Urban planning professor named youngest distinguished scholar by geography org
A Texas A&M urban planning professor is the youngest in history to receive an award from the American Association of Geographers (AAG) for his groundbreaking work integrating geography, urban planning and data science.
Dr. Xinyue Ye, Harold L. Adams Endowed Professor of Urban Planning, is AAG’s youngest Distinguished Scholar, an award usually achieved mid-to-late career. He holds the record for the shortest time in AAG history between completing his Ph.D. in 2010 and receiving the award in 2025. Additionally, Dr. Ye has been the first scholar elected as an AAG Fellow under the Early/Mid-Career category in 2022.
“I am thrilled to receive this honor,” Ye said. “I am deeply grateful to the world-leading scholars who endorsed my nomination and voted for this outcome.”
Dr. Galen Newman, head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, said Ye has an unparalleled record in interdisciplinary teaching and research.
“He has had an immense impact on Texas A&M, Texas and beyond,” said Newman. “He has an uncanny ability to develop cutting-edge scholarship in artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics and digital twinning of communities, pioneering new research avenues in landscape architecture and urban planning. He also plays a key role in supporting junior faculty and students. We are lucky to have him as both a colleague and a collaborator. It is truly remarkable what he has accomplished and continues to accomplish.”
Ongoing impact and contributions
Ye also directs the Center for Geospatial Sciences, Applications and Technology and is a core faculty with the Texas A&M University Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center. Additionally, he is the founding director of the Urban Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Texas A&M Institute of Data Science.
Throughout his career, Ye has secured more than $30 million in external grants from 13 federal agencies as well as various private foundations and industry stakeholders, in collaboration across 18 academic departments. His research addresses issues ranging from infrastructure resilience to community perceptions, underscoring the dynamic interplay between technology, policy and human behavior in shaping sustainable and livable cities. He has been among the world’s top 2% scientists based on both career-long and year-specific citations by Stanford University since 2020.
His research in disaster management, with a particular emphasis on AI applications for hazard mitigation, has driven projects that leverage AI and data science to improve natural hazard forecasting and enhance emergency response coordination, all while prioritizing inclusive solutions for vulnerable communities. Ye has also keynoted at many national conferences.
Ye is also leading the creation of a “digital twin” of the College Station campus, an interactive real-time 3D model designed to optimize campus planning, improve efficiency and support emergency response.
He also recently co-chaired the Ethical and Explainable GeoAI Workshop at Texas A&M, which focused on addressing the ethical challenges of AI in geospatial applications, emphasizing transparency, fairness and accountability. This initiative aligns with Texas A&M’s commitment to advancing responsible AI technologies.
