The award was conferred for their paper entitled “Development of a Fifteen-Minute City Index Using Walkability Scores and Age-Classified Population: The Case of Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines,” published in the ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. The study was selected as the best paper, recognizing its significant contribution to geospatial science and urban analytics.

The Jack Dangermond Award, sponsored by MDPI and Esri, is presented to authors of outstanding research papers that advance the field of geospatial information science. The recognition includes an international certificate and a monetary prize, underscoring the global impact and excellence of the winning work.

The award-winning paper introduces a novel framework for evaluating urban accessibility through a “fifteen-minute city” lens, integrating walkability metrics with age-sensitive population data. By applying the model to Pasig City, the study demonstrates how geospatial analysis can inform more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable urban planning strategies in rapidly growing metropolitan areas.

This international recognition highlights the growing contributions of Filipino researchers to global geospatial scholarship. It also reflects the strength of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing urban challenges, particularly in the context of mobility, accessibility, and equitable city development.

The achievement of the team marks a significant milestone for the Philippine geospatial community, inspiring further research and innovation in the application of geodetic engineering and spatial analysis for sustainable urban futures.

Read their winning research paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi14020078