Report

The 3rd International Workshop on Geographic Modeling and Simulation was successfully held at Nanjing Normal University (Suiyuan Campus) from October 26th to October 27th, 2024. With the theme ‘Modeling and Simulation for a Sustainable World’, the workshop focused on theories, approaches, technologies and solutions of geographic modeling and simulation, while exploring the challenges and applications of sustainable development. The workshop was jointly organized by School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, China, Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment (Ministry of Education of PRC), Nanjing Normal University, China and International Geographical Union – Modeling Geographical Systems Commission. It also received strong support from co-organizers, including the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, The International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences, Geographic Model and Geographic Information Analysis Commission, The Geographical Society of China, and so on.

The opening ceremony was held on October 26th morning, chaired by Prof. Changchun Huang (Dean of School of Geography, Nanjing Normal University). Prof. Linwang Yuan (Vice principal, Nanjing Normal University), Prof. Michael Meadows (Past president of the IGU, University of Cape Town) and Prof. Val Snow (President of the IEMSs, AgResearch) delivered welcome speeches.

After the opening ceremony, the following distinguished speakers delivered keynote presentations on various topics:

  • Speaker: Prof. Stewart Fotheringham, Academician of U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Arizona State University. Title: Measuring the unmeasurable: models of geographic context.
  • Speaker: Prof. Jun Xia, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University. Title: Developing water systems science and technology in large river basins.
  • Speaker: Prof. Xin Li, Deputy Director of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Title: Modeling complex human–natural system at the river basin scale in the AI and big data era.
  • Speaker: Prof. Paul Longley, Academician of Academy of Social Sciences, University College London, UK. Title: Individual level modelling and simulation.
  • Speaker: Prof. Josef Strobl, Academician of Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Salzburg. Title: Online DEMs: terrain representations for modeling and simulation.
  • Speaker: Prof. Anthony Jakeman, Fellow of American Geophysical Union, Australian National University. Title: Managing and reducing uncertainty for grand challenge problems: focus on water quality modelling.
  • Speaker: Prof. Jinfeng Wang, Distinguish Professor, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Title: Beyond the 1st & 2nd laws of geography: modelling for spatial stratified heterogeneous data.
  • Speaker: Prof. Kazuhito Ichii, Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University. Title: Monitoring terrestrial carbon cycle across Asia in the era of earth observation big data.
  • Speaker: Prof. Mei-Po Kwan, Academician of Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Title: Advanced geospatial modeling in human mobility and health research.
  • Speaker: Prof. Niklas Boers, Researcher of the Technical University of Munich. Title: Machine learning for earth system modelling.
  • Speaker: Prof. Stefan Reis, Past President of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, DLR Projektträger. Title: Integrated environmental modelling and simulation to tackle the triple existential crisis.
  • Speaker: Prof. Min Chen, President of the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences (CPGIS), the Vice-President of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (iEMSs), Nanjing Normal University. Title: Geographic modeling and simulation in the AI era.

At the welcome gala dinner on October 26th evening, Prof. Min Chen hosted the award ceremony for the 2024 International Geographical Union (IGU) Outstanding Achievement Award in Geographical Information Modeling (OAA) and the Young Scholar Award (YSA). Prof. Pankaj Kumar from the University of Delhi, and Prof. Guonian Lv from Nanjing Normal University presented certificates and trophies to the awardees.

On October 27th, 97 oral presentations were delivered in 4 parallel sessions, covering 13 themes including “Theories, Methodologies, and Applications of Earth System Models”, “Big Data Analytics, Modeling, Simulation, and AI in Health Geography”, and “Intelligent Simulation of Spatiotemporal Processes”.

After the conclusion of the parallel sessions, the closing ceremony was hosted by Prof. Min Chen, who summarized the achievements of the conference and presented certificates to the winners of the “Best Paper Awards”. The conference attracted over 160 experts and scholars from 48 universities and research institutes across 11 countries and regions, facilitating in-depth exchanges among international experts and strengthening collaboration and friendships among participants.

Regards
Prof. Chen Min
Nanjing Normal University