Lab Lead

Prof. Dr. Jakub Krukar

I am Assistant Professor in Spatial Cognition - a branch of cognitive science studying how people think about, think in, and think with space. My background and approach are interdisciplinary, with an MA in psychology, a PhD from a department of architecture, and postdoctoral experience in geoinformatics.

Methods I work with include virtual reality, mobile eye-tracking, spatial computation, Bayesian statistics, and architectural theory of Space Syntax.

I am based at the Institute for Geoinformatics in Münster, Germany. I am also a Visiting Fellow at Future Cities Lab in Singapore. Prior to that I was at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK.

ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | LinkedIn | email

Fengxu Tian

I am a PhD student at the Institute for Geoinformatics, University of Münster, holding a master's degree in environmental design with a background in architecture and spatial design. My research interests are primarily in computer-aided design, parametric design, and spatial cognition.

Methods I work with include optimization algorithms, shape grammar, and space syntax to examine architectural configurations and their effects. I am also deeply interested in virtual reality, statistical models, and artificial intelligence to enhance spatial planning and design.

Linus Manuel Schilling

Inspired by the imposing buildings of Dubai, where I spent part of my childhood, I developed a deep passion for architecture that drives me to this day. After completing my Master’s degree in architecture at the Münster School of Architecture (MSA) at the University of Applied Sciences Münster in early 2024, I am currently working on my PhD.

As a PhD candidate in the SPARC program at the Graduate School of the Institute for Geoinformatics at the University of Münster, I focus on integrating psychological insights into spatial perception with algorithmic methods for architectural design.

My research approach, „AI-Driven Design Support for Architectural Differentiation: Tackling Subjective Spatial Similarity to Enhance Navigation“ aims to recognize subjective space similarities and enhance navigation.

Diverse perspectives enable me to develop innovative research approaches aimed at sustainably advancing the construction industry and enriching architectural practice through the integration of psychological insights and innovative AI methods.

Rabia Yagmur Yildiz

While I was writing my Bachelor thesis in Geomatics Engineering in Turkey, I did an Erasmus Internship in Germany, which inspired me to pursue a Master’s Degree at the Institute for Geoinformatics in Münster.
After discovering my interest in spatial cognition during a lecture, I worked as a student assistant at SPARC, focusing on code-based implementation of building designs in Unity and testing them in Virtual Reality to generate "evidence-along-design".

Following that, I spent a year in 52°North Spatial Information Research GmbH, as part of the Spatial Data Science team, where I gained valuable skills in geospatial data management, visualization, and web app development through an international climate science project.

Currently, I'm writing my thesis on how well the immersive virtual acquisition of spatial memory parallels the same experiences in the real-world, based on experiments within buildings.

email | Linkedin

Alumni

Ahmed Aly | student assistant

Abdelbasset Laroui | visiting PhD student, University of Ghardaia Algeria