Daniel O'Neill, Geography/Geospatial Data Science '26
Q&A With Daniel O’Neill, Geography/Geospatial Data Science '26
Undergraduate student shares how his passion for cities grew into a career path in urban planning.
Meet Daniel O’Neill, a geography major concentrating in Geospatial Data Science and set to graduate in December 2026. Originally from Chandler, Arizona, he’s applied what he’s learned at UMD to internships and research, diving into the ways cities develop and the challenges they face.
What inspired your interest in geography?
My interest in geography developed from my passion for cities when I was younger. When I was a kid I loved looking at maps of cities and drawing cityscapes and this passion continues to this day.
How has your interest evolved during your studies at UMD?
At UMD, my interest in geography has evolved to utilize all the different tools I've learned in order to understand urban spaces and environments. ArcGIS and Google Earth are both tools that I've taken more in-depth classes on that shape how I'm able to view and analyze our cities and different metrics like population data, commuting data and the locations of anything from public transit routes to city services.
Can you share an example of a research project or fieldwork experience that had an impact on your understanding of geography?
Over the summer I completed an internship at the Parks Department in the City of Mesa, Arizona. And in this internship I got to see how the skills I learned at UMD could be utilized for a full time job, and how city governments utilize the data collected in ArcGIS in order to run smoothly. I also got to experience visiting sites and surveying data which was something that was discussed in some of my classes but I hadn't been able to actually experience until then.
Geography encompasses diverse subfields, from human geography to physical geography. What area interests you the most?
Human geography definitely interests me the most, due to my aforementioned passion for cities. It's super interesting to be able to learn about how an area developed over time and how factors like transportation, physical geography, industry, government and inequalities shaped that area and the people who live there.
What would be your dream job when you graduate?
After I graduate, my dream job is to either work as a transportation planner or an urban planner in DC. I would love to be able to make a difference in people's lives through city planning and work to solve the issues plaguing our cities such as sustainability, gentrification, the housing shortage and inequalities in access to city services.
