About Steve
Steve Graham has worked in the field of geographic information science since 2000. He began his career at Penn State's Population Research Institute, supporting social science research with custom programming and spatial analysis, before joining the University of Minnesota in 2008. He holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin, where his dissertation examined continental river routing for coupled climate system models, and is a Certified GIS Professional (GISP).
Over nearly two decades at U-Spatial, Steve's work has covered numerous disciplines and areas of discipline, from urban homelessness and childhood obesity research to archaeological site mapping, solar energy potential, and opioid overdose prevention. However, hazard mitigation planning, flood modeling, and systems administration have remained the throughline.
He has contributed to dozens of funded projects, many in direct partnership with Minnesota counties, Tribal nations, and state agencies including the MN Department of Public Safety and MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He's also an active member of the Association of American Geographers and the Northern Minnesota GIS User Group, and has judged the student competition at the Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium.
Key Projects and Initiatives
BRIC23-13 Thirteen County Hazard Mitigation Plans (2025–2027)
Funded by the MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office, this project involved developing FEMA-compliant hazard mitigation plans across thirteen Minnesota counties, part of the ongoing statewide planning program Steve has supported since 2008.
MN Infrastructure Stress Transparency Tool: Lead Service Line Data Collection and Mapping (2021–2026)
This project, done in collaboration with the MN Department of Health, involved collecting and mapping lead service line data across Minnesota, helping identify where aging water infrastructure may pose a health risk to residents statewide.
State of Minnesota Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
Steve has contributed to multiple update cycles of Minnesota's federally required statewide hazard mitigation plan since 2013, alongside a broader portfolio of hazard mitigation projects funded independently by individual counties, regional development commissions, and Tribal governments across the state.
Areas of Expertise
- Expertise in leading state, tribal, and county-level Hazard Mitigation Plan updates across Minnesota, specializing in statewide risk assessments and natural disaster planning.
- Deep background in watershed modeling, HUC 8 Hazus analysis, coastal erosion mapping, and continental river routing for hydrologic and climate research.
- Extensive experience in spatial demographic analysis, population research, and community asset mapping developed through roles at Penn State's Population Research Institute and U-Spatial.
- Applying machine learning models and spatial analysis to evaluate crop metrics, agricultural data, infrastructure updates, and public health initiatives.
Work with Steve
Reach out, consultations are free for the U of M community.