Photo of Geoff Hay Nov 2021

Dr. Geoffrey J. Hay

BSc., MSc., PhD.

Contact information

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-4768

Location

Office: Earth Sciences304

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, 2002

M.S. Geography, University of Victoria, 1993

B.S. Geography, University of Calgary, 1991

Biography

Geoff is a full professor in GIScience at the University of Calgary (UC), Alberta, and Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at MyHEAT Inc - a UC startup based on his research. He is actively engaged in developing and applying Geospatial Technologies to Make Energy Visible and reduce urban GHGs, through his award-winning university HEAT research program (Heat Energy Assessment Technologies). As of 2022, MyHEAT has acquired and processed proprietary high-resolution (sub-meter) thermal images for 50+ cities in Canada and the USA, covering 18,000+ sq.km and a population of about 20 million people - with more projects underway.

Dr Hay has 25+ years experience in GIScience. He is the author of more than 250 scholarly works, including 6 co/edited international remote sensing special issues on related topics, and has given keynotes at numerous international venues including NASA (GSFC), TEDx and a Special Session of the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. His research program The Remote Sensing of Urban Energy Efficiency is funded by NSERC (2019-2023.)

Research

Areas of Research

The Remote Sensing of Urban Energy Efficiency

Geoff's long-term NSERC supported research program is titled “The Remote Sensing of Urban Energy Efficiency.” It involves the use of high-resolution Thermal Infrared (TIR) imagery, Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA), machine learning (CNNs), GIS and geo-spatial analysis to accurately define urban energy efficiency from space.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Awards

  • Awarded Patent: July 2, 2018 United States Patent Application No 15/160,459 (Methods and Systems for Object Based Geometric Fitting)., US Patent Office. 2018
  • Invited Presentation at an "Extraordinary Session of the United Nations Science - Policy - Business Forum on the Environment", entitled "Laying the Foundations for a Global Digital Platform for Planetary Data using Frontier Technologies"., United Nations - Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. 2018
  • Keynote Presentation - International GEOBIA 2018 Conference, Agropolis International, Montpellier France.. 2018
  • Nominated as a 2017 finalist in the 7th Canada Innovation Awards (Category – Energy & Sustainability) , Techvibes. 2017

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