Xiang Chen

215 Glenbrook Rd, AUST #431 · Storrs, CT 06269 · (860) 486-3664 · xiang.chen@uconn.edu

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Connecticut, USA. My research interests are focused on GIScience and community health. I employ both data-driven and mixed-method approaches to understand critical health issues within urban communities.

My focus area is food access. I view food access beyond spatial concerns; it encompasses temporal and perceptual issues that manifest in residents' daily mobility and lived experiences.

Employment

University of Connecticut

Department of Geography
Assistant Professor

University of Connecticut

Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP)
Sustainable Global Cities Initiative (SGCI)
Faculty Affiliate

Education

The Ohio State University

Ph.D. Geography

Beijing Normal University

M.S. Resource Science

Beijing Normal University

B.S. Resource Science

Publications

[GIS]
[Health]
[Other]

Peer-review Journal

* Corresponding Author
[G 58]   Din A, Chen X*. (2023). Leveraging accessibility modeling to improve housing equity for low-income renters: A case study in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Cities, Accepted. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 57]   Xu R, Huang X, Zhang K, Lyu W, Ghosh D, Li Z, Chen X*. (2023) Activity-integrated food environment measures can predict cardiometabolic disorders in the United States. Nature Communications, 14(7326). [Web] [PDF] [Nature News] [UConn News] 

[H 56]   Lyu W, Seok N, Chen X, Xu R. (2023). Using crowdsourced food image data for assessing restaurant nutrition environment: A validation study. Nutrients, 15(19), 4287. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 55]   Li L, Li Q, Pei Z, Hao F, Chen X, Chen J. (2023). Identifying tourism attractiveness based on intra-destination tourist behaviors: Evidence from Wi-Fi data. Current Issues in Tourism, Accepted. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 54]   Adams A, Chen X*, Li W, Zhang C. (2023). Normalizing the pandemic: Exploring the cartographic issues in state government COVID-19 dashboards. Journal of Maps, 19(1). [Web] [PDF] 

[G 53]   Yang Y, Chen X (co-first author), Gao S, Li Z, Zhang Z, Zhao B. (2023). Embracing geospatial analytical technologies in tourism studies. Information Technology & Tourism, 25, 137–150. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 52]   Han Z, Cui C, Kong Y, Li Q, Chen Y, Chen X. (2023). Improving educational equity by maximizing service coverage in rural Changyuan, China: An evaluation-optimization-validation framework based on spatial accessibility to schools. Applied Geography, 152, 102891. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 51]   Jin A, Chen X, Huang X, Li Z, Caspi CE, Xu R. (2023). Selective daily mobility bias in the community food environment: Case study of Greater Hartford, Connecticut. Nutrients, 15(2), 404. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 50]   Chen X*, Ye X, Widener M, Delmelle E, Kwan M, Shannon J, Racine EF, Adams A, Liang L, Jia P. (2022). A systematic review of the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) in community food environmental research. Urban Informatics, 1(1), 22. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 49]   Chen X*, Wang H, Lyu W, Xu R. (2022). The Mann-Kendall-Sneyers test to identify the change points of COVID-19 time series in the United States. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22, 233. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 48]   Li L, Chen X, Zhang L, Qiang L, Yang Y, Chen J. (2022). Space-time tourist flow patterns in community-based tourism: An application of the empirical orthogonal function to Wi-Fi data. Current Issues in Tourism, 26(18), 3004-3022. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 47]   Chen X*, Zhao B, Yang X. (2022). The obesogenity of restaurant food: Mapping the nutritional foodscape of Franklin County, Ohio using food review images. Applied Geography, 144, 102717. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 46]   Cui Y, Chen X*, Chen X, Zhang C. (2022). Competition, integration, or complementation? Exploring the role of dock-based bike-sharing in New York City. The Professional Geographer, 75(1), 65–75. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 45]   Liao C, Chen X, Zhuo L, Liu Y, Tao H, Burton C. (2022). Reopen schools safely: Simulating COVID-19 transmission on campus with a contact network agent-based model. International Journal of Digital Earth, 15(1), 381–396. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 44]   Chen X, Wang H. (2021). On the rise of the new B.1.1.529 variant: Five dimensions of access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine, 40(3), 403-405. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 43]   Chen X, Johnson E, Kulkarni A, Ding C, Ranelli N, Chen Y, Xu R. (2021). An exploratory approach to deriving nutrition information of restaurant food from crowdsourced food images: Case of Hartford. Nutrients, 13(11), 4132. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 42]   Han Z, Kong Y, Cui C, Wang J, Li Q, Chen X. (2022). TiGrid: A raster-based method for time interval information representation with geotagged videos as an example. Transactions in GIS, 28(1), 362-384. [Web]

[H 41]   Wang H, Xu R, Qu S, Schwartz M, Adams A, Chen X*. (2021). Health inequities in COVID-19 vaccination among the elderly: Case of Connecticut. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(10), 1563-1565. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 40]   Li L, Chen X (co-first author), Li Q, Tan X, Chen J, Wang D, Jia P. (2021). Contextualizing human dynamics: Understanding the semantics of movement trajectories with Wi-Fi data. Travel Behaviour and Society, 25, 183–192. [Web] [PDF] 

[H 39]   Wang Y, Chen X*, Yang Y, Cui Y, Xu R. (2021). Risk perception and resource scarcity in food procurement during the early outbreak of COVID-19. Public Health, 195, 152–157. [Web] [PDF] [Erratum] 

[G 38]   Xiao Y, Chen X, Li Q, Jia P, Li L, Chen Z. (2021). Towards Healthy China 2030: Modeling health care accessibility with patient referral. Social Science & Medicine, 276, 113834. [Web] [PDF] 

[G 37]   Chen X, Zhang A, Wang H, Gallaher A, Zhu X. (2021). Compliance and containment in social distancing: mathematical modeling of COVID-19 across townships. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 35(3), 446–465. [Web] [PDF] [News]

[H 36]   Yang Y, Liu H, Chen X. (2020). COVID-19 and restaurant demand: early effects of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 13(12), 3809–3834.  [Web] [PDF] [News]

[H 35]  Wang Y, Xu R, Schwartz M, Ghosh D, Chen X* (2020). COVID-19 and retail grocery management: Insights from a broad-based consumer survey. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 48(3), 202–211.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 34]  Yang S, Chen X (co-first author), Wang L,..., Jia P. (2021). Walkability indices and childhood obesity: A review of epidemiologic evidence. Obesity Reviews, 22(S1), e13096.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 33]   Mei K, Hung H, Fang X, Hong A, Chen X,..., Jia P. (2020). State-of-the-art of measures of the obesogenic environment for children. Obesity Reviews, 22(S1), e13093.  [Web] [PDF]

[O 32]   Yang B, Chen X, Wang Z, Li W, Zhang C, Yao X. (2020). Analyzing land use structure efficiency with carbon emissions: A case study in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 274, 123076.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 31]   Adams A, Li W, Zhang C, Chen X*. (2020). The disguised pandemic: The importance of data normalization in COVID-19 web mapping. Public Health, 183, 36–37.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 30]   Yang Y, Zhang H, Chen X. (2020). Coronavirus pandemic and tourism: Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium modeling of infectious disease outbreak. Annals of Tourism Research, 83, 10291.  [Web] [PDF] [News]

[H 29]   Xu F, Jin L, Qin Z, Chen X,…, Jia P. (2021). Access to public transport and childhood obesity: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 22(S1), e12987.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 28]   Jia P, Liang L, Tan X, Chen J, Chen X*. (2019). Potential effects of heat waves on the population dynamics of the dengue mosquito Aedes albopictus. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13(7).  [Web] [PDF]

[G 27]   Chen X*, Jia P. (2019). A comparative analysis of accessibility measures by the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 33(9), 1739-1758.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 26]   Chen X*. (2019). Enhancing the two-step floating catchment area model for community food access mapping: Case of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Professional Geographer, 71(4), 668–680.  [Web]

[G 25]   Wang D, Li L, Hu C, Li Q, Chen X, Huang P. (2019). A modified inverse distance weighting method for interpolation in open public places based on Wi-Fi probe data. Journal of Advanced Transportation, 7602792.  [Web] [PDF]

[G 24]   Han Z, Cui C, Miao C, Wang H, Chen X (2019). Identifying spatial patterns of retail stores in road network structure. Sustainability, 11(17), 4539.  [Web] [PDF]

[O 23]   Chen X*, Frazier C, Manandhar R, Han Z, Jia P. (2019). Inequalities of risk communication within and beyond evacuation planning zone. Applied Spatial Analysis & Policy, 12(3), 587–604.  [Web]

[O 22]   Chen X, Wang D, Chen J, Wang C, Shen M. (2018). The mixed pixel effect in land surface phenology: A simulation study. Remote Sensing of Environment, 211, 338–344.  [Web] [PDF]

[G 21]   Zhang K, Chen X*, Zhang S, Wilson-Gray G. (2018). Towards a healthy ride: Locating public toilets in the Shanghai metro system. Applied Spatial Analysis & Policy, 11(2), 381–335.  [Web]

[O 20]   Chen S, Chen X, Chen X, Chen J, Cao X, Shen M, Yang W, Cui X. (2018). A novel cloud removal method based on IHOT and the cloud trajectories. Remote Sensing, 10(7).  [Web] [PDF]

[G 19]   Chen X*. (2017). Take the edge off: A hybrid food access measure. Applied Geography, 87, 149-159.  [Web]

[G 18]   Chen X*. Li Q. (2017). Modeling road network vulnerability for evacuees and first responders during no-notice evacuation. Journal of Advanced Transportation.  [Web] [PDF]

[H 17]   Jia P, Chen X*, Chen J, Lu L, Liu Q, Tan X. (2017). How does the dengue vector mosquito Aedes albopictus respond to global warming?. Parasites & Vectors, 10(140).  [Web]  [PDF] [Erratum]

[G 16]   Xiao Y, Chen X, Li Q, Yu X, Chen J, Guo J. (2017). Exploring determinants of housing prices in Beijing: An enhanced hedonic regression with open access POI data. International Journal of Geo-Information, 6(11).  [Web] [PDF]

[O 15]   Yang D, Chen J, Zhou Y, Chen X, Chen X, Cao X. (2017). Mapping plastic greenhouse with medium spatial resolution satellite data: Development of a new spectral index. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 128, 47-60.  [Web]

[G 14]   Chen X*, Clark J. (2016). Measuring space–time access to food retailers: A case of temporal access disparity in Franklin County, Ohio. The Professional Geographer, 68(2), 175–188.  [Web]

[H 13]   Jia P, Lu L, Chen X*, Chen J, Guo L, Yu X, Liu Q. (2016). A climate-driven mechanistic population model of Aedes albopictus with diapause. Parasites & Vectors, 9(175).  [Web] [PDF] [Erratum]

[O 12]   Zhu W, Zhang D, Chen X, Zheng Z, Zhou X, Jiang T. (2016). A correction method for false topographic perception of remote sensing images based on an inverse topographic correction technique. International Journal of Digital Earth, 9(10), 1021–1034.  [Web]

[H 11]   Chen X*, Kwan M. (2015). Contextual uncertainties, human mobility, and perceived food environment: The uncertain geographic context problem in food access research. American Journal of Public Health, 105(9), 1734–1737.  [Web]

[H 10]   Chen X*, Zhao B, Blackard E. (2015). Unveiling perceptions of food safety scandals in China: An exploratory study with search engine. Global Media Journal.  [Web]

[G 9]   Xu H, Li Q, Chen X, Chen J, Guo J, Wang Y. (2015). Logistical routing of park tours with waiting times: Case of Beijing Zoo. Tourism Geographies, 17(2), 208–222.  [Web]

[H 8]   Chen X*, Yang X. (2014). Does food environment influence food choices? A space-time analysis through “tweets”. Applied Geography, 51, 82–89.  [Web] [News]

[H 7]   Chen X*, Clark J. (2013). Interactive three-dimensional geovisualization of space-time access to food. Applied Geography, 43, 81–86.  [Web]

[G 6]   Chen Z, Chen X (co-first author), Li Q, Chen J. (2013). The temporal hierarchy of shelters: A hierarchical location model for earthquake-shelter planning. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 27(8), 1612–1630.  [Web]

[G 5]   Chen X*, Kwan M. (2012). Choice set formation with multiple flexible activities under space-time constraints. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 26(5), 941-961.  [Web]

[G 4]   Chen X, Kwan M, Li Q, Chen J. (2012). A model for evacuation risk assessment with consideration of pre-and-post disaster factors. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 36(3), 207-217.  [Web]

[G 3]   Li Q, Chen X, Chen J, Tang Q. (2010). An evacuation risk assessment model for emergency traffic with consideration of urban hazard installations. Chinese Science Bulletin, 55(10), 1000-1006.  [Web]

Chinese Peer-review Journal

中文学术期刊
[G 2]   陈翔, 李强, 王运静, 陈晋, 唐巧. (2009). 临界簇模型及其在地面公交线网可达性评价中的应用. 地理学报, 64(16), 693-700. Chen X, Li Q, Wang Y, Chen J, Tang Q. (2009). The Critical Cluster Model and its application for measuring accessibility of public transit networks. Acta Geographica Sinica, 64(16), 693-700.  [Web] [PDF] [Translation]

[G 1]   李强, 陈翔, 陈晋, 唐巧. (2009). 考虑危险源的城市应急交通疏散风险评价模型. 科学通报, 54(16), 2431-2436. Li Q, Chen X, Chen J, Tang Q. (2009). Modeling evacuation risk by considering potential urban hazards. Chinese Science Bulletin, 54(16), 2431-2436.  [Web] [PDF]

Peer-review Book Chapters

Adams A, Ghosh D, Chen X, Li W, Zhang C, Gallaher A, Benitez Ou A. (2024). Using geospatial visualizations to better understand public health data. In Spatial Literacy in Public Health. ACRL Books.  [Web]

Wang Y, Gürce MY, Lopes JN, Xu T, Chen X. (2022). How did COVID-19 reshape food procurement around the Globe? Effective operation and redesign of the food retail industry in China, Portugal, Turkey, and the USA. In Socioeconomic Dynamics of the COVID-19 Crisis.  [Web]

Non-peer-review Articles

Bennett BL, Burkholder K, Esposito J, Chen X, McKee S, Chafouleas S, Schwartz MB. (2021). Feeding Connecticut's children during the summer: An evaluation of access and family perspectives on meal sites. UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health.  [Web]

Chen X. (Sep 19, 2021). Review of "Estimating data-driven COVID-19 mitigation strategies for safe university reopening." Rapid Reviews: COVID-19.  [Web]

Chen X. (Spring, 2021). Food access: A time issue. Repost for Geographies of Food and Agriculture Specialty Group, AAG.  [PDF]

Chen X. (Feb 10, 2021). Food access: A time issue. Geography Blog, The Ohio State University.  [Web]

Chen X. (Jun 13, 2014). Analyzing tweets shows that people living closer to grocery stores make healthier food choices. USApp, The London School of Economics and Political Science.  [Web]

Dissertation

Chen X. (2014). Bringing Time into Measure of Food Access: Place vs. People. The Ohio State University.  [Web]

Podcast & Recording

Chen X. (Nov 18, 2022). Geography 2050: The Future of Food. Columbia University.  [Web]

Chen X, Kolak M. (Mar 4, 2022). The spatial origins of population health (in-)equity. Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS).  [Web]

Chen X. (Jan 31, 2022). One Health, One Community. University of Connecticut.  [Web]

Teaching

University of Connecticut
  • GEOG 2500  Introduction to GIS [YouTube Channel]
  • GEOG 2505  Applications of GIS
  • GEOG 4516  Fundamentals of Spatial Database Systems
  • GEOG 4518  Mobile GIS
  • GEOG 6815  Graduate Seminar on GIS
Arkansas Tech University
  • EAM 4023  Geographic Information Systems  [YouTube Channel]
  • EAM 4033  Undergraduate Research Methods & Analysis
  • EAM 4993  Advanced GIS
  • EMHS 6043  Contemporary Issues in Emergency Management
  • EMHS 6513  Technology for Comprehensive EM
  • EMHS 6543  Advanced Digital Technology in EM
The Ohio State University
  • Geography 3300  Transportation Security
  • Geography 5220  Fundamentals of GIS
  • Geography 5222  GIS Applications in Social Science and Business

Service

Professional Community

  • Board of Director. International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences (CPGIS)    2020–2022
  • Paper Competition Committee Chair. CPGIS    2015–
  • Board Member. American Association of Geographers (AAG) Geographies of Food and Agriculture Specialty Group    2014–16  2017–19
  • Board Member. AAG Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group    2016–18

Journal Reviewer

  • 10+    5+    3+   
  • American Journal of Preventive Medicine
  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Annals of the Association of American Geographers
  • Annals of Tourism Research
  • Applied Geography
  • Annals of Tourism Research
  • Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy
  • BMC Public Health
  • Computers, Environment and Urban Systems
  • Food Security
  • Future Internet
  • GeoJournal
  • International Journal of Geo-Information
  • International Journal of Digital Earth
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
  • International Journal of Geographical information Science
  • International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
  • Journal of Modeling Choice
  • Journal of Sustainability
  • Northeastern Geographer
  • Nutrients
  • Professional Geographer
  • Public Health
  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Southeastern Geographer
  • Transactions in GIS
  • Transportation
  • Transportation Research Records
  • Urban Geography

Awards

  • Significant Honor

  • 2024  Pearson Excellence in Higher Education Awards: Community Advancement.
  • 2024  SDOH & Place Fellowship, RWJF Foundation & University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • 2023  Top 2% Scientists Worldwide in 2022. Stanford University.
  • 2023  Service-Learning Fellowship. Office of Outreach & Engagement, University of Connecticut.
  • 2022  InCHIP Grant Development Summer Award, University of Connecticut.
  • 2021  Outstanding Professor Award, UConn Marching Band.
  • 2020  NSF Geospatial Fellow for COVID-19 Research, Geospatial Software Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  • 2019  The 29th International Cartographic Conference (Tokyo, Japan) Travel Award, U.S. National Committee
  • 2019  The 29th International Cartographic Conference (Tokyo, Japan) Local Travel Grant
  • 2017  Agro-Geoinformatics 2017 Travel Award
  • 2015  Jacques May Thesis Prize. AAG Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group
  • 2013  Fenburr Travel Scholarship, Geography, The Ohio State University
  • 2013  The 26th International Cartographic Conference (Dresden, Germany) Travel Award, U.S. National Committee
  • 2012  Robert Max Thomas Fellowship, Geography, The Ohio State University
  • 2010  College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Fellowship, The Ohio State University
  • 2009  Distinguished University Fellowship, The Ohio State University

Downloads

Please go to my GitHub account for downloading other project data and codes →

Global Health

Mosquito Population Modeling

  • We have developed the mechanistic population model of Ae. albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito) with diapause (MPAD).
  • The model derives the mosquito population abundance in a seven-stage climate-driven development.
  • The original model (2016) is further extended to studying global warming (2017) and heat waves (2019).
Read More                          Download          

Remote Sensing

Simulation Toolkit for Mixed Pixel Phenology

  • The green-up date (GUD) characterizes the onset of measurable photosynthetic activities or the timing of spring arrivals.
  • Vegetation index products may contain mixed pixels, introducing uncertainties to GUD detection.
  • This simulation toolkit identifies the GUD in a mixed pixel based on the NDVI time series of the endmembers in the pixel.
Read More                    Download          

Emergency Management

Network-based Evacuation Risk Assessment

  • In emergencies, evacuation via road networks is characterized with a high degree of uncertainties
  • The critical cluster model (CCM) is developed to quantify the evacuation risk in network-based neighborhoods
  • This custom simulation toolkit identifies the network vulnerability based on the CCM
Read more                    Download          
>

Students

Current Students

Aaron Adams

(PhD, co-advisee)

Yunhe Cui

(PhD, co-advisee)

Weixuan Lyu

(PhD, advisee)

Ailin Jin

(PhD, advisee)

Congcong Miao

(PhD, co-advisee)

Publications with Students

[H 57]   Xu R, Huang X, Zhang K, Lyu W, Ghosh D, Li Z, Chen X. (2023) Activity-integrated food environment measures can predict cardiometabolic disorders in the United States. Nature Communications, 14(7326).

[H 56]   Lyu W, Seok N, Chen X, Xu R. (2023). Using crowdsourced food image data for assessing restaurant nutrition environment: A validation study. Nutrients, 15(19), 4287.

[G 54]   Adams A, Chen X, Li W, Zhang C. (2023). Normalizing the pandemic: Exploring the cartographic issues in state government COVID-19 dashboards. Journal of Maps, 19(1).

[H 51]   Jin A, Chen X, Huang X, Li Z, Caspi CE, Xu R. (2023). Selective daily mobility bias in the community food environment: Case study of Greater Hartford, Connecticut. Nutrients, 15(2), 404.

[G 50]   Chen X, Ye X, Widener M, Delmelle E, Kwan M, Shannon J, Racine EF, Adams A, Liang L, Jia P. (2022). A systematic review of the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) in community food environmental research. Urban Informatics, 1, 22.

[H 49]   Chen X, Wang H, Lyu W, Xu R. (2022). The Mann-Kendall-Sneyers test to identify the change points of COVID-19 time series in the United States. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22, 233.

[G 46]   Cui Y, Chen X, Chen X, Zhang C. (2022). Competition, integration, or complementation? Exploring the role of dock-based bike-sharing in New York City. The Professional Geographer, 75(1), 65–75.

[H 41]   Wang H, Xu R, Qu S, Schwartz M, Adams A, Chen X. (2021). Health inequities in COVID-19 vaccination among the elderly: Case of Connecticut. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(10), 1563-1565.

[H 39]   Wang Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Cui Y, Xu R. (2021). Risk perception and resource scarcity in food procurement during the early outbreak of COVID-19. Public Health, 195, 152–157.

[H 31]   Adams A, Li W, Zhang C, Chen X. (2020). The disguised pandemic: The importance of data normalization in COVID-19 web mapping. Public Health, 183, 36–37.   

Check out UConn Geography for more information about our graduate program. UConn offers a very competitive Graduate Assistantship Package.