Symposium on GeoAI for Sustainable Cities in the Global South
Supporting the below United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:支持以下聯合國可持續發展目標：支持以下联合国可持续发展目标：
To systematically support the Belt and Road Initiative and the green transition of the Global South, HKUST (GZ) co-established the Greater Bay Area Global Green Innovation Academy with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in 2024, and has built exchanges and cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. In autumn 2026, the University will launch training programs for government leaders of Global South nations in partnership with the China International Development Cooperation Agency. Between 2026 and 2027, a series of forums on African development will also be held to align with the 2027 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, jointly exploring new models for coordinated development across the Global South.
This thematic event --Symposium on GeoAI for Sustainable Cities in the Global South, organized by the Urban Governance and Design Thrust, is part of a series of initiatives advancing academic research, international exchanges, and practical cooperation concerning the Global South.
The symposium convenes representatives from UN-Habitat, renowned global scholars, and leading industry experts for in-depth discussions on GeoAI for Sustainable Cities in the Global South. Integrating geographic information science, remote sensing, AI algorithms, and multi-source spatiotemporal big data, the event examines tailored governance solutions, practical experiences, and innovative development pathways for Global South countries and cities from academic, project implementation, and macro policy perspectives, delivering professional, localized, and actionable insights to advance smart, low-carbon urban development in the Global South.
13:00–13:05 | Opening Remarks
Welcome remarks and introduction to the symposium
13:05–15:00 | Session I
Moderator: Prof. Maosu Li, UGOD
- Prof. Xinyue Ye, The University of Alabama
What Five Disciplines Taught Me About Cities: Disciplinary Insights, Local Knowledge, and Urban Intelligence
- Prof. Yongze Song, Curtin University
Advanced Geospatial Methods for Global Southern Sustainable Resource Management
- Prof. Xiao Huang, Emory University
GeoAI-Powered Spatial Intelligence: From Geospatial Data to Intelligent Decision-Making
- Prof. Ashraf Kamal, Egypt Housing and Building National Research Center
GeoAI for Sustainable Cities in the Global South: An Overview from Egypt’s expansions related to Climate Change Impacts
15:00–15:15 | Coffee Break
15:15–16:45 | Session II
Moderator: Prof. Rui Cao, UGOD
- Mr. Lyubo Filipov, The International Fund for Agricultural Development (UN-IFAD)
Geospatial Unified Investment Data Environment (GUIDE): From Field GIS to GeoAI and Remote Sensing
- Mr. Solomon Karani Imujaro , UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
UN-Habitat's Spatial Assessment Tools and Practices towards Climate Resilience
- Mr. Sandro Semedo, UN Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC)
Building GeoAI-Ready Geospatial Ecosystems through the UN-IGIF: Advancing Sustainable Cities in the Global South (confirmed)
- Dr. Jie Wu, Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute (GZPI)
Exploring Smart Governance for Marine Ecological Restoration in the Pearl River Delta under the UN Decade of Ocean Science Framework
16:45–17:20 | Panel Discussion
Theme: Opportunities and Challenges of AI for Sustainable Cities in the Global South
Moderator: Prof. Wufan Zhao, UGOD
Panelists: Prof. Yang Yue, Prof. Rui Cao, Prof. Xiaofeng Liu, and invited speakers
Suggested topics:
Cross-regional applicability and localization of AI technologies
Urban resilience, infrastructure, and social equity
Interdisciplinary collaboration among AI, geography, urban planning, and the social sciences
17:20–17:30 | Closing Remarks and Group Photo
