[University Webpage] [Google Scholar]
[ORCID] [DBLP] [GitHub]

Harry Kai-Ho Chan

Lecturer in Data Science

The University of Sheffield

C229, The Wave
2 Whitham Road, Sheffield, S10 2AH
United Kingdom

Email: h.k.chan@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I am a permanent Lecturer in Data Science (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in the School of Information, Journalism and Communication (formly the Information School), The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Prior to that, I was a Postdoc researcher in the Department of People and Technology at Roskilde University (RUC) in Denmark, where I worked on the research project Data Management for Indoor LBS led by Prof. Hua Lu. I received my PhD degree from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, under the supervision of Prof. Raymond Chi-Wing Wong, in 2019.

I worked as a Visiting Lecturer at The Hong Kong Community College (HKCC), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in Fall 2019. I was a visiting PhD student at the School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, hosted by Prof. Cheng Long, from Apr to Jul 2019.

Research Interests

My research interests include data mining and analytics, data visualisation and machine learning, with a focus on spatial and temporal data. I worked on the problems in the following areas: (1) query processing on spatio-textual data, (2) spatial data mining, and (3) indoor location-based services (LBS). Recently, I have also been working on (4) applying machine learning models in databases to improve the query quality and efficiency of spatial data, and (5) enhancing data visualisation approaches for machine learning models.

Opening: I am currently looking for PhD students interested in data management or data mining research, in paricular in applying machine learning and deep learning techniques. If you are interested in working with me, feel free to contact me via email. Include your research proposal, CV and transcripts for all degrees.

Funded Projects

  1. Supervisor. Investigating Spatial Inequality in the UK - A data-driven approach. Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), University of Sheffield, Apr 2025.
  2. PI. Understanding visualisation approaches for non-technical users engaging with predictive models. Regional Innovation Support Programme (RISP), University of Sheffield, Apr 2024.

Publications [Google Scholar] [DBLP]

Conference papers:

  1. Harry Kai-Ho Chan,
    "CSKQS: A Query System for Collective Spatial Keyword Queries" (Demo paper),
    In The 41st IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), 2025.
    (pdf)
  2. Tiantian Liu, Huan Li, Hua Lu, Muhammad Aamir Cheema, and Harry Kai-Ho Chan,
    "Contact Tracing over Uncertain Indoor Positioning Data (Extended Abstract)",
    In The 40th IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), 2024.
    (pdf)
  3. Xiao Li, Huan Li, Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Hua Lu, and Christian S. Jensen,
    "Data Imputation for Sparse Radio Maps in Indoor Positioning",
    In The 39th IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), page 2226-2239, 2023.
    (pdf) (extended version) (code)
  4. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Huan Li, Xiao Li, and Hua Lu,
    "Continuous Social Distance Monitoring in Indoor Space",
    In The 48th International Conference on Very Large Data Bases (VLDB), Vol. 15, No.7, pages 1390-1402, 2022.
    (pdf) (slides) (code)
  5. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Shengxin Liu, Cheng Long, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "Cost-Aware and Distance-Constrained Collective Spatial Keyword Query (Extended Abstract)",
    In The 38th IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), 2022.
    (pdf)
  6. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Tiantian Liu, Huan Li, and Hua Lu,
    "Time-Constrained Indoor Keyword-aware Routing",
    In The 17th International Symposium on Spatial and Temporal Databases (SSTD), pages 74-84, 2021.
    (Selected as one of the best paper candidates)
    (pdf) (slides) (code) (video)
  7. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Cheng Long, Da Yan, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "Fraction-Score: A New Support Measure for Co-location Pattern Mining",
    In The 35th IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), pages 1514–1525, 2019
    (pdf) (slides) (code)
  8. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Cheng Long, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "On Generalizing Collective Spatial Keyword Queries (Extended Abstract)",
    In The 35th IEEE International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE), pages 2115–2116, 2019
    (pdf)
  9. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Cheng Long, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "Inherent-Cost Aware Collective Spatial Keyword Queries",
    In The 15th International Symposium on Spatial and Temporal Databases (SSTD), pages 357–375, 2017
    (pdf) (slides) (code)
Journal articles:
  1. Giulia Neri, Shevyn Marshall, Harry Kai-Ho Chan [et al.],
    "Data Visualisation in AI-assisted Decision-making: A Systematic Review",
    In Frontiers in Communication - Visual Communication
    (Accepted July 2025)
  2. Guto Williams, Harry Kai-Ho Chan, and Patricio Ortiz,
    "Exploring the Effects of Sheffield's Clean Air Zone on Air Quality and Traffic Volume",
    In Environmental Research Communications
    (Accepted July 2025) (pdf) (doi)
  3. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Cheng Long, Da Yan, Raymond Chi-Wing Wong, and Hua Lu,
    "Fraction-Score: A Generalized Support Measure for Weighted and Maximal Co-location Pattern Mining",
    In IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (TKDE), Vol. 36, No. 4, pages 1582-1596, April 2024
    (pdf) (code)
  4. Tiantian Liu, Huan Li, Hua Lu, Muhammad Aamir Cheema, and Harry Kai-Ho Chan,
    "Contact Tracing over Uncertain Indoor Positioning Data",
    In IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (TKDE), Vol. 35, No. 10, pages 10324-10338, October 2023
    (pdf) (extended version) (code)
  5. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Tiantian Liu, Huan Li, and Hua Lu,
    "Time-Constrained Indoor Keyword-aware Routing: Foundations and Extensions",
    In GeoInformatica (Special Issue of SSTD21 Best Papers), Vol. 27, pages 375-426, April 2023
    (pdf) (code)
  6. Huan Li, Tiantian Liu, Harry Kai-Ho Chan, and Hua Lu,
    "Spatial data analysis for intelligent buildings: Awareness of context and data uncertainty",
    In Frontiers in Big Data, Rising Stars in Data Mining and Management 2022
    (pdf)
  7. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Shengxin Liu, Cheng Long, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "Cost-Aware and Distance-Constrained Collective Spatial Keyword Query",
    In IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (TKDE), Vol. 35, No. 2, pages 1324-1336, February 2023
    (pdf) (appendix) (code)
  8. Harry Kai-Ho Chan, Cheng Long, and Raymond Chi-Wing Wong,
    "On Generalizing Collective Spatial Keyword Queries",
    In IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (TKDE), Vol. 30, No. 9, pages 1712-1726, September 2018
    (pdf) (appendix) (code)
The code could also be found on GitHub: https://github.com/harryckh

Teaching

The University of Sheffield: HKCC, PolyU: HKUST (Teaching Assistant):

Professional Services

Assessment Board:
Conference Organizar:
Conference Session Chair:
Selected Conference/Workshop Program Committee Member:
Selected Journal Referee:

Awards

  1. Best Paper Candidate in SSTD 2021, Aug 2021
  2. Research Travel Grant in ICDE 2019, HKUST, Apr 2019
  3. Student Travel Grant, ICDE 2019, Mar 2019
  4. Overseas Research Award, HKUST, Feb 2019
  5. Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund Scholarships, Aug 2018
  6. Research Travel Grant in SSTD 2017, HKUST, Oct 2017
  7. Hong Kong ICT Awards 2017, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer
    • Best Student Invention Grand Award
    • Best Student Invention (Tertiary or Above) Gold Award
  8. Postgraduate Studentship, HKUST, 2013-2019
  9. Professor Samuel Chanson Best Teaching Assistant Award, HKUST, 2014
  10. Academic Achievement Award for Graduating Students, CSE, HKUST, 2013
  11. Dean's List, HKUST, 2011-2013 (Four out of six semesters)
  12. HKMA Information Technology Management Club Scholarship, 2012
  13. Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Appliances Merchants Association Scholarship, 2012

Talks

  1. Research Group Seminar, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham
    Science for AI & AI for Science Group
    Topic: Missing Data Imputation for Sparse Radio Map in Indoor Positioning
    Date: 27th June, 2025
  2. Education Seminar, The Bank of East Asia, UK Branch (BEA UK), London
    Topic: Importance of Data Science and AI subjects in universities
    Date: 11th May, 2025
  3. PGR Symposium 2024, School of Information, Journalism and Communication, University of Sheffield
    Theme: Bridging Theory and Practice: Innovation in Information and Journalism in Digital Age
    Topic: Towards Accurate Indoor Positioning Through Missing Data Imputation
    Date: 30th Oct, 2024
  4. DIREC Seminar 2021, Digital Research Centre Denmark
    Workshop: WS3 – Advanced and Efficient Big Data Management and Analysis
    Topic: Time-Constrained Indoor Keyword-aware Routing
    Date: 13th Sep, 2021
  5. Guest lecturer in GEODESIGN course, Roskilde University
    Topic: Spatial Data and Databases
    Date: 18th Feb, 2021
  6. Research Seminar, Roskilde University
    Topic: Co-location Pattern Mining
    Date: 17th Feb, 2021
  7. Guest speaker in ENGG1010 seminar, HKUST
    Theme: How engineers decide their major
    Topic: Sharing on Computer Science and Engineering
    Date: 13th Mar, 2019
Updated on July 2025