Paul Torrens
Research Associate Professor, Geosimulation Research Laboratory, University of Maryland
Geosimulation Research Laboratory, Department of Geography
University of Maryland
2181 LeFrak Hall
College Park, MD 20742
Titles
- Research Associate Professor, Geosimulation Research Laboratory, University of Maryland
Biography
Dr. Paul M. Torrens has a broad range of interests in GI Science (geosimulation, spatial analysis, spatial modeling, geocomputation, spatial statistics, geovisualization), computer science (pervasive computing, game engine AI, sensor networks, graphics and animation), and urban geography (suburban sprawl, gentrification, crowd dynamics, residential mobility). CLICK HERE to see some examples of his work.
Education
- PhD, Geography, University College London, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, 2004
- MA, Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 1999
- MA, Geography, Indiana University, 1998
- BA, Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 1996
Expertise
- geographic information science
- modeling and simulation
- urban geography
- behavioral geography
- cybergeography
External Links
Journal Articles
2008
Torrens, P. M. 2008. A toolkit for measuring sprawl. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy 1(1):5-36. DOI: 10.1007/s12061-008-9000-x.
Torrens, P. M. 2008. Wi-Fi geographies. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 98(1):59-84. DOI: 10.1007/s12061-008-9000-x.
2007
Li, K., P. Zhang, J. C. Crittenden, S. Guhathakurta, Y. Chen, H. J. Fernando, A. Sawhey, P. H. McCartney, N. B. Grimm, R. Kahhat, H. Joshi, G. Konjevod, Y. J. Choi, E. Fonseca, B. R. Allenby, D. Gerrity and P. M. Torrens. 2007. Development of a framework for quantifying the environmental impacts of urban development and construction practices. Environmental Science and Technology 41(14):5130-5136. DOI: 10.1021/es062481d. (link )
Torrens, P. M. 2007. A geographic automata model of residential mobility. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 34(2):200-222.
Torrens, P. M. and A. Nara. 2007. Modeling gentrification dynamics: A hybrid approach. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 31(3):337-361.
2006
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Simulating sprawl. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 96(2):248-275.
2005
Allen, P. and P. M. Torrens. 2005. Introduction: Knowledge and complexity. Futures 37(7):581-584.
Allen, P. M. and P. M. Torrens. 2005. Complexity and the limits to knowledge. Futures 37(7):581-766.
Batty, M. and P. M. Torrens. 2005. Modeling and prediction in a complex world. Futures 37(7):745-766.
Torrens, P. M. and I. Benenson. 2005. Geographic automata systems. International Journal of Geographic Information Science 19(4):385-412.
Book Chapters
2009
Torrens, P. M. 2009. Agent-based models. In: Kitchin, R. and N. Thrift eds., International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. Elsevier Publications. London.
Torrens, P. M. 2009. Cellular automata. In: Kitchin, R. and N. Thrift eds., International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. Elsevier Publications. London.
2007
Griffin, W., S. Schmidt, A. Nara, P. M. Torrens and C. Sechler. 2007. Integrating ABM and GIS to model typologies of playgroup dynamics in preschool children. Pp. 17-24 In: North, M. J., C. M. Macal and D. C. Sallach eds., Agent 2007: Complex Interaction and Social Emergence. Argonne National Labs and University of Chicago. Argonne, IL.
Nara, A. and P. M. Torrens. 2007. Spatial and temporal analysis of pedestrian egress behavior and efficiency. Pp. 284-287 In: Samet, H., C. Shahabi and A. Schneider eds., Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Advances in Geographic Information Systems. ACM. New York.
Shiode, N. and P. M. Torrens. 2007. Comparing the growth dynamics of real and virtual cities. In: Yuan, M. and K. Hornsby eds., Understanding Dynamics of Geographic Domains. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL.
Torrens, P. M. 2007. A geospatial exoskeleton for behavioral agents in urban simulations. Pp. 457-464 In: North, M. J., C. M. Macal and D. C. Sallach eds., Agent 2007: Complex Interaction and Social Emergence. Argonne National Labs and University of Chicago. Argonne, IL.
2006
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Agent-based models. Pp. 1-2 In: Warf, B. ed., The Encyclopedia of Human Geography. Sage. Thousand Oaks.
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Geosimulation and its application to urban growth modeling. Pp. 119-134 In: Portugali, J. ed., Complex Artificial Environments. Springer-Verlag. London.
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Remote sensing as dataware for human settlement simulation. Pp. 693-699 In: Merrill, R. J. and J. D. Hipple eds., Remote Sensing of Human Settlements. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. New York.
Posters
2007
Guhathakurta, S., J. Holsten, Y. Kobayashi, T. Lant, M. Patel, J. Crittenden, T. Morton, G. Konjevod, P. Torrens, K. Li, D. Stanzione, K. Date, P. Nayeri, L. Shillington, R. Pahle, R. Baker, S. Eikenberry and C. Grasso. 2007. Digital Phoenix: A multidimensional journey through time. Poster presented at the January 10, 2007 CAP LTER Ninth Annual Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.. (link )
Conference Papers
2007
Torrens, P. M. 2007. Behavioral intelligence for geospatial agents in urban environments. Pp. 63-66 IEEE Intelligent Agent Technology (IAT 2007), Los Alamitos, CA.
Reports
2007
Torrens, P. M. 2007. A reusable model of human movement and crowd behavior for scenario simulation in dense urban environments. White paper for ASU Decision Theater.
2006
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Geosimulation and dynamic GI Science. University Consortium on Geographic Information Systems (UCGIS) Research Workshop on Computation and Visualization fo.
Torrens, P. M. 2006. Urban analysis through visualization. White paper for Alias Research, Inc.