
Overview
Background
Dr. Behzad Kiani is a dedicated researcher specialising in spatial epidemiology of infectious diseases and human health, with a keen interest in advancing methodologies and applications within the field. Dr Kiani is currently a Research Fellow within UQ's ODeSI team. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Montreal, Canada and before that an Assistant Professor at Mashhad University of Medical Science in Iran.
Dr. Kiani's research expertise is geoinformatics using spatial regression models and spatial cluster analysis. He has a PhD in medical informatics and a Master's degree in computer science. His work has informed global public policy and making, including urban planning and health, health resource allocation and identifying high-risk areas for different diseases at specific locations over time to implement more efficient and effective health interventions. He is a member of the executive of the International Society of Geospatial Health and is an associate editor of the Geospatial Health Journal. Dr Kiani has over 70 scientific publications in high-impact journals, including seminal work related to identify high-risk spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran and gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities in Canada". He is an accomplished and passionate teacher, as well as supervisor and dedicated to nurturing the next generation of spatial epidemiologists and instilling in them a deep understanding of the field's principles and applications to improve global health.
Availability
- Dr Behzad Kiani is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Research interests
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Comparing spatial epidemiology models to investigate health outcomes
Comparative analysis of spatial epidemiology models. Evaluation of efficacy and predictive accuracy of spatial epidemiology models. Spatial regression modeling and geoinformatics. Understanding disease patterns, risk factors, and health disparities.
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Effect of environmental and socioeconomic factors on human health
Investigation of how climate patterns, built environments, and socioeconomic conditions influence population health outcomes.
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Gentrification and human health
Exploration of gentrification's impact on human health through spatial epidemiology. Investigation of socio-economic shifts, housing policies, and public health outcomes. Contribution to evidence-based policies for equitable health outcomes amidst urban development.
Research impacts
I conducted extensive research in Iran aimed at identifying high-risk areas for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. This research played a pivotal role in assisting policymakers in the efficient allocation of health resources across various geographical regions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my research significantly contributed to the formulation of informed quarantine policies and the prioritization of COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
My research in Canada through meticulous analyses of cycling infrastructure expansions, urban vegetation increases, and the temporal dynamics of gentrification sheds light on crucial aspects of urban planning and social equity. By uncovering disparities in the distribution of cycling infrastructure and urban vegetation, particularly in areas characterized by material deprivation, visible minorities, and gentrification, the findings underscore the importance of prioritizing equitable access to resources and amenities across diverse communities. Importantly, the research highlights the need for informed, equity-based urban planning policies that consider the complex interplay of sociodemographic dynamics and infrastructure investments. By integrating these insights into decision-making processes and engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, cities can strive towards creating more inclusive, sustainable, and healthy urban environments for all residents.
Works
Search Professor Behzad Kiani’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada
Kiani, Behzad, Thierry, Benoit, Apparicio, Philippe, Firth, Caislin, Fuller, Daniel, Winters, Meghan and Kestens, Yan (2024). Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada. SSM - Population Health, 25 101637, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101637
2024
Journal Article
Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model
Kiani, Behzad, Sartorius, Benn, Lau, Colleen L. and Bergquist, Robert (2024). Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model. Geospatial Health, 19 (1) 1271. doi: 10.4081/gh.2024.1271
2024
Journal Article
Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017
Faramarzi, Sharareh, Kiani, Behzad, Faramarzi, Shahla and Firouraghi, Neda (2024). Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017. BMC Cancer, 24 (1) 191, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-11940-4
2024
Journal Article
Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan
Fatima, Munazza, Butt, Ibtisam, Firouraghi, Neda, Khalil, Maria and Kiani, Behzad (2024). Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan. GeoJournal, 89 (1) 1. doi: 10.1007/s10708-024-11020-x
2023
Journal Article
Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada
Kiani, Behzad, Thierry, Benoit, Fuller, Daniel, Firth, Caislin, Winters, Meghan and Kestens, Yan (2023). Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada. Landscape and Urban Planning, 240 104871, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104871
2023
Journal Article
From Snow’s map of cholera transmission to dynamic catchment boundary delineation: current front lines in spatial analysis
Kiani, Behzad, Lau, Colleen and Bergquist, Robert (2023). From Snow’s map of cholera transmission to dynamic catchment boundary delineation: current front lines in spatial analysis. Geospatial Health, 18 (2) 1247. doi: 10.4081/gh.2023.1247
2023
Journal Article
A mixed model approach for estimating the optimal food fortification of vitamin D: experiment based on Mashhad cohort study in Iran
Pourmohamadkhan, Marjan, Khorasanchi, Zahra, Ghazizadeh, Hamideh, Sedighnia, Atefeh, Kiani, Behzad, salemi, Omid, Ferns, Gordon, Rostam Niakan Kalhori, Sharareh and Ghayour-Mobarhan, Majid (2023). A mixed model approach for estimating the optimal food fortification of vitamin D: experiment based on Mashhad cohort study in Iran. Archives of Iranian Medicine, 26 (10), 561-566. doi: 10.34172/aim.2023.82
2023
Journal Article
The temporal sequence between gentrification and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada
Kiani, Behzad, Mamiya, Hiroshi, Thierry, Benoit, Firth, Caislin, Fuller, Daniel, Winters, Meghan and Kestens, Yan (2023). The temporal sequence between gentrification and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada. Habitat International, 139 102899, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2023.102899
2023
Journal Article
Spatial accessibility to hospitals in Southeast Iran: an enhanced two-step floating catchment area method
Raeesi, Ahmad, Tara, Mahmood and Kiani, Behzad (2023). Spatial accessibility to hospitals in Southeast Iran: an enhanced two-step floating catchment area method. GeoJournal, 88 (5), 5427-5443. doi: 10.1007/s10708-023-10925-3
2023
Journal Article
Burden of breast cancer and attributable risk factors in the North Africa and Middle East region, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Azadnajafabad, Sina, Moghaddam, Sahar Saeedi, Mohammadi, Esmaeil, Rezaei, Negar, Rashidi, Mohammad-Mahdi, Rezaei, Nazila, Mokdad, Ali H., Naghavi, Mohsen, Murray, Christopher J. L., Larijani, Bagher, Farzadfar, Farshad, Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen, Abbasi-Kangevari, Zeinab, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abidi, Hassan, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abubaker Ali, Hiwa, Abu-Gharbieh, Eman, Acuna, Juan Manuel, Afrashteh, Sima, Afzal, Muhammad Sohail, Ahmad, Sajjad, Ahmadi, Ali, Ahmadi, Sepideh, Ahmed, Haroon, Ahmed, Luai A., Rashid, Tarik Ahmed, Ajami, Marjan, Akbarzadeh-Khiavi, Mostafa ... Zoladl, Mohammad (2023). Burden of breast cancer and attributable risk factors in the North Africa and Middle East region, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Frontiers in Oncology, 13 1132816, 1-20. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1132816
2023
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal analysis of fire incidences in urban context: the case study of Mashhad, Iran
Jozan, Mohammad Mahdi Barati, Mohammadi, Alireza, Lotfata, Aynaz, Tabesh, Hamed and Kiani, Behzad (2023). Spatio-temporal analysis of fire incidences in urban context: the case study of Mashhad, Iran. Spatial Information Research, 32 (1), 47-61. doi: 10.1007/s41324-023-00540-2
2023
Journal Article
Pedestrian road traffic accidents in metropolitan areas: GIS-based prediction modelling of cases in Mashhad, Iran
Mohammadi, Alireza, Kiani, Behzad, Mahmoudzadeh, Hassan and Bergquist, Robert (2023). Pedestrian road traffic accidents in metropolitan areas: GIS-based prediction modelling of cases in Mashhad, Iran. Sustainability, 15 (13) 10576, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/su151310576
2023
Journal Article
Spatial association between urban neighbourhood characteristics and child pedestrian–motor vehicle collisions
Soroori, Emad, Kiani, Behzad, Ghasemi, Soraya, Mohammadi, Alireza, Shabanikiya, Hamidreza, Bergquist, Robert, Kiani, Fatemeh and Tabatabaei-Jafari, Hossein (2023). Spatial association between urban neighbourhood characteristics and child pedestrian–motor vehicle collisions. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 16 (4), 1443-1462. doi: 10.1007/s12061-023-09519-w
2023
Journal Article
High-risk spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a nationwide study in Iran from 2011 to 2020
Firouraghi, Neda, Bergquist, Robert, Fatima, Munazza, Mohammadi, Alireza, Hamer, Davidson H. H., Shirzadi, Mohammad Reza and Kiani, Behzad (2023). High-risk spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a nationwide study in Iran from 2011 to 2020. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 12 (1) 49, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s40249-023-01103-1
2023
Journal Article
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) contamination of food samples in iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mohamadi, Sara, Rezaee, Ramin, Hashemi, Mohammad, Kiani, Behzad, Ghasemi, Sajjad, Sani, Mahmood Alizadeh and Afshari, Asma (2023). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) contamination of food samples in iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 17 (2), 135-149. doi: 10.30699/ijmm.17.2.135
2023
Journal Article
The COVID-19 mortality rate is associated with illiteracy, age, and air pollution in urban neighborhoods: A spatiotemporal cross-sectional analysis
Mohammadi, Alireza, Pishgar, Elahe, Fatima, Munazza, Lotfata, Aynaz, Fanni, Zohreh, Bergquist, Robert and Kiani, Behzad (2023). The COVID-19 mortality rate is associated with illiteracy, age, and air pollution in urban neighborhoods: A spatiotemporal cross-sectional analysis. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 (2) 85, 1-29. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020085
2023
Conference Publication
Measuring spatial accessibility to healthcare facilities in Isfahan metropolitan area in Iran
Rabiei-Dastjerdi, H., Mohammadi, S., Samouei, R., Kazemi, M., Matthews, S., McArdle, G., Homayouni, S., Kiani, B. and Sadeghi, R. (2023). Measuring spatial accessibility to healthcare facilities in Isfahan metropolitan area in Iran. oint 6th Sensors and Models in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, SMPR 2023 and 4th Geospatial Information Research, GIResearch 2022 Conferences, Online, 19 - 22 February 2023. Goettingen, Germany: Copernicus Publications. doi: 10.5194/isprs-annals-x-4-w1-2022-623-2023
2023
Journal Article
Where to place emergency ambulance vehicles: use of a capacitated maximum covering location model with real call data
Hashtarkhani, Soheil, Matthews, Stephen A., Yin, Ping, Mohammadi, Alireza, MohammadEbrahimi, Shahab, Tara, Mahmood and Kiani, Behzad (2023). Where to place emergency ambulance vehicles: use of a capacitated maximum covering location model with real call data. Geospatial Health, 18 (2) 1198, 1-10. doi: 10.4081/gh.2023.1198
2022
Journal Article
Geospatial epidemiology of hospitalized patients with a positive influenza assay: A nationwide study in Iran, 2016–2018
MohammadEbrahimi, Shahab, Kiani, Behzad, Rahmatinejad, Zahra, Baral, Stefan, Hashtarkhani, Soheil, Dehghan-Tezerjani, Mohammad, Zare, Elahe, Arian, Mahnaz, Kiani, Fatemeh, Gouya, Mohammad Mehdi, Dadras, Mohammad Nasr and Karamouzian, Mohammad (2022). Geospatial epidemiology of hospitalized patients with a positive influenza assay: A nationwide study in Iran, 2016–2018. PLoS One, 17 (12) e0278900, 1-17. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278900
2022
Journal Article
The burden of prostate cancer in North Africa and Middle East, 1990–2019: Findings from the global burden of disease study
Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen, Moghaddam, Sahar Saeedi, Ghamari, Seyyed-Hadi, Azangou-Khyavy, Mohammadreza, Malekpour, Mohammad-Reza, Rezaei, Negar, Rezaei, Nazila, Kolahi, Ali-Asghar, Amini, Erfan, Mokdad, Ali H., Jamshidi, Hamidreza, Naghavi, Mohsen, Larijani, Bagher, Farzadfar, Farshad, Arif, Muhammad, Khanali, Javad, Rashidi, Mohammad-Mahdi, Ahmadi, Ali, Ahmadi, Sepideh, Gholamalizadeh, Maryam, Haj-Mirzaian, Arvin, Mafi, A. R., Nejadghaderi, Seyed Aria, Azadnajafabad, Sina, Maroufi, Seyed Farzad, Mohammadi, Esmaeil, Momtazmanesh, Sara, Shobeiri, Parnian, Abbasi, Behzad ... Zare, Iman (2022). The burden of prostate cancer in North Africa and Middle East, 1990–2019: Findings from the global burden of disease study. Frontiers in Oncology, 12 961086, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.961086
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Behzad Kiani is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Advancing Infectious Disease Modeling with Machine Learning and Spatial Epidemiology
Machine learning (ML) is transforming the field of spatial epidemiology, offering powerful tools to enhance disease prediction and risk mapping. However, many ML approaches lack explicit spatial components or are applied without careful integration into public health frameworks. This project aims to evaluate, refine, and apply ML techniques to improve the modeling of infectious diseases in space and time.
You will explore how different ML models (e.g., Random Forest, XGBoost, Neural Networks, or ensemble models) can outperform or complement traditional spatial methods (e.g., Bayesian models, spatial lag/error models, GWR) in predicting infectious disease outcomes such as dengue, leptospirosis, or salmonella. The project includes comparative modeling, spatial feature engineering, and visualizing results through spatial risk maps and dashboards.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Epidemiology and burden of rotavirus infections in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Colleen Lau, Associate Professor Luis Furuya Kanamori, Associate Professor Benn Sartorius
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Behzad Kiani directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.
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