John Wilson

John Wilson, LLB Hons, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD

Geospatial Lead, Data Science

SC CTSI Role

Dr. John P. Wilson is Professor of Sociology and Spatial Sciences in the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at USC where he directs the Spatial Sciences Institute and the Wilson Map Lab. He also holds appointments as Professor in the USC School of Architecture, the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, and the Viterbi School of Engineering’s Departments of Computer Science and Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Contact Information

jpwilson@usc.edu
213-740-1908
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Professional Background

His research focuses on the modeling of coupled human and environmental systems and makes extensive use of GIS, spatial analysis, and computer models. He has published numerous books and articles on these topics, including Spatial Data Science (Esri Press, 2024), Environmental Applications of Digital Terrain Modeling (Wiley-Blackwell, 2018) and two edited volumes, Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications (Wiley, 2000) and the Handbook of Geographic Information Science (Blackwell, 2008). Much of this work is collaborative with the goal of improving our understanding of the factors linking people, their environments, and their health.

He has received numerous honors for his research and teaching, including his election as a Fellow of the American Association of Geographers and the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) in 2021 and 2014, respectively. He also received the University of Toronto Association of Geography Alumni Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025, Lifetime Achievement Awards from the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Science and International Society for Geomorphometry in 2016 and 2023, respectively, the GIS Education, Distinguished Service and Carolyn Merry Mentoring awards from the UCGIS in 2019, 2024 and 2026, respectively, the Mellon Award for Excellence in Mentoring from the Center for Excellence in Teaching at USC in 2005, and the Albert S. Raubenheimer Outstanding Faculty Award for his research, teaching, and service contributions in Dornsife College at USC in 2004.

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