Jason T. Knowles

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• Jason T. Knowles

Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice of Spatial Sciences

• 2008: Ph.D., Geography, Louisiana State University
• 2004: M.Sc., Geography, Louisiana State University
• 2000: B.A., Geography, California State University, Long Beach

Jason T. Knowles, Ph.D., is an adjunct associate professor of the practice with the Spatial Sciences Institute in the University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Knowles has been a practitioner of geospatial sciences for more than 20 years, incorporating the use of geospatial technologies in local municipal, commercial, military, intelligence and academic communities.

He also is the CEO and founder of GeoAcuity, a geospatial consulting firm that specializes in providing high quality geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) solutions to the environmental, municipal and federal sectors. His expertise includes skills in 3D modeling and visualization, pattern and predictive analytics, UAS data collection and analysis, complex geospatial modeling and design, spatio-temporal and multivariate analysis, cost surface modeling, remote sensing (air photo and satellite imagery) analysis, cartographic visualization, field GPS data collection and support, GEOINT analysis and enterprise GIS design and implementation.

He has conducted field research throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, Kenya and China.

Earlier in his career, Knowles worked as a senior geospatial scientist at U.S. Special Operations Command and its subordinate theater components. In that role, he oversaw production of multi-layered, fused, geospatial predictive intelligence analysis and modeling in direct support of USSOCOM’s irregular warfare (IW) and unconventional warfare (UW) missions supporting counter-narcotics, human terrain analysis and counter-terrorism efforts.

He is certified as a Geographic Information Science Professional (GISP) by the Geographic Information Science Certification Institute (GISCI) and holds a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Knowles serves as the president of the Nu Theta Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geographic honor society chartered by the Spatial Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California.

Selected Works and Presentations

2020 Knowles, J., McAlinden, R. and Fleming, S. “Expanding the Utility and Interoperability of Rapidly-Generated Terrain Datasets.” United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation 2020 State and Future of GEOINT report.

2020 Moderator, Opportunities With Geospatial Start-Ups, Los Angeles Geospatial Summit, February 28, 2020.

2019 Loyola, L, Knowles, J., Marx, A, McAlinden, R. and Fleming, S. “Research and Teaching Applications of Remote Sensing Integrated with GIS: Examples from the Field.” Journal of Geographic Information System (JGIS) Vol.11, No. 6.

2019 Knowles, J. “Full Spectrum GeoVisualization & Tactical Decision Toolkit Development,” June 3, 2019. United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) GEOINT Symposium, San Antonio, Texas.

2019 Knowles, J. “The Integration of Perishable and Short-Lived Technologies into the DoD Ecosystem,” May 15, 2019, International Forum for Military Simulation, Training, & Education Community Conference, Stockholm, Sweden.

2019 Knowles, J. Gamma Theta Upsilon Induction Ceremony, April 29, 2019, Spatial Sciences Institute, University of Southern California.

2012 Knowles, J.T. CENTCOM/SOCOM Defense and Intelligence User Group Meeting August 13–14, Tampa, Florida. “Advanced Geospatial Analysis Supporting DoD: LRA Case Study.”