Steve Liang

Steve Liang is a prominent academic and entrepreneur currently serving as a Professor and the Rogers IoT Research Chair at the University of Calgary. He also holds the position of Founder and CTO of SensorUp Inc., a company focused on developing open standards for the Internet of Things (IoT) .123

Academic Background

• Education:
  • B.Sc. in Surveying Engineering from National Cheng Kung University (1995-1999).
  • Ph.D. in Earth and Space Science from York University (2002-2007), where he contributed to the development of one of the first virtual globe systems, GlobeView, which was later commercialized by GeoTango Corp. and acquired by Microsoft .123

Research and Contributions

Dr. Liang's research centers on creating interoperable standards for IoT, aiming to connect devices and data seamlessly over the web. He is notably the editor of the OGC SensorThings API, an international standard widely adopted for various applications, including environmental monitoring and energy management .14 His work emphasizes building a world-wide sensor web that enhances accessibility and usability of information generated from interconnected devices .45

Professional Experience

• University Roles:
  • Professor at the Geomatics Engineering Department, University of Calgary (2020-present).
  • Previously served as Associate Professor (2013-2020) and has been involved in various capacities within the university's research initiatives .15
• Industry Engagement:
  • Founder and CTO of SensorUp Inc., which provides a geospatial platform for IoT solutions .3
  • Active in several standards organizations, including chairing working groups for both the Open Geospatial Consortium and ITU-T .12

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Liang has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine in 2013, reflecting his impact on technology and innovation in the field .23 He has also held prestigious research chairs, such as the AITF-Microsoft Industry Research Chair on Open Sensor Web from 2011 to 2014 .4

Languages

Dr. Liang is proficient in both English and Chinese, allowing him to engage with a diverse range of international audiences in his academic and professional endeavors .1

His extensive contributions to IoT standards and education position him as a leading figure in advancing technology that facilitates smarter cities and improved environmental monitoring.