Our Team

Prof. Dr. Sara I. Fabrikant

GIVA group head and project leader

As a Swiss mapematician and geography professor, I am currently leading the Geographic Information Visualization and Analysis (GIVA) group at the GIScience Center of the Geography Department at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder (USA). My research and teaching interests lie in geographic information visualization and visual analytics (geovis), GIScience and cognition, graphical user interface design and evaluation, including dynamic cartography. I currently have the honor to serve the world-wide cartography community in my role as a vice president of the International Cartographic Association (ICA).

My CV and webpage

Dr. Christopher Hilton

Postdoc

Dr. Bingjie Cheng

PhD student

I am currently working as a PhD student on the GeoViSensce Project. I am interested in psychological factors during navigation and using mobile map devices. During my PhD project, I am focused on investigating the relationship between mental workload, spatial memory and mobile map feature design by employing brain-computer-interface and virtual reality. Before joining GIVA, I was studying Natural Sciences and Psychology at Zhejiang University and at the University of Zurich.

My CV

Dr. Armand Kapaj

PhD student

As a holder of a Master of Science in Geography and a Master of Science in Cartography, my research interest lies within GIScience, visualization of geodata, indoor/outdoor navigation and designing cartographically appealing maps for tailored user groups. Currently, I`m working for the GeoViSense project as a Ph.D. Student. My research within the GeoViSense focuses on applying cartographic design principles on maps for Geographic Information Displays and how it affects participants’ spatial cognition and engagement, stress level and spatial acquisition of relevant geographic information.

My CV

Alexandros Sofios

Engineer

I am experienced in creating solutions for Internet Of Things from the ground up; including hardware, firmware (prototype design and testing) and software development (client and server side, database design). Working for the GeoViSense project as a Technical Expert, I am mainly helping with the creation of immersive virtual reality environments (using Unity in a CAVE through MiddleVR) and data acquisition from wearable sensors (e.g. EEG, EDA); as well as developing customised tools to assist with specific research goals.

My CV