Mehrad Moradipour
Bridging spatial data science, urban planning, and environmental design to shape sustainable and resilient urban environments.
About Me
I am an urban planner and geospatial data analyst currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Spatial Planning at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany.
I focus on the intersection of spatial planning and geospatial data science. I specialize in utilizing GIS technologies (ArcGIS, QGIS) alongside Python and R to analyze urban accessibility structures, model environmental factors (like Land Surface Temperatures), and automate spatial processing pipelines.
Spatial Analysis
Demographic accessibility models, spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I), and geospatial mapping.
Environmental GIS
Remote sensing of land surface temperature (LST) and balancing microclimatic thermal islands.
Geoprocessing Pipelines
Docker, R spatial analysis packages, and Python scripting for data cleaning and statistics.
Education & Experience
Professional Experience
Student Research Assistant
- Contribute to the EU-funded AquaINFRA project team to develop open educational resources for the AquaINFRA Training Handbook.
- Developed a Docker-based R analysis pipeline for dasymetric refinement of human population data for the AquaINFRA Elbe River Basin use case.
- Built FAIR-compliant educational modules for NFDI4Earth in the EduTrain portal courses.
- Supported the organization and execution of technical workshops and produced tutorial videos.
Urban Planner
- Analyzed geospatial datasets in ArcGIS and QGIS to identify spatial trends and inform the revitalization of local development plans.
- Produced multi-layer GIS visualizations and thematic maps supporting multidimensional analysis for planning decisions.
Geospatial Data Analyst
- Conducted GIS-based analyses on satellite imagery, climate data, and other geospatial inputs to extract planning-relevant insights.
- Advised clients on process and workflow improvements using ArcGIS technologies and industry best practices.
Education
M.Sc. in Spatial Planning
Focus on spatial data analysis, urban and regional planning, and sustainable development.
Project: Quality of Accessibility to Stationary Grocery Retailers in Dortmund (2022).
Certificate: Summer School for Sustainability (August 2024).
M.Sc. in Urban Planning
Emphasis on Regional planning, planning theories, and environmental sustainability.
Thesis: Balancing of Heat Islands with an Ecological Sustainability Approach (2021).
B.Sc. in Urban Engineering
Courses in urban engineering, urban infrastructure design, and transportation planning.
Publications & Posters
Operationalising the Data-to-Knowledge Package Concept: Visualising FAIR Workflows Across Three Environmental Use Cases
This contribution presents three heterogeneous Data-to-Knowledge Packages (D2KPs) implemented within the AquaINFRA research infrastructure for marine and freshwater science. It showcases how reproducible research can be operationalized and transformed into interoperable and reusable geospatial services.
Towards Data-driven Spatial Justice: Identifying Walking-inaccessible Grocery Zones for Technologically Disadvantaged Groups in Dortmund
Analyzes walking-accessibility to stationary grocery retailers for technologically disadvantaged groups (TDGs) facing digital and physical exclusion in Dortmund, Germany. The study uses network-based service-area and spatial autocorrelation analyses (Local Moran's I) to identify priority zones for urban planning interventions.
Skills & Software
GIS & Remote Sensing
Programming & Analysis
CAD & BIM Tools
Developer & Creative Tools
Language Proficiency
Selected Projects
AquaINFRA Population Data Refinement
Developed a reproducible spatial analysis pipeline for dasymetric refinement of human population data to support environmental and marine planning use cases in the Elbe River Basin.
My Responsibilities:
- Designed and implemented a Docker-based R analysis pipeline for spatial data processing.
- Constructed reproducible dasymetric refinement algorithms to map population distributions.
- Contributed open educational resources (OER) to the AquaINFRA Training Handbook.
Walking Accessibility to Grocery Retailers
Evaluated physical accessibility to stationary grocery stores for technologically disadvantaged demographic groups in Dortmund, assessing risks of social exclusion in the e-grocery era.
My Responsibilities:
- Analyzed demographics of older, lower-income, and immigrant groups via spatial statistics.
- Conducted Local Moran's I spatial autocorrelation and scatterplot analyses to map spatial clusters of disadvantage.
- Visualized hot zones and calculated network accessibility using GIS.
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Study
Investigated building parameters and urban layouts influencing thermal concentrations around Enghelab Square, developing mitigating frameworks with an ecological approach.
My Responsibilities:
- Extracted and processed Landsat 8 satellite data in ENVI 5.3 to map surface temperature (LST).
- Analyzed local building density, orientation, building materials, and street widths to isolate heating contributors.
- Derived seasonal temperature distribution maps overlaying spatial records.
Assessing Urban Quality via Multiple Regression
Evaluated environmental, social, and physical quality-of-life variables in Ekbatan Town (the largest residential complex in the Middle East) using statistical modelling.
My Responsibilities:
- Designed and administered questionnaires focusing on physical, economic, and environmental health variables.
- Calculated and analyzed multiple linear regressions in SPSS to identify key predictors of urban satisfaction.
- Validated models via ANOVA and model fit diagnostics (R-square).
Physical-Spatial Realization of Tehran Master Plan
Assessed spatial organization alignment, evaluating the rate of realization of proposed detailed plan usage allocations against actual development.
My Responsibilities:
- Mapped regional, district, and neighborhood functional centers across Tehran.
- Evaluated spatial cohesion, distribution density deviations, and population layout systems.
- Produced comparative detailed GIS layouts comparing master plans against actual spatial usages.
Biophilic Framework for Riverside Design
Formulated an ecological design framework for the Karaj River Corridor, converting a neglected urban waterfront into a biophilic community space.
My Responsibilities:
- Conducted SWOT and field surveys evaluating ecological degradation and spatial potentials.
- Drafted strategic plans and zoning models integrating natural waterways into the urban core.
- Modeled 3D conceptual designs and rendering assets in SketchUp.
Interested in collaborating?
I am always open to discussing spatial planning opportunities, geospatial data pipelines, and research projects. Please connect with me via my LinkedIn profile, which is my main and only channel for public outreach.
Based in Dortmund, Germany