Recent highlights, publications, and research activities from the GeoDesign + Planning Lab.
This project presents animated visualizations tracking San Antonio's rapid urbanization over 40 years using National Land Cover Database (NLCD) data. The visualizations reveal the city's expansion over time, showing how developed areas have grown while natural landscapes have diminished.
A second animation focuses on tree canopy changes over the past 20 years, demonstrating reduced urban greenery across the city. Created by graduate research assistant Elliott Coleman under Dr. Lee's supervision, these maps aim to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of urban sprawl and encourage discussions on sustainable development.
Dr. Lee published research in the journal Cities exploring the relationship between neighborhood abandonment and quality of life. The study analyzed American Housing Survey data and found that the presence of neighborhood abandonment is negatively associated with neighborhood satisfaction, while housing values are more sensitive to both the presence and severity of abandonment.
The research emphasizes that socially vulnerable communities with high tolerance but low resilience to abandonment require more attention, especially toward improving the social environment. The article was made freely available through May 2024 via Elsevier.