I am a geographic data scientist and urban geographer interested in combining spatial data science and survey techniques to improve the understanding of people’s evolving priorities in contemporary urban environments.

My main research interests are:

  • Urban vulnerabilities and inequalities

  • Geographic Data Science and New Forms of Data

  • Collecting data in data-poor contexts

 

I received my PhD in Policy Planning and Urban Economics from the London School of Economics in 2019.

I have analysed the effects of density and conservation policies, assessed urban well-being and inequalities in contexts of mass displacement, and most recently investigated informal labour markets to evaluate urban livelihood strategies. My research adopts different analytic tools including spatial techniques to test theoretical predictions using a diverse range of socio-economic and remote-sensed data sets.

I am a firm believer in interdisciplinary and mixed-methods research, which has led to my collaboration with academics from diverse subjects during and following my PhD.

My background in International Development led be me spend several years in the MENA Region. Much of my work has involved advising and supporting NGOs (including CatalyticAction, Regenerate Lebanon, MENA Design Research Centre), multi-lateral agencies (OECD, UN-Habitat, UNHCR and the French Development Agency), as well as local governments and policy institutes (Issam Fares Public Policy Institute, ) to address the effects of rapid urban development on a wide range of outcomes.

Currently, by building on spatial survey data collected in 2018 and 2021 in Lebanon, together with satellite imagery measuring the degree of damage of buildings, I am investigating the effects of the 4th of August Beirut Blast on vulnerability and inequality indicators.

You can reach me at e.pietrostefani@liverpool.ac.uk

Or find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Scholar,.