Max J. Egenhofer

Dr. Max J. Egenhofer is Professor of Spatial Informatics, former Director of the School of
Computing and Information Science, and former Director of the National Center for Geographic
Information and Analysis (NCGIA) at the University of Maine. He received an M.S. in
Surveying Engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany (1985), and his Ph.D. in
Surveying Engineering from the University of Maine (1989). He is a fellow of the University
Consortium for Geographic Information Science, was recognized in 2002 by a Joint Order from
the State of Maine's Senate and House of Representatives, and is the recipient of the 2002
University of Maine Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award and the 2003
UCGIS Research Award.

Dr. Egenhofer's research interests are in spatial knowledge representation and spatial reasoning.
His research has been funded with over $15Mio from federal agencies and industry. As first
advisor, he has supervised to completion eighteen PhDs and thirty Masters, and has mentored
thirteen post-doctoral advisees and has authored or co-authored over 200 articles in journals,
books, and conference proceedings relating to GIS and computer science on various aspects of GIS
design. He co-initiated the conference series on Geographic Information Science, has organized or
co-organized over 20 international conferences and workshops, served on the program committees of
over 200 conferences and workshops, and has delivered over 50 keynote addresses and invited talks
at national and international meetings.

Monica Sester

Professor and Director of the Institute for Cartography and Geoinformatics at Hannover University

Educational Background
After studying Geodesy at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, I was Research Assistant at the
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing in Karlsruhe (1987-1988), and later in Stuttgart,
at the Institute for Photogrammetry (1988-1994). From 1995-2000 I was head of the research group
“Geographical Information Systems” at the same institute. Since November 2000 I am Professor for
Cartography and Geoinformatics at the University of Hannover.

Research Interest and Activities
My research interest lies in the automation of spatial data handling. This relates to the automatic
data generalization and abstraction, automatic data interpretation and analysis, as well as
integration of data from different sources. Another priority topic is research on Multiscale
and Multiple Representation in GIS, mainly for the purpose of optimization of analysis and visualization.
Different kinds of data are analyzed, e.g. vector data, Lidar Data, movement trajectories, as well as
social media data. Machine Learning is a major technology for interpretation. The research is funded by
the German Research Foundation (DFG), German Ministries on Federal and State Level, as well as Industry.
Notable research projects are two DFG Research Training Groups in the domain of Traffic, Dynamic Maps
and Collaboration.

Activities in national and international organizations
I am active in different national and international organizations, e.g. the National and the International
Societies of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information (DGPF and ISPRS) and the National and
the International Societies for Cartography (DGfK and ICA). I served as a Vice President International at
Leibniz University. I am head of the DFG Senate commission on earth system research, and member of the
Senate of the Helmholtz Society.

Rachel Franklin

Rachel Franklin is Professor of Geographical Analysis at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) and the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. She is also a visiting scholar at the Population Studies and Training Center at Brown University in the United States and the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) in Italy, a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute, and current editor of Geographical Analysis. She earned her PhD in Geography at the University of Arizona (2004) and holds a BA in French and Political Science and an MA in West European Studies from Indiana University. 

Professor Franklin’s research focus is in spatial demography and the interplay between spatial analytics and demographic change, in particular quantifying patterns, sources and impacts of spatial inequality. Current research projects focus on the design of equitable sensor networks for “smart” cities, demographic change and “left behind” places, and the sources and impacts of depopulation. She is also co-investigator on the Geospatial Systems Centre for Doctoral Training at Newcastle University, funded by the EPSRC, a co-author on one of the sole GIS textbooks for the social sciences (GIS and the Social Sciences  Theory and Applications), and theme lead for Spatial Analytics at Newcastle’s Centre for Research Excellence in Data.