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Derek Van Berkel

Assistant Professor
Geospatial Data Sciences
Conservation + Restoration
dbvanber@umich.edu
(734) 647-1208
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Office
4036 Dana
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About

Derek Van Berkel is Assistant Professor of Data Science, Geovisualization and Design. His research examines the human dimensions of land-cover/land-use change and ecosystem services at diverse scales. It aims to use spatial analysis and geovisualizations of social and environmental data and spatial thinking to develop solutions for today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Within this growing body of interdisciplinary work, he leverages social theory, big data, machine learning, spatial-temporal computer modeling (e.g. agent-based and cellular automata) and spatial statistics. This work addresses critical domains including (i) landscape management (e.g. weighing tradeoffs between ecosystem services); (ii) conservation and recreation planning (e.g. identifying special and valued places); and (iii) development of sustainable and resilient communities (e.g. health and well-being of communities).

Publications

Jennifer Koch, Monica A Dorning,Van Berkel, Derek B, Scott M Beck, Georgina M Sanchez, Ashwin Shashidharan, Lindsey S Smart, Qiang Zhang, Jordan W Smith, and Ross K Meentemeyer. Modeling landowner interactions and development patterns at the urban fringe.Landscape andUrban Planning, 182:101–113, 2019

Johannes Hermes,Derek Van Berkel, Benjamin Burkhard, Tobias Plieninger, Nora Fagerholm,Christina von Haaren, and Christian Albert. Assessment and valuation of recreational ecosystemservices of landscapes, 2018

Derek B Van Berkel, Payam Tabrizian, Monica A Dorning, Lindsey Smart, Doug Newcomb, Megan Mehaffey, Anne Neale, and Ross K Meentemeyer. Quantifying the visual-sensory landscape qualities that contribute to cultural ecosystem services using social media and lidar. Ecosystem Services, 2018

Boris T van Zanten, Derek B Van Berkel, Ross K Meentemeyer, Jordan W Smith, Koen F Tieskens,and Peter H Verburg. Continental-scale quantification of landscape values using social media data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, page 201614158, 2016

Derek B Van Berkel and Peter H Verburg. Spatial quantification and valuation of cultural ecosystem services in an agricultural landscape.Ecological indicators, 37:163–174, 2014

Derek B Van Berkel and Peter H Verburg. Sensitising rural policy: Assessing spatial variation in rural development options for europe. Land Use Policy, 28(3):447–459, 2011

Research

My research examines the human dimensions of land-cover/land-use change and ecosystem services at diverse scales. It aims to use spatial analysis and geovisualizations of social and environmental data and spatial thinking to develop solutions for today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Within this growing body of interdisciplinary work, I leverage social theory, big data, machine learning, spatial-temporal computer modeling (e.g. agent-based and cellular automata) and spatial statistics.

Education

Ph.D. Spatial Analysis and Decision Support, VU University Amsterdam, 2012.
M.S. Human Geography and Urban Planning, Utrecht University, 2007.B.A. Human Geography, University of Calgary, 2004.

In the News
Future of Big Data
News date
May 22, 2023

Meet the Future: Big Data and Sustainability Solutions

Thanks to the digital revolution, a burgeoning amount of big data is available in real-time on a mass scale. Big data offers scientists unparalleled access to vast amounts of raw information that can be harvested, analyzed and translated into new solutions to the world’s most challenging problems—including sustainability and climate change. We spoke to four SEAS professors about how they are using big data to reimagine sustainability solutions to agriculture, landscape conservation, biological systems and cities.

Landinfo demo video

Game ON: Designing high-performing novel landscapes to tackle climate change

What if designing sustainable greenspace in your own neighborhood was a game—with points won for carbon sequestration, stormwater management, and heat relief? What if you could see your ideas take shape—and know how much they would likely cost—in a friendly competition with people in your community? Turning those “what ifs” into reality is the vision of SEAS Assistant Professors Mark Lindquist and Derek Van Berkel.
In the Media