We use cutting-edge technologies, such as ArcPad, drone, and Trimble Yuma 2, to develop high-resolution datasets including 3D photogrammetric images, digital elevation models, and digital terrain models to understand the environment. These datasets are valuable to not only urban development, but also academic research such as risk estimation, flooding, soil erosion, deforestation, and urban sprawl.

The images are part of our research project funded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), to develop 3D terrain of sampled areas in the Chamblee Quadrangle, Georgia using drone and field work.

We use GIS technologies to study pollution and disasters.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we study indoor radon and soil radon radiation in urban communities.

Our team has investigated transportation safety. We conducted built environmental audits, detect high-risk traffic zones using network-based GIS models, and road design impact on pedestrian injuries.

We have developed web scraping technique to extract geotagged social media messages and investigated hidden emotions after terrorist attacks.

Our team makes impactful contributions on health geography, environmental health, and spatial epidemiology, among others at national and international scales.

Funded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Dai worked with public health colleagues and developed a Urban Health Index (UHI) toolkit, collaborating with colleagues from United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, China, Germany, and Japan. The tool was adopted by the WHO as a guideline for its member states to understand urban disparities in health and health determinants.

We investigate racial residential segregation and its impact on late-stage breast cancer, environmental literacy, and environmental health. Our team received an award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase community capacity and improve environmental literacy in predominately minority communities.

We study spatial and social network based on the interaction between social networks on physical geographic space. We examine how the interaction of personal geographic space, social network structure, and risk behavior have maintained the endemicity of infectious diseases.

Our research group uses geospatial technologies to understand the complex challenges facing cities in general.

Funded by Food Well Atlanta, we promote a better understanding of the connectivity between local food growers in Atlanta and the actors in the local food system.

Working with public health and public policy colleagues, we map the social supports, services, and health care access in Clarkston Georgia, a predominately immigrant community.

Our group studies internet of things and smart cities and deploys sensors to understand walkability, air pollution, and soil radon.