 145 (2024) 104674 (Impact Factor = 6.7, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
33. Wei Di., Mengyang L., Grekousis G., Wang Y., Lu, Y. (2023). User-generated content affects urban park use: Analysis of direct and moderating effects. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Vol. 90, 128158, 12.2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128158 (Impact Factor = 6.4, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
32. Liu D., Wang R., Grekousis G., Liu Y., Lu Y. 2023. Estimating pedestrian demand of older adults and evaluating aging-friendly walking environment using computer vision technology and Street View Imagery. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 105 102027 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2023.102027 (Impact Factor = 6.454, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
31. Chen Y., Zhang X., Grekousis G*., Huang Y., Hua F., Pan Z., Liu Y. 2023. Examining the importance of built and natural environment factors in predicting self-rated health in older adults: An extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) approach. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137432 (Impact Factor = 11.072, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
30. Wang R., Grekousis G., Maguire A., McKinley J., Garcia L., Rodgers S, Hunte R. 2023. Examining the spatially varying and interactive effects of green and blue space on health outcomes in Northern Ireland using multiscale geographically weighted regression modeling. Environmental Research Communications. 5(3), 035007: https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/acc3e1 (Impact Factor = 3.237, Web of Science SSCI, Q3)
29. Lotfata A., Grekousis G*., Wang R. 2023. Using Geographical Random Forest Models to Explore Spatial Patterns in the Neighborhood Determinants of Hypertension Prevalence across Chicago, Illinois, USA. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. DOI: 10.1177/23998083231153401 (Impact Factor = 3.511, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
28.Grekousis G*., Lu, Y, Wang R. 2022. Exploring the socioeconomic drivers of COVID-19 mortality across various spatial regimes. Geographical Journal, 188 (2) https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12436. (Impact Factor = 3.384, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
27. Grekousis G*., Feng Z., Marakakis I., Lu, Y, Wang R. 2022. Ranking the importance of demographic, socioeconomic, and underlying health factors on US COVID-19 deaths: A geographical random forest approach. Health and Place, 74, 102744. (Impact Factor = 4.931, Web of Science SSCI, Q1, ESI Highly Cited Paper)
26. Wang R., Grekousis G., Lu, Y*. 2022. Rethinking the link between the availability of neighborhood PA facilities and PA behavior: A comparison between private and public housing. Building and Environment, 135, 102558. (Impact Factor = 7.093, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
25. Grekousis G., Wang R., Liu, Y*. 2021. Mapping the geodemographics of racial, economic, health, and COVID-19 deaths inequalities in the conterminous US. Applied Geography, 135, 102558. (Impact Factor = 4.732, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
24. Grekousis G.*, & Liu, Y. 2021. Digital contact tracing, community uptake, and proximity awareness technology to fight COVID-19: a systematic review. Sustainable cities and society, 71, 102995. (Impact Factor = 10.696, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
23. Jiang Y., Chen L., Grekousis G., Xiao Y., Lu Y. 2021. Spatial disparity of individual and collective walking behaviors: A new theoretical framework. Transportation Research Part D, 101 (2021) 103096 (Impact Factor = 7.041, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
22. Grekousis, G., Pan, Z., & Liu, Y.* 2021. Do neighbourhoods with highly diverse built environment exhibit different socio-economic profiles as well? Evidence from Shanghai. Sustainability, 13(14), 7544. (Impact Factor = 3.889, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
21. Grekousis G.* 2021. Local fuzzy geographically weighted clustering: a new method for geodemographic segmentation. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 35(1), 152-174. (Impact Factor = 5.152, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
20. Stratoulias D., & Grekousis G.* 2021. Information Extraction and Population Estimates of Settlements from Historic Corona Satellite Imagery in the 1960s. Sensors, 21(7), 2423. (Impact Factor = 3.847, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
19. Huang B., Xiao Tong., Grekousis G.*, Zhao H., He J., Dong G., Liu Y. 2021. Greenness-air pollution-physical activity-hypertension association among middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from urban and rural China. Environmental Research, 195(2021) 110836. (Impact Factor = 8.431, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
18. Wang R., Liu Y., Lu Y., Zhang J., Liu P., Yao Y., Grekousis G.* 2019. Perceptions of built environment and health outcomes for older Chinese in Beijing: A big data approach with street view images and deep learning technique. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 78. (Impact Factor = 4.655, 6.454, Web of Science SSCI, Q1, ESI Highly Cited Paper)
17. Liu Y., Wang R., Grekousis G. Liu Y., Yuan Y., Li Z.* 2019. Neighbourhood greenness and mental wellbeing in Guangzhou, China: What are the pathways? Landscape and Urban Planning 190,103603 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.103602 (Impact Factor = 8.119, Web of Science SSCI, Q1, ESI Highly Cited Paper)
16. Grekousis G. Liu Y.* 2019. Where will the next emergency event occur? Predicting ambulance demand in emergency medical services using artificial intelligence. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 76,110-122 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2019.04.006 (Impact Factor = 6.454, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
15. Grekousis G.* 2019. Artificial Neural Networks and Deep Learning in Urban Geography: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 74, 244-256 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2018.10.008 (Impact Factor = 6.454, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
14. Grekousis G.*, Gialis S. 2018. More flexible yet less developed? Spatio-temporal analysis of labor flexibilization and gross domestic product in crisis-hit European Union regions. Social Indicators Research; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1994-0 (Impact Factor = 2.935, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
13. Grekousis G.* 2018. Further widening or bridging the gap? A cross-regional study of unemployment across the EU amid crisis. Sustainability, 10(6) 1702; doi: 10.3390/su10061702 (Impact Factor = 3.889, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
12. Grekousis G.*, Mountrakis G., Kavouras M. 2016. Linking MODIS-derived forest and cropland land cover 2011 estimations to socioeconomic and environmental indicators for the European Union’s 28 countries. GIScience and Remote Sensing 53(1):122-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15481603 .2015.1118977 (Impact Factor = 6.7, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
11. Grekousis G.*, Mountrakis G., Kavouras M. 2015. An overview of 21 global and 43 regional land cover mapping products.International Journal of Remote Sensing,36:21,5309-5353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2015.1093195 (Impact Factor = 3.4, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
10. Grekousis G., Mountrakis G*. 2015. Sustainable Development under Population Pressure: Lessons from Developed Land Consumption in the Conterminous US. Plos ONE 25 March 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119675 (Impact Factor = 3.752, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
9. Grekousis G.*, Photis Y. 2014. Analysing high-risk emergency areas with GIS and neural networks: The case of Athens Greece. Professional Geographer, 66:1, 124-137 DOI:10.1080/ 00330124 .2013.765300 (Impact Factor = 2.411, Web of Science SSCI, Q3)
8. Grekousis G*, 2013. Giving fuzziness to spatial clusters: A simple index for choosing the optimal number of clusters. International Journal on Artificial Intelligence Tools. 22, 1350009. DOI: 10.1142/S0218213013500097 (Citesore = 1.80, SCOPUS, Q3)
7. Grekousis G*., Manetos P., Photis Y. 2013. Modeling urban evolution using neural networks, fuzzy logic and GIS: The case of the Athens metropolitan area. Cities, 30,193-203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.03.006 (Impact Factor = 6.077, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
6. Grekousis G.*, Hatzichristos T. 2013. Fuzzy clustering analysis in geomarketing research. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 40: 95-116 doi: 10.1068/b37137 (Impact Factor = 2.822, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
5. Grekousis G*., Hatzichristos T. 2012. Comparison of two fuzzy algorithms in geodemographic segmentation analysis:The Fuzzy C-Means and Gustafsone Kessel methods. Applied Geography 34: 125-136 doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.11.004 (Impact Factor = 4.732, Web of Science SSCI, Q1)
4. Photis Y. Grekousis G*. 2012. Locational Planning for Emergency Management and Response: An Artificial Intelligence Approach. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning 7(3): 372-384 DOI. 10.2495/SDP-V7-N3-372-384. (Impact Factor = 3.508, Scopus, Q2 )
3. Grekousis G.*, Photis Y. 2012. A fuzzy index for detecting spatiotemporal outliers. Geoinformatica DOI 10.1007/s10707-011-0145-4 (Impact Factor = 2.773, Web of Science SSCI, Q2)
2. Grekousis G., Photis Y. 2005, G.I.S and Artificial Intelligence for locating emergency service units. Technical Chronicles (in Greek) (ΙΙ) Vol 1-2 pp 49-60, 2005.
1. Grekousis G.*, Photis Y., Koutsopoulos K. 2004. Spatiotemporal analysis of demand in stochastic locational planning problems through the application of an Artificial Neural Network. Aeihoros, (in Greek) (3), Issue 2, pp. 40-61, 2004.
International conferences
22. Grekousis G. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Spatial Analysis. 4th Congress of Geographical Information Systems and Spatial Analysis in Agriculture and Environment. 24-126 May 2022. Athens, Greece. Invited Keynote Speaker
21. Hatzichristos T., Tsetsos V., Ientsek S., Grekousis G.* GI-POLIS: A Location-Based Push Notification System for Public Briefing and Awareness. 15th Conference on Location Based Services. 11-13 November 2019. Vienna, Austria.
20. Grekousis G., Spatial analysis in geomarketing systems. 2019 International conference on management science and industrial engineering. 24-26 May 2019, Phuket, Thailand. Best paper award.
19. Grekousis G., Customer segmentation using GIS and fuzzy logic. 12th Annual International on Global Studies: Business, Economic, Political, Social and Cultural aspects. 20-23 December 2018, Athens, Greece
18. Grekousis G., Manetos P., Arvanitidis P. Does Airbnb affect commercial land use patterns? First evidence from residential areas in the city of Hong Kong. Geomapplica International Conference, Greece, Syros 25-29 June 2018.
17. Grekousis G. The implications of economic crisis to unemployment. A regional spatio-temporal analysis for the European Union. American Association of Geographers, annual meeting, USA, New Orleans 10-14 April 2018.
16. Grekousis G., Mountrakis G., Kavouras M. 2015. Assessing land cover dynamics in Europe using MODIS data. American Association of Geographers, annual meeting, USA, Chicago 21-25 April 2015.
15. Grekousis G., Kavouras M., Mountrakis G. 2014. Assessing land cover dynamics in Europe using MODIS data. 8th Conference of HellasGIS. Greece, Athens 11-12 December 2014
14. Grekousis G., Mountrakis G. 2013. Socio-economic characteristics of high/low developed land consumption areas in the conterminous U.S. 2013 Spring Land Use Land Cover NASA science team meeting, Rockville, Maryland USA, 2-4 April 2013.
13. Alevizaki. X., Grekousis G. 2010. Spatial analysis of crime in the city of Volos. 6th Hellas GI conference. 2-3 December 2010.
12. Graikousis G. 2010. A Geographical Information System with GPS for Managing Emergency Areas. MRSS 6th International Remote Sensing and GIS Conference, 28th-29th April 2010, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
11. Grekousis G., Chatzichristos T. 2008. INSIDER. A geodemographic tool for Athens. 5th Conference of HellasGIS. Athens 4-5 December 2008.
10. Grekousis G., Photis Y. 2008. A spatio genetic algorithm for detecting moving objects in spatio-temporal point patterns. 55th Annual North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International. New York-USA. Nov 19-22,2008.
9. Grekousis G., Chatzichristos T. 2007. Intelligent Geodemographic System for Athens- Greece(poster presentation). ESRI International User Conference, June 18-22, 2007 San Diego California–USA.
8. Grekousis G. 2005.A spatio temporal analysis in locational planning problems. 1st conference of new researchers. Volos-Greece 12-14 May,2005.
7. Grekousis G., Fotis Y., Koutsopoulos K. 2004. Solving stochastic location problems by artificial intelligence: Definition of an algorithm for spatio temporal analysis and forecast demand point patterns. Meeting of new researchers in geographic information science. Athens. 16 Jan 2004.
6. Grekousis G., Photis Y. 2004. A genetic algorithm for spatio-temporal point pattern analysis (Poster Presentation). Ph.d. Research Conference ITC. Enchede, The Netherlands 27 October 2004.
5. Grekousis G., Photis Y. 2003. Solving stochastic locational planning problems: Definition of a computational algorithm in a spatiotemporal methodological framework. 50th Annual North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International. Philadelphia-USA. Nov 20-22,2003.
4. Grekousis G., Manetos P.2003. Modelling urban evolution by identifying spatio-temporal patterns and applying methods of artificial intelligence. Case Study: Athens, Greece. Third Euroconference: The European City in Transition. The City and the Region. Weimar-Germany 14-15 Nov 2003.
3. Grekousis G., Photis Y. 2001. Assessing Demand in Stochastic Locational Planning Problems: A neural networks approach. XIII Euro Working Group on Locational Analysis- EWGLA Meeting, Volos, Greece, December 2001.
2. Grekousis G., Manetos P., Photis Y. 2001. Spatial analysis and evolution of metropolitan areas by the utilization of artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic. 11th Meeting of Greek Users of GIS November 2001.
1. Photis Y., Grekousis G. 2000. Location analysis of emergency service systems: A neural networks approach. XII Euro Working Group on Locational Analysis- EWGLA Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, December 2000.
Other Publications
8. Cincinnati Scores Slightly Better Than National Average on Sustainable Use of Land. UrbanCincy, May 4, 2015. http://www.urbancincy.com/2015/05/cincinnati-scores-slightly-better-than-national-average-on-sustainable-use-of-land/#disqus_thread
7. SUNY-ESF professors research energy efficiency patterns in counties across the country. Daily Orange Newspaper, April 6, 2015http://dailyorange.com/2015/04/suny-esf-professors-research-energy-efficiency-patterns-in-counties-across-the-country/
6. Study maps development one U.S. county at a time. Science Daily, March 25, 2015. (SienceDaily is one of the Internet’s most popular science news web sites). http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150325151735.htm
5. More cement changes Attica, Newspaper «Ta Nea» p18,19. December 6 2003.
4. Explosive increase in the demand of real estate until 2010, Flash.gr29/10/2002 http://financial.flash.gr/epixeiriseis/companies1/2002/3/9/11965id/
3. Oases and Jungles in Attica 2010, Newspaper «Ethnos» Economy p 4-5 , March 31 2002.
2. In which regions is expected built-up explosion until 2010, Magazine “Real Estate & Development” 16, p. 62-67 , September 2001
1. Centrifugal explosion bursts out in Attica, Newspaper «Η Kathimerini». p 1,3 January 26 2001.
Research Projects
2019-2022 “The spatiotemporal effect of microscopic geographical context on migrant’s subjective wellbeing in China”. National Natural Science Foundation of China - NSFC Grant 41871140, co-I, 575.000 Chinese Yuan.
2019-2021 “Spatial-temporal behaviour and the dissimilarity of ethnic groups of international residents in the Chinese Global Cities”. National Natural Science Foundation of China - NSFC Grant 41801157, co-I, 265.000 Chinese Yuan.
2017-2019 Startup research grant. 3700-18821113. Sun Yat-sen University.
2009-2010 “Spatial Impacts of Multimodal Corridor Development: Italy-Greece-Turkey.” University of Thessaly.
2008-2009 Research Program 65/1599 “Karatheodoris, NTUA 2007: Experience of space in real time and virtual place.”
2006-2008 “Building an intelligent geodemographic system” GeoInformation SA. Operational Program "Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship" (OPCE Ι) funded from the European Regional Development Fund and Greek National funds.
2005-2008 “I-STONE: Re-engineering of natural stone production chain through knowledge based processes, eco – innovation and new organizational paradigms.” National Technical University of Athens
2004-2006 “E-Class, Spatial Analysis and GIS”. National Technical University of Athens
Fellowships and Awards
12. 2023 Included in “World’s Top 2% Scientists list” published by Stanford University and Elsevier. Database file cited and published at: Ioannidis, John P.A. (2023), “October 2023 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators"”, Elsevier Data Repository, V6, doi: 10.17632/btchxktzyw.6 https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/6
11. 5/2009 Best conference paper award. Grekousis G. Spatial analysis in Geomarketing Systems.
10. 2019 2019 International conference on management science and industrial engineering. 24-26 May 2019, Phuket, Thailand.
9. Siemens - State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Program: Fellowship of Excellence for Post Doctoral Studies.
8. NASA – State University of New York. SUNY Research Foundation. Program for New Investigators.
7. Main researcher Grant (NNX08AR11G).
6. 2007 Travel expenses from ESRI Hellas for poster presentation ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, USA.
5. European Regional Development Fund and Greek National funds. Program: Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Grant (OPCE Ι). Grant HERONP-26 25162/ERE/2519/.
4. Fellowship for PhD studies. Heraklitus Grant: Research grants with priority to basic research, co-funded from European Social Fund (75%) and Greek National Fund (25%). Period of funding: 9/2003-9/2005.
3. Scholarship for master studies. Master of science in Geoinformation. Sate Scholarships Foundation (IKY).
2. Scholarship from Bahaus University, Germany for presenting a paper in the “Third Euroconference : The European City in Transition. The City and the Region.” Weimar-Germany 14-15 Nov 2003.
1. November 2001. Best poster in the “11th Meeting of Greek ESRI Users of G.I.S” Athens, Greece
