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Furthering justice with spatial analytics & visualization!

Welcome to the Spatial Analytics and Visualization Institute (SAVI) page, an official SJSU Campus Institute in the California State University system. We are the only CSU Institute in Northern California to implement advanced GISci techniques for justice, equity, and democracy research and education! SAVI uses the power of geography and Geographic Information Science to produce impactful research and professional services with focus on furthering justice, equity, and democracy to serve our university departments, neighborhood organizations, public agencies and private sector entities in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

News

Pixels to Policy Image

Fall 25 Semester SAVI Talk announced! From Pixels to Policy: Image Analysis in City Planning

On December 8, SJSU professors, Dr. Marcel Moran and Dr. Ayda Kianmehr join Dr. Maryam Hosseini of UC Berkeley to discuss their latest research in how image analysis efforts —from satellites to street-level views—are transforming the way we understand and design cities.

Attendees of this Noon webinar will discover how innovative image-based methods are driving new insights into transportation, environmental health, and social equity. This webinar will highlight real-world case studies and demonstrate how visual data can become a powerful tool for building healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive communities. Whether you’re a student, planner, policymaker, or community advocate, this event offers fresh perspectives on how images can help shape the future of our cities.

Register here!

SAVI GIS Day banner

SAVI Director Publishes Key Policy Analysis on Reducing Transportation Emissions

SAVI Director's latest study reveals that local activist-driven policies, like parking reform and public education, can cut vehicle trips and boost non-auto commuting by 20%, even without strict regional mandates. However, regional planning remains crucial for equity. The findings emphasize a balanced approach to tackling transportation emissions.

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15 min Neighborhood

SAVI's mapping support for SPUR on San Jose's The 15-minute Neighborhood

How can cities effectively plan for walkable, livable neighborhoods? SAVI's support for advocacy organizations targeting major local policies includes this series of choropleth maps illustrating which parts of San José are best and worst served in terms of proximity to essential services such as food, recreation, education, healthcare, and others.

Full report

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A new SAVI study assesses the high-tech zones in the U.S.

A recent SAVI study authored by SAVI co-director, Dr. Ahoura Zandi, assesses the relationships between transportation amenities and high-tech firm locations in the U.S. tech clusters. 

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2024 SAVI GIS Day's Memorable Highlights
2024 SAVI GIS Day's Memorable Highlights

2024 SAVI GIS Day's Memorable Highlights

SAVI GIS Day 2024 was an incredible gathering of GIS professionals, students, and enthusiasts, celebrating the power of geographic information systems! From hands-on workshops and insightful presentations to networking with like-minded individuals, the day was filled with learning, collaboration, and innovation. Held at Studio on the Street in San Jose, attendees explored cutting-edge GIS applications, shared ideas, and built connections that will shape the future of geospatial technology. Special student discounts made it even more accessible for the next generation of GIS experts to join in on the experience. Relive the energy and excitement through this photo album, capturing the best moments of the event. Whether you were there in person or just want to see what you missed, these snapshots highlight the passion and community that make GIS Day so special!

Event Gallery!

Featured Project

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Bike Infrastructure Gap Mapper

The Bike Infrastructure Gap Mapper is built using 40+ spatial and demographic indicators—validated through literature review, expert Delphi panel, and spatial analysis—to guide equitable bike infrastructure planning in the Bay Area. Click here and explore this informative tool!

Explore Bike Infrastructure Gap Mapper

Events

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The DJI Phantom 4 Pro

West Coast Drone Mapping

Coastal ecosystems and eelgrass habitats provide important services to the marine environment, including primary production, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, habitat for fisheries species, and erosion control. UASs with high spatial resolution, temporal flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for repeat photogrammetry, afford a significant advancement in other remote sensing approaches for coastal mapping, habitat monitoring, and environmental management. They provide essentially on-demand remote sensing at low cost and with reduced human risk. Drone imagery will be collected at least annually in coordination with in situ samplings which will also be used to validate the imagery by ground-truthing across a range of points within each meadow. Because eelgrass extent in some regions is subtidal and challenging to visualize from the air, we utilize DJI Phantom 4 Pro (RGB) and DJI Inspire (multispectral) drones and related drone mapping technology through Esri Drone2Map. Each year, ideally we allocate 4-6 days at each site for each drone mission to maximize ideal conditions for collecting drone imagery, striving for lowest spring tides, and calm, bright conditions with roughly vertical sunlight.

Know More about West Coast Drone Mapping