Nico Van De Weghe
Biographic Data
| ID | 1340685 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nico Van De Weghe |
| GIVEN NAMES | Nico |
| FAMILY NAME | Van De Weghe |
| SIGNATURE | VAN DE WEGHE N |
| AFFILIATIONS | Ghent University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5327-4000 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 39 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 35 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 39 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Computational and urban science amid generative AI
This paper revisits McDermott’s seminal 1976 critique, Artificial Intelligence Meets Natural Stupidity, in light of the rapid rise of generative AI. McDermott’s warnings about conceptual imprecision, rhetorical inflation, and anthropomorphic metaphors remain strikingly relevant today, particularly in domains where linguistic fluency is mistaken for genuine understanding. Using computational and urban science as a case study, the paper highlights …
Mapping flows, shaping spaces
Knowing where, how and for what purposes people frequently cross borders has significant policy implications. However, limited data availability often hinders effective decision-making. The lack of granular, reliable and comparable data frequently leads to an underestimation of the true scale of cross-border movements within the EU. Additionally, the assessment of the socioeconomic potential of border regions does not consider the hypothetical el…
Modeling adolescents’ perception of cycling safety
Associations between park visitation and physical, mental and social health among older adults
Population ageing is a growing public health concern. Parks can play a central role in promoting healthy ageing by offering accessible spaces for physical activity, social interaction, and mental restoration. However, little is known about how older adults use parks across seasons, what activities they engage in, and who they visit with and how this differs according to season and health status. Associations between older adults’ park visitation …
Active travel as constrained necessity or choice
An innovative framework combining a CNN-Transformer multiscale fusion network and spatial analysis for cycleway extraction using street view images
The role of urban built environments in the perception of safety
Comparing the effects of Euclidean distance matching and dynamic time warping in the clustering of Covid-19 evolution
A comprehensive understanding of COVID-19’s spatiotemporal progression is crucial for devising effective containment strategies, yet existing mapping approaches often fail to capture the pandemic’s multifaceted evolution. This study addresses that gap by focusing on how well different time-series clustering methods handle the complexities of misalignment in outbreak trajectories. Specifically, we investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of COVID-1…
From grids to dendrites
Cultural ecosystem services along the Woluwe River
The cultural and social benefits of green open spaces (GOSs) are frequently disregarded in environmental planning and policy. The online PPGIS tool, mygreenplace.be, was used to map the cultural ecosystem services (CES) in the GOSs along the Woluwe River. This research aims to clarify the role of CES, spatial qualities and travel distance in GOSs’ valuation and their respective environmental planning and management. The analysis revealed that hig…
Indoor view graph
This paper presents a graph model that simultaneously stores route and configurational information about indoor spaces. Existing indoor information models either capture route information to compute shortest paths and to generate route descriptions (i.e., answering how-to-get-to questions), or they store configurational information about objects and places and their spatial relationships to enable spatial querying and inference (i.e., answering w…
Determinants of food insecurity among adults residing in peri-urban municipal settings in Flanders, Belgium
Food insecurity is a global public health issue associated with noncommunicable diseases. Individual factors are strongly associated with food insecurity, but there is limited literature on the broader impact of both the social and food environments on food insecurity in non-English speaking European countries, given that the research was predominantly conducted in Anglophone settings. In addition, these studies have mostly been conducted in urba…
Cognitive mapping of indoor environments
Indoor navigation networks provide an effective solution for modeling indoor environments for navigational purposes. In comparison to pure geometric structures, network structures that are aligned with the user's cognitive map are perceived as more intuitive. However, there has been limited research conducted on constructing indoor navigation networks that align with user's cognitive maps. Human route descriptions contain valuable insights into h…
Automatic translation of human route descriptions into schematic maps for indoor navigation
People create route descriptions based on their mental maps to provide route guidance, which represents their knowledge of the environment. Recent studies have attempted to model navigation knowledge from human route descriptions to facilitate route communication. However, they mainly focus on outdoor environments and do not address the representation of human descriptions of indoors in the form of schematic maps through the automatic extraction …
Which street characteristics support cycling for transport among vulnerable groups in traffic
Exploring the multiple dimensions of perceived food access in the local food environment in Flanders
Differentiating Everyday Map Tasks
Cartographic maps are ubiquitous in spatial activities such as localization, navigation, and travel exploration. Understanding how the map users interact with maps remains a challenge, however. Research to date has focused on the overt aspects of map users’ cognitive processes, using conventional empirical methods and eye tracking, but the covert aspects (e.g., brain activity) have been largely neglected. In this study, participants used Google M…
The evolution of public participation GIS (PPGIS) barriers in spatial planning practice
Over the last three decades, PPGIS practices have shifted from a paper to digital format and have become cheaper, more user-friendly, and more versatile. The literature recognizes the potential of PPGIS, but researchers also note that the impact of PPGIS in practice is not yet pronounced. This study seeks to identify the barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of PPGIS in planning practice. Building on the literature, an analytical framework…
The role of the perceived environment for recreational walking among adults in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations
Perceived environmental factors affect RW among PSEDS and peri-urban settings offer specific challenges. Local governments should incorporate citizen perception into decision-making processes to create supportive environments that have the potential to promote RW among PSEDS in a peri-urban setting
Automatic Georeferencing of Topographic Raster Maps
In recent years, many scientific institutions have digitized their collections, which often include a large variety of topographic raster maps. These raster maps provide accurate (historical) geographical information but cannot be integrated directly into a geographical information system (GIS) due to a lack of metadata. Additionally, the text labels on the map are usually not annotated, making it inefficient to query for specific toponyms. Manua…
The association between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among community-dwelling older adults
Research investigating the association between park availability and older adults' physical activity levels using objective methods is scarce and mainly cross-sectional. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among older adults. At baseline, 431 older adults provided valid data. Three years later, 147 participants took part in the follow-up. Parti…
Do Mobile Phone Data Provide a Better Denominator in Crime Rates and Improve Spatiotemporal Predictions of Crime
This article assesses whether ambient population is a more suitable population-at-risk measure for crime types with mobile targets than residential population for the purpose of intelligence-led policing applications. Specifically, the potential use of ambient population as a crime rate denominator and predictor for predictive policing models is evaluated, using mobile phone data (with a total of 9,397,473 data points) as a proxy. The results sho…
An “Animated Spatial Time Machine” in Co-Creation
More and more digital 3D city models might evolve into spatiotemporal instruments with time as the 4th dimension. For digitizing the current situation, 3D scanning and photography are suitable tools. The spatial future could be integrated using 3D drawings by public space designers and architects. The digital spatial reconstruction of lost historical environments is more complex, expensive and rarely done. Three-dimensional co-creative digital dr…
Point, polygon, or marker? In search of the best geographic entity for mapping cultural ecosystem services using the online public participation geographic information systems tool, “My Green Place”
The mapping of cultural ecosystem services through online public participation GIS (PPGIS) has predominantly relied on geographic entities, such as points and polygons, to collect spatial data, regardless of their limitations. As the potential of online PPGIS to support planning and design keeps growing, so does the need for more knowledge about data quality and suitable geographic entities to collect data. Using the online PPGIS tool, “My Green …
On the Right Track
Indoor navigation systems are not well adapted to the needs of their users. The route planning algorithms implemented in these systems are usually limited to shortest path calculations or derivatives, minimalizing Euclidian distance. Guiding people along routes that adhere better to their cognitive processes could ease wayfinding in indoor environments. This paper examines comfort and confusion perception during wayfinding by applying a mixed-met…
Pattern mining in tourist attraction visits through association rule learning on Bluetooth tracking data
Examining commuting patterns using Floating Car Data and circular statistics
Spatial and temporal fluctuations in individual accessibility
In recent years, there has been a growing interest among urban and transport planners in the accessibility levels of different societal groups within an urban region. The interest stems in part from the concern that inadequate spatial and temporal planning may foster social exclusion by giving rise to accessibility limitations that bear disproportionately on certain population groups. This paper proposes and implements person-based, time-specific…
Fine-tuning the usability of a crowdsourced indoor navigation system
This paper describes the development of a crowdsourced indoor navigation system named SoleWay. Because the input of volunteers is crucial, special attention was paid to the usability of the system at different stages throughout its development. Besides a user-friendly system, this has resulted in a number of important insights that can facilitate the development of future systems: the importance social motivation of potential users, integration o…
Education in cartography
Due to recent technological progress, maps have become more popular than ever before. This is especially true for young people, who interact with these technologies on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential that these potential map users possess sufficient knowledge and skills to process the content of cartographic products. A user study was conducted during which pupils (aged 11–18 years) and geography students (>18 years) had to solve a numb…
The association between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among community-dwelling older adults
Research investigating the association between park availability and older adults' physical activity levels using objective methods is scarce and mainly cross-sectional. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among older adults. At baseline, 431 older adults provided valid data. Three years later, 147 participants took part in the follow-up. Parti…
The relationship between opening hours and accessibility of public service delivery
The triangular model as an instrument for visualising and analysing residuality
Which street characteristics support cycling for transport among vulnerable groups in traffic
Exploring the multiple dimensions of perceived food access in the local food environment in Flanders
Do psychosocial factors moderate the association between objective neighborhood walkability and older adults' physical activity
The triangular model as an instrument for visualising and analysing residuality
The relationship between opening hours and accessibility of public service delivery
Relationship between the physical environment and different domains of physical activity in European adults
International variation in neighborhood walkability, transit, and recreation environments using geographic information systems
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends strategies to improve urban design, public transportation, and recreation facilities to facilitate physical activity for non-communicable disease prevention for an increasingly urbanized global population. Most evidence supporting environmental associations with physical activity comes from single countries or regions with limited variation in urban form. This paper documents variation in compa…
Pattern mining in tourist attraction visits through association rule learning on Bluetooth tracking data
Spatial and temporal fluctuations in individual accessibility
In recent years, there has been a growing interest among urban and transport planners in the accessibility levels of different societal groups within an urban region. The interest stems in part from the concern that inadequate spatial and temporal planning may foster social exclusion by giving rise to accessibility limitations that bear disproportionately on certain population groups. This paper proposes and implements person-based, time-specific…
Design and use of web lectures to enhance GIS teaching and learning strategies
The goal of this research is to design, use and evaluate a set of web lectures, specifically tailored to the needs of students in higher education who follow geographic information system -related courses. Since education in geographic information system includes theoretical concepts and practical experience, both of these teaching strategies will be implemented in the web lectures. The user-centered design approach is used in the design process …
Education in cartography
Due to recent technological progress, maps have become more popular than ever before. This is especially true for young people, who interact with these technologies on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential that these potential map users possess sufficient knowledge and skills to process the content of cartographic products. A user study was conducted during which pupils (aged 11–18 years) and geography students (>18 years) had to solve a numb…
Do psychosocial factors moderate the association between objective neighborhood walkability and older adults' physical activity
Examining commuting patterns using Floating Car Data and circular statistics
Interactions between Neighborhood Social Environment and Walkability to Explain Belgian Older Adults’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Time
This study examined associations between neighborhood social factors and physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in older adults. Furthermore, possible moderating effects of neighborhood walkability were explored. Data from 431 community-dwelling Belgian older adults (≥65 years) were analyzed. Neighborhood social factors included measures of neighboring, social trust and cohesion and social diversity. Neighborhood walkability was measu…
Differences in environmental preferences towards cycling for transport among adults
Results from the current study indicate that only negligible differences were found between the three subgroups. Therefore, it might be suggested that tailored environmental interventions are not required in this research context
Fine-tuning the usability of a crowdsourced indoor navigation system
This paper describes the development of a crowdsourced indoor navigation system named SoleWay. Because the input of volunteers is crucial, special attention was paid to the usability of the system at different stages throughout its development. Besides a user-friendly system, this has resulted in a number of important insights that can facilitate the development of future systems: the importance social motivation of potential users, integration o…
Integrating pedestrian-habitat models and network kernel density estimations to measure street pedestrian suitability
On the Right Track
Indoor navigation systems are not well adapted to the needs of their users. The route planning algorithms implemented in these systems are usually limited to shortest path calculations or derivatives, minimalizing Euclidian distance. Guiding people along routes that adhere better to their cognitive processes could ease wayfinding in indoor environments. This paper examines comfort and confusion perception during wayfinding by applying a mixed-met…
Do Mobile Phone Data Provide a Better Denominator in Crime Rates and Improve Spatiotemporal Predictions of Crime
This article assesses whether ambient population is a more suitable population-at-risk measure for crime types with mobile targets than residential population for the purpose of intelligence-led policing applications. Specifically, the potential use of ambient population as a crime rate denominator and predictor for predictive policing models is evaluated, using mobile phone data (with a total of 9,397,473 data points) as a proxy. The results sho…
An “Animated Spatial Time Machine” in Co-Creation
More and more digital 3D city models might evolve into spatiotemporal instruments with time as the 4th dimension. For digitizing the current situation, 3D scanning and photography are suitable tools. The spatial future could be integrated using 3D drawings by public space designers and architects. The digital spatial reconstruction of lost historical environments is more complex, expensive and rarely done. Three-dimensional co-creative digital dr…
Point, polygon, or marker? In search of the best geographic entity for mapping cultural ecosystem services using the online public participation geographic information systems tool, “My Green Place”
The mapping of cultural ecosystem services through online public participation GIS (PPGIS) has predominantly relied on geographic entities, such as points and polygons, to collect spatial data, regardless of their limitations. As the potential of online PPGIS to support planning and design keeps growing, so does the need for more knowledge about data quality and suitable geographic entities to collect data. Using the online PPGIS tool, “My Green …
Automatic Georeferencing of Topographic Raster Maps
In recent years, many scientific institutions have digitized their collections, which often include a large variety of topographic raster maps. These raster maps provide accurate (historical) geographical information but cannot be integrated directly into a geographical information system (GIS) due to a lack of metadata. Additionally, the text labels on the map are usually not annotated, making it inefficient to query for specific toponyms. Manua…
The association between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among community-dwelling older adults
Research investigating the association between park availability and older adults' physical activity levels using objective methods is scarce and mainly cross-sectional. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the number of parks near home and levels of physical activity among older adults. At baseline, 431 older adults provided valid data. Three years later, 147 participants took part in the follow-up. Parti…
The evolution of public participation GIS (PPGIS) barriers in spatial planning practice
Over the last three decades, PPGIS practices have shifted from a paper to digital format and have become cheaper, more user-friendly, and more versatile. The literature recognizes the potential of PPGIS, but researchers also note that the impact of PPGIS in practice is not yet pronounced. This study seeks to identify the barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of PPGIS in planning practice. Building on the literature, an analytical framework…
The role of the perceived environment for recreational walking among adults in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations
Perceived environmental factors affect RW among PSEDS and peri-urban settings offer specific challenges. Local governments should incorporate citizen perception into decision-making processes to create supportive environments that have the potential to promote RW among PSEDS in a peri-urban setting
Cultural ecosystem services along the Woluwe River
The cultural and social benefits of green open spaces (GOSs) are frequently disregarded in environmental planning and policy. The online PPGIS tool, mygreenplace.be, was used to map the cultural ecosystem services (CES) in the GOSs along the Woluwe River. This research aims to clarify the role of CES, spatial qualities and travel distance in GOSs’ valuation and their respective environmental planning and management. The analysis revealed that hig…
Indoor view graph
This paper presents a graph model that simultaneously stores route and configurational information about indoor spaces. Existing indoor information models either capture route information to compute shortest paths and to generate route descriptions (i.e., answering how-to-get-to questions), or they store configurational information about objects and places and their spatial relationships to enable spatial querying and inference (i.e., answering w…
Determinants of food insecurity among adults residing in peri-urban municipal settings in Flanders, Belgium
Food insecurity is a global public health issue associated with noncommunicable diseases. Individual factors are strongly associated with food insecurity, but there is limited literature on the broader impact of both the social and food environments on food insecurity in non-English speaking European countries, given that the research was predominantly conducted in Anglophone settings. In addition, these studies have mostly been conducted in urba…
Geography (19 works) · Computer Science (17 works) · Urban Transport and Accessibility (14 works) · Cartography (10 works) · Medicine (10 works) · Psychology (10 works) · Geographic Information Systems Studies (9 works) · Engineering (8 works) · Environmental health (7 works) · Urban Green Space and Health (7 works)