DAN MILLER
PROJECTS
ABOUT
Research engineer and design lead working on spatial data systems, analytical workflows, and mapping platforms.
I design methods and tools that transform complex spatial data, from historical records and archives to environmental and real-time datasets, into usable analysis, research infrastructure, and interactive products. My work spans data modeling, pipeline design, and interface development, often in collaboration with research institutions, public agencies, and design teams.
I hold a BA in Geography and German from Middlebury College and a MS in Computational Design Practices from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, where I received the CDP Program Award, for significant contributions to the culture of research, practice, and the public sphere within computational design.
I am currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor and Senior Researcher at Columbia’s Center for Spatial Research, where I lead the Mapping Historical New York project, and bring my experience in geographic information systems, data processing and analysis, map design, and spatial narrative.
Prior to my work a Columbia, I managed projects in the Research division at Brooklyn-based architectural practice SITU, and was a GIS Specialist and Product Manager at Social Explorer, a website and resource that facilitates access to and visualizes historical US Census data.
CORE SKILLS
Spatial Data + Analysis: GIS, geocoding, raster/vector workflows,
satellite imagery, open source investigation
Data Engineering: Python, R, SQL, PostGIS, ETL pipelines,
AWS, S3, GCP, BigQuery
Web Mapping + Visualization: JavaScript, MapLibre, MapBox GL JS,
D3, Vue/Nuxt, Node.js
Computational Design + 3D: parametric modeling, 3D spatial analysis,
Blender, Rhino, physical computing and sensing
AI Methods: vector embeddings, semantic search,
LLM-assisted data workflows
Product + Leadership: platform design, UX/UI, documentation,
grant reporting, workshops
SELCTED PUBLICATIONS
“Mapping Historical New York: A Digital Atlas.” https://mappinghny.com. New York, NY: Columbia University. 2021. Interactive website with Gergely Baics, Wright Kennedy, Rebecca Kobrin, Laura Kurgan, Leah Meisterlin, and Mae Ngai
“Reconstructing Human Rights Violations Using Large Eyewitness Video Collections: The Case of Euromaidan Protester Deaths.” Journal of Human Rights Practice, April 19, 2018. Practice note with Jay Aronson, McKenna Cole, Alexander Hauptmann, and Bradley Samuels
“Spatial Structures of Changes in US Economic Activity, Population and Labor Force (1970 to 2012).” IUSSP International Seminar on Spatial Analysis in Historical Demography, Quebec City, Sep 17, 2015. Paper with Andrew A. Beveridge
PRESENTATIONS
“Making the Digital Atlas: Methods and Design.” Urban Affairs Association Annual Conference. New York, NY. April 24-27, 2024. Panelist with Gergely Baics, Rebecca Kobrin, Zoe Lin, and Leah Meisterlin.
“Enumerations, Transcriptions, Mappings.” Critical Spatial Research Methods Workshop, Columbia University. New York, NY. February 16-17, 2024. Paper presentation and panelist.
“Mapping Historical New York: Introducing the Digital Atlas”. The City Seminar, Columbia University. New York, NY. January 31, 2024. Invited Panelist with Gergely Baics and Rebecca Kobrin.
“Mapping Historical New York’s Digital Atlas.” Urban History Association Annual Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. October 26-29, 2023. Paper presentation and panelist with Gergely Baics and Leah Meisterlin.
“Mapping 19th Century Census Microdata in New York City, on and off the Grid.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Chicago, IL. Nov 18, 2022. Paper and presentation with Guangyu Wu.
“Building and Sustaining a New Historical GIS for New York -- Issues and Lessons.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Chicago, IL. Nov 17, 2022. Panel presentation
“Spatial Experiences of the Holocaust: Visualizing Testimonies of Ghettoization.” Lessons and Legacies, Ottawa, Canda. Nov 12-15, 2022. Paper and presentation
“Reconstructing the 1850 Census Enumeration of New York and Brooklyn.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Philadelphia, PA. Nov 12, 2021. Paper and Presentation
“Project Roundtable, Mapping Historical New York.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Philadelphia, PA. Nov 11, 2021. Co-presenter with Gergely Baics, Wright Kennedy, Rebecca Kobrin, Laura Kurgan, Leah Meisterlin, Madeline Lieberman, and Mae Ngai
“Geographies of Ghettoization: Using Digital Methods to Place Victims’ Experiences.” Examining American Responses to the Holocaust: Digital Possibilities Conference. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Oct 13, 2021. New York, NY. Co-presenter with Anne Kelly Knowles
“Places of Experience in Survivor Testimony.” American Association of Geographers (AAG), Virtual. Apr 9, 2021. Presentation. Paper with Anika Walke and Levi Westerveld
“Mapping the Enumerated City: Spatial Strategies for Historical Microdata Linkage.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Chicago, IL. Nov 21, 2019. Paper and Presentation
“Disaggregating Historical New York City: Developing A Microdata Mapping Approach.” Culture Mapping Conference at NYU, New York, NY. Apr 12, 2019. Panelist, with S. Wright Kennedy
“Mapping Historical New York.” American Association of Geographers (AAG), Washington, DC. Apr 6, 2019. Panelist, with S. Wright Kennedy
“Space, Place, and Surveillance.” MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute Forum. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY. June 7-10, 2018. Panelist
“Spatial Practice as Evidence and Advocacy.” SXSW Eco, Place by Design Competition in the Equity + Inclusion category. Austin, TX. Oct 12, 2016. Finalist and Honorable Mention, with McKenna Cole
“Tracking, Visualizing and Analyzing Historical, Geographic, and Demographic Change.” Social Science History Association (SSHA), Baltimore, MD. Nov 12, 2015. Panelist
EXHIBITIONS
“When Pixels Wash Ashore”, Design Hub, Barcelona, Spain. October 2024. With Marina Otero Verzier
“Before the Event / After the Fact: Contemporary Perspectives on War.” Yale Art Gallery, New Haven, CT. July 2017 - Dec 2017. With SITU Research
“Sharing Models: Manhattanisms.” Storefront for Art and Architecture, New York City, NY. July 2016 - Sep 2016. With SITU Research
TEACHING
Adjunct Professor, Architecture and Computational Design
Cornell University, AAP
Visiting Critic, Urban Design
Queens College, CUNY
Adjunct Lecturer, Sociology
Selected courses:
Explore, Explain, Propose | Led the capstone colloquium for students in Computational Design Practices at Columbia University GSAPP
Data Mourning Clinic | Co-taught with Marina Otero Verzier, an advanced architecture studio and seminar that focuses on how design actively contributes to the transformation of society, technology, and the environment at different scales
New York and Your Neighborhood | Study of NYC neighborhoods using qualitative and quantitative research methods; reflection on immigration, employment, housing, gentrification, electoral politics
Environment and Society | Introduction to core issues, themes, and modes of analysis in Environmental Sociology, with focus on environmental justice case studies