Department of Geography

Researchers warn that phony satellite imagery could become a common and dangerous mode of disinformation. Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography at the UW, is quoted.

Vicky Lawson, Professor of Geography and Director of the UW Honors Program, teaches a class on understanding the sources of poverty and houselessness in Seattle.

In a paper published online last month, Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography at the UW, employed AI techniques similar to those used to create so-called deepfakes to alter satellite images of several cities. Zhao and colleagues swapped features between images of Seattle and Beijing to show buildings where there are none in Seattle and to remove structures and replace them with greenery in Beijing.

This week at the UW, attend a lecture on revolutionary reforms to the metric system, "Asian American Women Rising: NOT the Model Minority," and more.

Techniques such as “location spoofing” and deepfake geography present significant risks for our increasingly connected society. Because of this, a team of researchers at University of Washington are working to identify ways to detect these fakes, as well as proposing the creation of a geographic fact-checking system. Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography at the UW, is quoted.

While the concept of “deepfakes,” or AI-generated synthetic imagery, has been decried primarily in connection with involuntary depictions of people, the technology is dangerous (and interesting) in other ways as well. For instance, researchers have shown that it can be used to manipulate satellite imagery to produce real-looking — but totally fake — overhead maps of cities. Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography at the UW, is quoted.

Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography, has authored a new study on deepfake geography.

This article, written by geography PhD candidate Lauren Drakopulos, discusses unique maps made by Julian Barr, geography graduate student, and Jin-Kyu Jung, adjunct associate professor of geography.

Take a look back at the last year of the UW's research of and adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week at the UW, attend the Katz Distinguished Lecture, the 2021 Biamp PDX Jazz Festival with Ted Poor and Cuong Vu, and more.

“How do we atone for the worst thing we’ve ever done?” That is the question at the heart of the podcast “Making Amends,” which features men serving time in the Oregon State Penitentiary. Steve Herbert, professor of law, societies and justice and of geography at the UW, brought together a group of men at the prison for a class on atonement with the goal of creating a podcast.

College of Arts & Sciences Dean Stacey explains that there is an important civic, political, social, and cultural element to an education and that you can get that in a wide variety of majors.

Victoria Lawson, professor in the Department of Geography, director of the Honors Program, and adjunct professor of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies discusses social care and racial justice.

In her recent campus tours interview with Honors Director Vicky Lawson, Talia Kertsman ('22, geography; community, environment & planning with Honors) shines light on Dr. Lawson's research, consortium building and values, also delving into what makes the Honors community so vital at our public University.

This week at the UW, listen to a faculty Beethoven trio and lectures by Rick Steves.