COSIT 2024


September 17-20 | Québec City, Canada

The 16th International Conference on
Spatial Information Theory.

Established in 1993, COSIT is a biennial international conference series concerned with theoretical aspects of space and spatial information.

Call for Papers

We are pleased to announce that the Conference on Spatial Information Theory (COSIT) will be held in Canada for the first time, the 16th in this international conference series! Established in 1993, COSIT is concerned with theoretical aspects of space and spatial information, aimed at advancing spatial information science and its emerging research frontiers.

Spatial information theory is the interdisciplinary study of information about spaces and environments at the scale of human experience, including its representation and its role in communication. In particular, spatial information theory studies how the interpretation of spatial information influences the behavior of human and artificial agents. It draws together numerous threads between computational and formal models of space; the mental representation of space by humans and other animals; and the various ways human and artificial agents communicate information about space. Space is thereby studied on various scales, including the space in geographic maps as well as the space of the human body.

COSIT is an open community that encourages the adoption of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary methodologies and theories to advance knowledge of space and spatial information. For the thirty years that COSIT has been around, participants have explored spatial information theory from a multitude of perspectives, showcasing original and impactful research in spatial language and linguistics, spatial cognition, neuroscience, spatial reasoning, navigation, movement analysis, geographic information systems, spatial data science, semantics, philosophy of space, geostatistics, cartography, environmental modeling and design, place and space, artificial intelligence, robotics, location-based systems, and human-computer interaction, just to name a few! In order to maximize engagement and dissemination of ideas at the conference, COSIT runs as an intensive, single-track conference consisting of paper presentations and special thematic sessions over four days.

Our use of spatial technologies in everyday life has changed dramatically since the first COSIT. Today, geospatial technologies are ubiquitous, we are drowning in spatial data, and recently AI tools that compute over language stand to significantly change how information systems communicate spatial information all while being generally opaque about what spatial knowledge they represent. At the same time the spatial environments that are represented in information systems reflect a reality of a world facing a series of complex and challenging social and environmental issues spanning from urban planning to climate change. It is with this context that we have chosen the theme for this year’s COSIT: spatial information theory for transparent translational research. In addition to original research papers on spatial information theory from any discipline, we especially welcome papers that make the link between spatial information theory and benefits to humanity, the biosphere, and the planet.


Themes

We welcome contributions covering conference-relevant themes, such as but not limited to:

  • activity-based models of spatial knowledge
  • cartography and geographic visualization
  • causal and statistical models of space
  • cognitive aspects of geographic information
  • cognitive-behavioral geography, naive geography
  • concepts of spatial information, such as fields, objects, events, networks, and processes
  • context awareness in physical and social spaces
  • explainable geospatial artificial intelligence (geoAI) and spatially informed AI
  • geographic question-answering (geoQA)
  • knowledge representation for space and time
  • natural (human) language descriptions of space and place
  • navigation, wayfinding, and mobility of sentient beings and robots
  • ontology of space and time
  • place and spatial information theory
  • quality and interoperability of spatial data
  • security and privacy for spatial data
  • semantic spaces
  • social and cultural organization of space
  • spatial and temporal language
  • spatial aspects of social networks, volunteered geographic information
  • spatial cognition and neuroscience
  • spatial computing and design
  • spatial decision support, impact of model design
  • spatial (digital) humanities
  • spatial information retrieval and encoding of geographic texts
  • spatial learning and knowledge acquisition
  • spatial storytelling and interactive narratives
  • theory and practice of spatial and temporal reasoning
  • user interfaces, virtual spaces, and collaborative spaces
  • validity of spatial information methods


Submissions

Full papers

Full research papers of 12-20 pages will be reviewed by at least three members of the program committee. High-quality submissions will be accepted for presentation at the conference, and will be published in the conference proceedings. Selection will be based on relevance to the conference themes, scientific significance, novelty, relation to previously published literature, clarity of presentation, and interdisciplinary considerations. Manuscripts must describe original work that has not been submitted and published elsewhere.

Submit FULL paper here


Short papers

Short papers of 7 pages (max) present late-breaking and in-progress research, with less emphasis on mature results. All submissions will be reviewed by members of the program committee. Accepted submissions will be selected for either oral or poster presentation at the conference. Authors of short papers accepted for oral presentation will have the option of having their papers included in the conference proceedings. All other accepted short papers will be shared in a non-archival digital repository.

Submit SHORT paper here


Proceedings

We offer Open Access publications for the refereed submission tracks in the Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs) Series. LIPIcs provides a LaTeX template for papers: https://www.dagstuhl.de/en/publishing/series/details/lipics#author. Please make sure you use the latest version of the template on that page.

Authors unfamiliar with LaTeX, but keen to try, are highly encouraged to use Overleaf (http://www.overleaf.com), an online LaTeX editor that is easy to use and does not require any local installation. Overleaf comes with the LIPIcs template pre-loaded (https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/article-for-the-lipics-series/qmwncxspzfst), so you can immediately start typing. Overleaf is also a collaborative writing tool, allowing multiple authors to work on their paper concurrently.

Authors who want to use other text editors should stay close to the sample article’s layout for their paper submitted for review. Should their papers be accepted for publication, they have to be converted to LaTeX using the LIPIcs LaTeX class and template. Authors are responsible for the conversion of their papers to LaTeX.

More information on how to submit will be shared here soon. In order for an accepted paper to be published in the conference proceedings (full papers, short papers) or included in the conference program (non-archival short poster papers), at least one of the paper authors has to register by the author registration deadline (TBA).

Thematic Sessions

In lieu of workshops, this year we invite proposals for thematic sessions that will take place during the conference.

We are seeking proposals for sessions on specialised topics or on emergent research fields that will be of interest to the COSIT community. Thematic sessions can take various formats, including (but not limited to):

  • Panel discussions,
  • interviews,
  • lightning talks,
  • pedagogy & education,
  • hands-on activities,
  • etc.

Any activity that can fit into a 60-120 minute time slot is welcome. (Longer sessions may be proposed as a combination of multiple slots.)

Previous COSIT thematic sessions have been highly engaging and on a range of topics spanning career support for ECR and beyond, spatio-temporal reasoning, spatial information theory and geoAI, the future of space and much more!

Thematic session organisers, speakers and participants need to be registered to the main conference to attend.

To submit a proposal, please complete this form by February 16, 2024. Please direct any questions regarding thematic sessions to Dr. Alessia Calafiore at acalafio@exseed.ed.ac.uk.

Journal Article or Book Presentation

The conference will run a special thematic session dedicated to providing authors of recently published journal research articles or books on spatial information theory the opportunity to present and share their work in front of the COSIT audience. The article or book must have been published during the years 2022-2024. Submissions should include a citation and <1 page summary of the paper's or book's relevance to COSIT. It will be screened by the program chairs with selection based on relevance to the conference themes.

Doctoral Student Mentoring Program

Take your experience at COSIT as a doctoral student to the next level by participating in the Doctoral Mentoring Program! The doctoral mentoring program at COSIT 2024 encompasses three different pillars for engaging with the COSIT Community in Québec City:

  1. FEEDBACK: Pick one out of three different formats to present your doctoral research and get feedback.
  2. MENTORING: Meet one-on-one with experienced international scholars.
  3. PRESENTATION: Present your work as a lightning talk during a special session of the COSIT 2024 conference.
1. FEEDBACK PILLAR
The COSIT community especially welcomes and supports the active participation of doctoral students. COSIT 2024 will offer new formats of engagement during the conference week, especially targeted at emerging scholars. Based on your research experience, you can choose how you wish to contribute and get feedback:

  1. EARLY STAGE: Submit a proposal on how you are going to tackle a particular research problem/question or how you plan to use a specific method, etc;
  2. LATER STAGE: Submit a summary of your ongoing PhD research;
  3. PEER-REVIEWED: Submit your research for peer review (full or short paper tracks). There will be a 'Best Student Paper' award (details to follow).
2. MENTORING PILLAR
Based on your expertise and focus of research, the doctoral mentoring chair will match you with an experienced scholar who will provide feedback and discuss selected research issues with you one-on-one. The specific focus will also depend on your expression of interest (see below). Introduced at COSIT 2019, these personal conversations have proven to be very valuable to emerging scholars at all stages of their PhD!

3. PRESENTATION PILLAR
We have dedicated one of the sessions during COSIT 2024 for doctoral lightning talks. These will be open exclusively to you as doctoral students. As COSIT is a single-track conference, you will present to all registered participants. This is a fantastic opportunity to present your work to a large audience of like-minded researchers.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE DOCTORAL MENTORING PROGRAM
In order to apply for the doctoral mentoring program, you are asked to submit an expression of interest (EOI) that can be up to 7 pages (max.). Please use the LaTeX template provided for the conference to write your EOI. You will submit a single PDF document through the form below.

The expression of interest must include:

  • A brief biographical sketch, including contact data (name, affiliation, email address) and stage of your doctoral degree (e.g., First year, Final Year, etc.)
  • A one-page (max) overview of your PhD research or proposed research.
  • Your chosen type of FEEDBACK Pillar: A, B, or C. For option:
    1. Provide a detailed account of a research problem/issue, method, etc., and the specifics of what you wish to get feedback on;
    2. Provide a summary/proposal/plan of your PhD research which is detailed enough in order to enable specific feedback on it;
    3. Provide the submitted abstract of your paper for peer review and describe how this paper fits into your overall PhD research goal.
All submitted EOIs will be ranked but not formally reviewed. Accepted EOIs will be distributed among the mentees and their COSIT 2024 mentors as a single PDF document. Doctoral mentees will also be encouraged to publish their "one-page PhD topic overviews" (item 2 above) in a document that will be shared with all conference attendees and archived via the Open Science Framework (with volume DOI).

Please complete this form to submit your expression of interest to the Doctoral Mentoring Chair no later than May 3, 2024. Please direct any questions regarding the doctoral mentoring program to Dr. Marcela Suárez at marcela.suarez@psu.edu.

Important Dates

Full paper submission: February 18, 2024
Full paper decision: March 24, 2024
Full paper final version: April 7, 2024

Short paper submission: April 7, 2024
Short paper decision: May 5, 2024
Short paper final version: May 12, 2024

Thematic session proposals: February 16, 2024
Thematic session decision: March 1, 2024

Doctoral student mentorship program submission: March 3, 2024
Doctoral student mentorship program decision: March 17, 2024

Journal article / book presentation submission: May 19, 2024
Journal article / book presentation decision: June 2, 2024

Québec City

Québec City, nestled along the Saint Lawrence River in Canada, is a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy. As one of North America's oldest European settlements, its historic heart, Old Québec, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasting cobbled streets, centuries-old fortifications, and the majestic Château Frontenac. The city's French heritage is palpable, reflected in its architecture, culture, and language. Amidst its historic landmarks, Québec City also offers a lively arts scene, delectable French cuisine, and a myriad of festivals, making it a unique fusion of history, culture, and contemporary living.



Conference Venue

The conference will take place at the Salle de Promotions in Old Québec City. The historical site of the Séminaire de Québec dates back to the 17th century and was designated a national history site of Canada in 1929. The venue was recently renovated and is now used primarily for conference, banquets, and events. Click here for the venue location.



Transportation

Québec City is accessible via two international airports:

  • Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). A small international airport, offering direct flights from Paris and the east coast of North America. The airport is roughly 16 km from the conference venue and is accessible via public bus, taxi cab, ride-share (e.g., Uber) or private rental car. More details on traveling to and from the Québec International Airport are available here: https://www.aeroportdequebec.com
  • Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL). A large international airport offering direct flights from many cities throughout Europe and North America. The airport is a 3.5 hour trip by train or car from the conference venue. A free shuttle will take you from the airport to the Dorval train station. From there you will board a VIA Rail train to the Old Québec City train station (Québec Gare Deu Palais), walking distance from the conference venue.
Most of the accommodation options are within walking distance of the conference venue and social events. Attendees also have the option of public bus, taxi, or ride-hailing services for traveling within the City.



Accommodations

There are quite a large number of hotels available within Old Québec City ranging from the historic Fairmont Château Frontenac to budget friendly hostels. A sample of hotels are shown in the map below. Click through to the larger map for more details and to see the location of the conference venue. A set of recommended hotels will be posted shortly.



Visa Information

Please visit this website to see if you will need to request a visa to attend the conference. If you require a letter of invitation, please email cosit2024@gmail.com.

Program Committee

Clio Andris, Georgia Tech
Ana Basiri, University of Glasgow
Michela Bertolotto, University College Dublin
Stefano Borgo, ISTC CNR
Guoray Cai, Penn State University
Gilberto Camara, INPE
Tao Cheng, University College London
Eliseo Clementini, University of L'Aquila
Gamze Dane, Technical University Delft
Stef De Sabbata, University of Leicester
Géraldine Del Mondo, LITIS (INSA)
Somayeh Dodge, University of California, Santa Barbara
Heshan Du, University of Nottingham
Ekaterina Egorova, University of Twente
Sara Fabrikant, University of Zurich
Kai-Florian Richter, Umea University
Mark Gahegan, University of Auckland
Amy Griffin, RMIT University
Maria Hedblom, Jönköping University
Toru Ishikawa, Toyo University
Krzysztof Janowicz, University of Vienna & UC Santa Barbara
Carsten Keßler, Bochum University of Applied Sciences & Aalborg University Copenhagen
Peter Kiefer, ETH Zürich
Alexander Klippel, Wageningen University & Research
Manolis Koubarakis, University of Athens
Christian Kray, University of Münster
Saskia Kuliga, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Daniel R Montello, University of California, Santa Barbara
Antoni Moore, Otago University
Reinhard Moratz, University of Münster
Gerhard Navratil, Vienna University of Technology
Ross Purves, University of Zurich
Martin Raubal, ETH Zürich
Martin Tomko, University of Melbourne
Johannes Scholz, Graz University of Technology
Angela Schwering, University of Münster
Takeshi Shirabe, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Katarzyna Sila-Nowicka, University of Auckland
Gaurav Sinha, Ohio University
Emmanuel Stefanakis, University of Calgary
Kathleen Stewart, University of Maryland, College Park
David Uttal, Northwestern University
Judith Verstegen, Utrecht University
Stephan Winter, University of Melbourne
May Yuan, University of Texas at Dallas
Rui Zhu, University of Bristol
More to confirm...