Applied geographers use a variety of techniques to understand and explain human-environment relationships and solve real-world problems. The rapid development of geographic information systems (GIS) and other technologies in the past few decades has greatly expanded the reach of applied geography. Professor Kwan Mei-po, internationally recognised for her ground-breaking work that advanced GIS techniques, is dedicated to finding innovative ways to accurately assess people’s environmental exposures and the impact on their health, with an emphasis to capture individual experience.

A CUHK professor is trying to turn Geographical Information Science into a vehicle for improving people's lives. From helping protect the vulnerable groups who are most at risk of COVID-19 to monitoring the safety of public infrastructure, her work shows how the field can be a force for good.