I am a 2nd year PhD student in the Joint Doctoral Program in Geography at San Diego State University and the University of California - Santa Barbara. I combine spatial and computational methods and thinking to research human dynamics and address social equity issues. My research interests include geospatial data ethics, community health and wellness, and education/workforce diversity.
Researchhttps://humandynamics.sdsu.edu/
Mobile location data is collected through smartphones and other location-enabled devices to provide information about human mobility across space and time. Despite the data's common application to epidemiology and emergency management, there are inherent demographic and socioeconomic biases that remain understudied and rarely mitigated.
My research investigates data bias in mobile location datasets (e.g., Advan, Cuebiq) and establishes guidelines for responsible data usage in diverse applications.
Embury, J., Dodge, S., Nara, A. (In preparation). Characterization of demographic and socioeconomic biases in mobile location data.
Embury, J., Nara, A., Rey, S., Tsou, M. H., & Ghanipoor Machiani, S. (2024). Detecting synthetic population bias using a spatially-oriented framework and independent validation data. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 38(9), 1912–1938. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2024.2358399
Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare and nutritious foods.
Since 2021, I have provided spatial analysis and decision support to BrightSide Produce, a produce distributor bringing affordable and culturally-relevant fruits and vegetables to underserved San Diego communities. I describe my process in the 2-minute video below.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked with the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age at SDSU to monitor and share local COVID-19 rates and outcomes with the public.
Tsou, M. H., Xu, J., Lin, C. D., Daniels, M., Embury, J., Park, J., … Gibbons, J. (2023). Analyzing Spatial-Temporal Impacts of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status Variables on COVID-19 Outbreaks as Potential Social Determinants of Health. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 113(4), 891–912. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2022.2149460
Embury, J., Tsou, M.-H., Nara, A., Oren, E. (2022). A Spatio-Demographic Perspective on the Role of Social Determinants of Health and Chronic Disease in Determining a Population’s Vulnerability to COVID-19. Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210414. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd19.210414
Lowery, B. C., Swayne, M. R., Castro, I., Embury, J. (2022). Mapping EBT Store Closures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Low-Income, Food-Insecure Community in San Diego. Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210410. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd19.210410
As a team of geography and computer science teachers and researchers, our goal is to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to engage with spatial and computational thinking and methods.
We worked to better understand current gaps in the geocomputational workforce. Using this knowledge, we developed community-based geocomputation lessons and assessed their effect on secondary school students' perceptions of geography and computer science.
Embury, J., Nara, A., León, K., Herman, T., Rey, S., Solem, M. (In review). Assessing the effects of geocomputation lessons on secondary school students’ perceptions of geography and computer science.
Nara, A., Embury, J., Velasco, M., Russell, R., Magdy, A., & Dony, C. C. (2024). Preparing for a Career at the Intersection of Geography and Computing: Availability and Access to Training Along Geocomputational Career Pathways. The Professional Geographer, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2024.2404911
SkillsSamples of my work:
ShowcaseThis is a collection of maps that I created as a GIS Intern for the City of San Diego's Open Space Division.
