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Dr Behzad Kiani
Dr

Behzad Kiani

Email: 

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

  • 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.

  • Effect of environmental and socioeconomic factors on human health

    Investigation of how climate patterns, built environments, and socioeconomic conditions influence population health outcomes.

  • 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

97 works between 2017 and 2025

21 - 40 of 97 works

2024

Journal Article

Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan

Fatima, Munazza, Ahmad, Adeel, Butt, Ibtisam, Arshad, Sana and Kiani, Behzad (2024). Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 196 (10) 929, 1-26. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-13105-z

Geospatial modelling of ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at regional scale in Pakistan

2024

Journal Article

Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model

Irankhah, Kiyavash, Asadimehr, Soheil, Kiani, Behzad, Jamali, Jamshid, Rezvani, Reza and Sobhani, Seyyed Reza (2024). Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model. Frontiers in Public Health, 12 1358423, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1358423

Investigating the role of the built environment, socio-economic status, and lifestyle factors in the prevalence of chronic diseases in Mashhad: PLS-SEM model

2024

Journal Article

The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review

Irankhah, Kiyavash, Asadimehr, Soheil, Ranjbar, Golnaz, Kiani, Behzad and Sobhani, Seyyed Reza (2024). The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review. Nutrition and Food Science, 54 (4), 732-750. doi: 10.1108/NFS-09-2023-0214

The relationship between sidewalk access and weight-related outcomes: a systematic review

2024

Journal Article

A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran

Faramarzi, Sharareh, Kiani, Behzad, Hoseinkhani, Mohammedreza and Firouraghi, Neda (2024). A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran. BMC Research Notes, 17 (1) 83, 1-5. doi: 10.1186/s13104-024-06737-4

A gender-specific geodatabase of five cancer types with the highest frequency of occurrence in Iran

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

Associations between gentrification, census tract-level socioeconomic status, and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada

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

Mastering geographically weighted regression: key considerations for building a robust model

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

Cancer patterns in Iran: a gender-specific spatial modelling of cancer incidence during 2014–2017

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

Space-time analysis of tuberculosis (2016–2020) in South Punjab, Pakistan

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

Gentrification, neighborhood socioeconomic factors and urban vegetation inequities: A study of greenspace and tree canopy increases in Montreal, Canada

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

From Snow’s map of cholera transmission to dynamic catchment boundary delineation: current front lines in spatial analysis

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

A mixed model approach for estimating the optimal food fortification of vitamin D: experiment based on Mashhad cohort study in Iran

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

The temporal sequence between gentrification and cycling infrastructure expansions in Montreal, Canada

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

Spatial accessibility to hospitals in Southeast Iran: an enhanced two-step floating catchment area method

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

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

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

Spatio-temporal analysis of fire incidences in urban context: the case study of Mashhad, Iran

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

Pedestrian road traffic accidents in metropolitan areas: GIS-based prediction modelling of cases in Mashhad, Iran

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

Spatial association between urban neighbourhood characteristics ‎‎and ‎‎‎child pedestrian–motor vehicle collision‎s

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

High-risk spatiotemporal patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a nationwide study in Iran from 2011 to 2020

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

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

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

The COVID-19 mortality rate is associated with illiteracy, age, and air pollution in urban neighborhoods: A spatiotemporal cross-sectional analysis

Supervision

Availability

Dr Behzad Kiani is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • 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

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Behzad Kiani directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.

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