Keynote Speakers
Nico Van de Weghe
University of Ghent (Belgium)Affiliation
Keynote title: Exploring generative AI applications in human mobility research
Abstract
This keynote introduces the basics of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its applications in human mobility research. The presentation will start with an overview of GenAI, followed by discussions on how it can be utilized to enhance urban mobility studies. Through examples from past, current, and anticipated projects, we will showcase GenAI's role in simulating complex mobility scenarios and addressing urban planning challenges. The focus will also extend to the specific requirements and future potential of GenAI in this field, offering insights into its practical impact and the research opportunities it unlocks.le ipsum
Short Bio
Prof. dr. Nico Van de Weghe is a full professor of GIScience, a scientific discipline at the intersection of computer science, social science, and natural science. GIScience involves the study of geospatial information and how people understand the world. It also addresses how phenomena of the world can be stored, represented, and analyzed. It lies at the basis of GeoAI, which is the goal of enabling machines to learn to reason and analyse spatially like a human. Since his PhD research in 2004, Van de Weghe has had a broad interest in knowledge-based AI, specifically spatiotemporal reasoning and analysis.
As in all areas related to AI, data-driven approaches are becoming increasingly dominant in GeoAI. Therefore, Van de Weghe is currently focusing on research in both knowledge-based and data-driven GeoAI. He is exploring the possibilities of combining both into hybrid GeoAI. Van de Weghe’s emphasis since his early research days has been on spatiotemporal applications in general and the analysis of moving objects more specifically. He has applied his research in a variety of domains, including animal behavior, criminology, crowd analysis, healthcare, mobility research, navigation, and sports analysis.