Research Centres and Labs
Learn more about research activities pursued by our faculty members through general or project-based sites.
Eric Vaz Lab — Complexity Spatial Analysis (external link)
Managed by: Dr. Eric Vaz
The Eric Vaz Lab uses geocomputation, GeoAI, and complex systems modelling to understand regional development, sustainability, urban health, and environmental change. Research spans cellular automata and agent-based simulation of land-use change, machine learning for spatial prediction, and spatial statistics and econometrics, with an emerging line in quantum approaches to spatial optimization.
Exposure Science and Environmental Health Laboratory (EXPOSCEN) (external link)
Managed by: Dr. Tor Oiamo
The EXPOSCEN lab at TMU focuses on the links between the environment and health in general, but more specifically seeks to understand the scale and timing of environmental exposures such as sound, noise and air pollution as well as their impacts on health and wellbeing.
Geographic Information Science and Systems (GIS2) Group
Managed by: Dr. Claus Rinner
Dr. Rinner’s expertise is in geographic data visualization and GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods to support effective spatial decision-making. Work with research students include developing and studying map-centred, exploratory methods to evaluate phenomena such as public health, urban quality of life, and environmental change.
Land and Water Resources Research Group
Managed by: Dr. Christopher Wellen
Our research seeks to understand how water, nutrients, and contaminants are transported from land to water across multiple scales, and how anthropogenic activity alters the land-water connection. Methods include simulation modelling, statistical analysis, data science, and GIS, and primary data collection.
Polar Regions Spatial and Environmental Analysis Laboratory (POLAR SEAL)
Managed by: Dr. David Atkinson
PolarSEAL advances geospatial research to understand and protect Arctic and northern environments through partnerships with First Nations and Inuit communities. We integrate drone, LiDAR, multispectral remote sensing, and environmental monitoring to study changing landscapes and water systems.
TMU Watershed Hydrology Research Group (external link)
Managed by: Dr. Claire Oswald
Our research group investigates the hydrology and water quality of urban and urbanizing landscapes. We conduct extensive fieldwork and make use of isotope tracing and geospatial analysis to understand how cities alter water movement and chemistry.
The Urban Sanctuary, Migrant Solidarity, and Hospitality in Global Perspective partnership
Managed by: Dr. Harald Bauder
The Urban Sanctuary, Migrant Solidarity, and Hospitality in Global Perspective partnership, aka Soli*City, brings together researchers and practitioner partners on the policies and practices of accommodating vulnerable and precarious-status migrants and refugees in cities around the world.
Other TMU and faculty research centres
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies plays a key role in a number of research centres at TMU and within the Faculty of Arts:
- Centre for Studies in Food Security: The Centre for Studies in Food Security (CSFS) works to promote food security through research, dissemination, education, community action, and professional practice.
- Retail Leadership Institute: The Retail Leadership Institute is an academic research hub that fosters retail research excellence in Canada.
- Science Discovery Zone: The Science Discovery Zone (SDZ) helps people take evidence-based approaches to test big ideas and discover new ventures, and aims to serve as a model for strong collaboration across all disciplines (not just the science ones) that fuel innovation and entrepreneurial discovery
- Social Ventures Zone: The Social Ventures Zone is the home of social innovators at Canada’s most entrepreneurial university. We work with students, alumni, faculty and people from the broader community to build social ventures that create real impact.
- Toronto Metropolitan Centre for Immigration and Settlement: The Toronto Metropolitan Centre for Immigration and Settlement (TMCIS) aims to be a leader in the transdisciplinary exploration of international migration, integration, and diaspora and refugee studies.
- Urban Water TMU: Urban Water TMU is a multidisciplinary consortium of researchers who strive to solve complex urban water challenges through transdisciplinary research, strong external networks, and collaborative action.
