Diego Ramírez
Data Scientist & Urban Researcher
Designing data-driven urban systems, interactive geospatial platforms, and digital tools to help cities understand themselves.
Head of Data Science @ CityLab Biobío · Collaborator at the MIT City Science Network
About
About Me
I am a Data Scientist and Urban Systems Researcher with a background as a Telecommunications Engineer and a Master of Science in Engineering (specializing in Electrical Engineering). Since 2023, I have been the Head of Data Science at CityLab Biobío in Concepción, Chile, collaborating with the MIT City Science Network. My expertise lies in transforming complex urban data into accessible digital platforms that support decision-making and foster dialogue between municipalities, communities, and institutions.
My work bridges geospatial analytics, urban data infrastructure, and interactive visualization. I specialize in transforming complex territorial information—mobility patterns, urban indicators, regulatory zones—into accessible digital platforms that support decision-making and foster dialogue between municipalities, communities, and institutions.
I am particularly interested in the intersection of data science, urbanism, and human–territory interaction. Through research, prototyping, and experimental tools, I explore how cities can use data to understand themselves and imagine new futures. My goal is to develop technologies that integrate geospatial intelligence, civic participation, and system-level thinking to support more sustainable and equitable urban environments.
Projects
A collection of research initiatives, technical platforms, and experimental tools developed across urban systems and interactive technologies.
Urban Systems & City Science
Metropolitan Scope
Under development
A metropolitan-scale geospatial platform designed to visualize, integrate, and analyze different urban data topics for the Metropolitan Concepcion area.
Role: Technical Lead and Data Scientist
Collaborative Mobility Data Collection
City Science Summit 2025
A mobile-enabled system that allows people to report geolocated surveys and visualize the spatial patterns of the collected data.
Role: Developer
City-Port Talcahuano
An urban interactive visualization platform focused on the city–port interface, integrating territorial indicators and coastal information. Collaborative project with "Empresa Portuaria de Talcahuano"
Role: Technical Lead and Data Scientist
Urban Mobility Data Platform
A comprehensive system for analyzing historical Waze data to model congestion patterns and temporal traffic indicators. Developed in collaboration with the Municipality of San Pedro de la Paz to support evidence-based transportation planning.
Role: Technical Lead and Data Scientist
CityScope Costanera
The first CityScope developed by CityLab Biobío. A tangible urban simulation platform combining RFID sensors, physical models, and real-time visualizations to explore future scenarios for the Costanera district in Concepción.
Role: Technical Lead and Data Scientist
Collaborative Projects - Sustainability & Resilience
Goats Wildfire Prevention
On going
A technological system using smart collars to monitor goat behavior as part of strategic grazing strategies for wildfire prevention. Integrates movement sensing, territorial analysis, and resilience planning.
Role: Research Coordinator
Collaboration: NGO Buena Cabra · MIT City Science · MIT Responsive Environments
Santa Juana Winetourism
On going
An agent-based model (ABM) simulating tourist flows, accessibility, and spatial interactions across vineyards and points of interest. Includes geospatial analysis and scenario testing.
Role: Research Coordinator
Collaboration: Municipality of Santa Juana · City Science Lab Taipei
Habitability & Informal Settlements
On going
A study exploring living conditions in informal settlements through audio interviews and AI-based information extraction. Combines qualitative and data-driven analysis in Talcahuano.
Role: Research Coordinator
Collaboration: NGO TECHO · Inacap · City Science Lab Hamburg
Research Interests
1
Urban Mobility as Complex Adaptive Systems
Studying cities as dynamic, interconnected systems—modeling movement, congestion, and spatial behaviors to uncover emergent patterns in urban life.
2
Interactive Geospatial Representation & Digital Urban Twins
Creating experimental 2D/3D interfaces and computational visualizations that make hidden urban structures legible, manipulable, and open to exploration.
3
Computational Models of Human Behavior in Cities
Using agent-based simulations and machine intelligence to prototype alternative futures, test interventions, and understand collective dynamics from the bottom up.
4
Tangible & Hybrid Interfaces for Urban Decision-Making
Designing physical–digital tools—such as sensor-based platforms and tangible interfaces—that enable collaborative reasoning, playful experimentation, and new forms of civic participation.
Technical Capabilities
A hybrid technical practice combining computation, geospatial intelligence, and physical–digital experimentation to prototype new ways of understanding cities.
Computational Urban Analytics
Python-based geospatial and network modeling. Machine learning, simulation, and mobility analysis.
Spatial databases and large-scale data infrastructures.
Interactive Geospatial Visualization
2D/3D urban interfaces using Mapbox GL, Deck.gl, and CesiumJS.
Digital-twin representations of complex territorial systems.
Physical–Digital Systems
RFID-based tangible interfaces for collaborative spatial exploration.
Microcontrollers (ESP32) and rapid IoT prototyping.
Research & Public Work
1
City Science Summit 2025 - Workshops
Leading technical workshops and hands-on sessions at international City Science Network events, where I designed and coordinated the participatory activities for each workshop, as well as the preparatory work, research and materials presented during the sessions.
2
A Spatial-Spectral Classification Method Based on Deep Learning for Controlling Pelagic Fish Landings in Chile
Developed a deep learning spatial–spectral method to automatically classify pelagic fish species using RGB images and VIS–NIR reflectance data. Demonstrated over 94% accuracy, showing strong potential for automated monitoring of fish landings and quota compliance.
3
Spectral vision system for discriminating small pelagic species caught by small-scale fishing
Developed an early-stage vision-based system for monitoring fish quotas using NIR hyperspectral imaging and spatial–spectral classification. Achieved up to 90% accuracy in distinguishing key Chilean pelagic species using k-NN and SVM models.
4
Collaborative Research: CRISP Type 2: Revolution through Evolution: A Controls Approach to Improve how Society Interacts with Electricity.
Provided technical support for the CRISP project, which developed a unified model for highly distributed microgrid systems integrating energy generation, distribution, information flow, market design, and human behavior—aimed at enabling power grids with at least 50% renewable energy. Directed by M. Naeini.
Curriculum Vitae
For a detailed overview of my academic background, professional experience, publications, and technical certifications, please access my full curriculum vitae.
Get in Touch
I'm always interested in connecting with researchers, urban planners, municipal leaders, and collaborators working at the intersection of cities, data, and technology.
Email
For research inquiries, collaboration opportunities, or project discussions.
LinkedIn
Professional network and updates on current projects and research activities.
GitHub
Open-source code, technical repositories, and collaborative development projects
In the Press
City Science Summit 2025
Santa Juana Winetourism

El Contraste

Cómo la IA puede evitar la “fatiga turística” y potenciar las rutas enoturísticas en el Biobío - El Contraste

Como una mejora para el Biobío, se busca poder aplicar tecnologías para crear un control bajo un sistema en los municipios y operadores de turismo.

Goats Wildfire Prevention

El País Chile

La brigada de cabras que frena voraces incendios forestales en Chile

La bióloga Rocío Cruces y su esposo, el ingeniero forestal Víctor Faúndez, creadores de ‘Buena Cabra’, desarrollan un collar inteligente para avanzar en el pastoreo estratégico que previene fuegos en la región de Biobío

© Diego Ramírez Vasquez — Eternally Under Construction — 2025
Data Scientist · Urban Researcher · CityLab Biobío