Geographic Data Science Lab (GDSL)

The Geographic Data Science Lab (GDSL) at the University of Liverpool is a world-leading centre driving innovation in how we use data to understand people, places, and change. Bridging social and computational sciences, GDSL pioneers new methods in spatial analytics, machine learning and data integration to address today’s most urgent societal and environmental challenges.

Led by Professor Francisco Rowe, with Dr Elisabetta Pietrostefani as Deputy Lead, GDSL brings together interdisciplinary expertise from geography, economics, public health, mathematics, statistics, and computer science.

GDSL’s research is structured around core research themes, comprising inequalities and sustainability, urban science, population and human mobility, and social and environmental Sensing. GDSL transforms new data sources — including mobile phone records, social media, satellite imagery, and administrative datasets — into actionable evidence to inform public policy, urban planning, and climate resilience.

Working closely with partners such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the UK Office for National Statistics, and national and local governments, GDSL supports data-driven policymaking to promote inclusion, sustainability and preparedness. GDSL work has informed global frameworks for understanding climate-related mobility, national pandemic recovery strategies and local interventions, to reduce inequality and improve access to services.

GDSL leads major national and international research programmes, including two of UK’s Smart Data Services, Imago and the Geographic Data Service, which are part of Smart Data Research UK, the national programme for smart data research. GDSL also fosters future talent through its MSc and PhD programmes, equipping researchers and policymakers with cutting-edge geographic data science skills. Thus, GDSL contributes to transform geographic data into public value, empowering governments, organisations and citizens to build more equitable, sustainable and resilient communities across the world.