Geography and Regional Planning

Geography and Regional Planning

Pathology of Challenges and Opportunities in the Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems by Geography Graduate Students in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Rahim Rahnama 1
Lucia Nucci 2
Akbar Heydari 3
Mohsen Janparvar 4
1 Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
3 Institute of Geo-AI, Zhaoxing University, Zhaoxing, China
4 Department of Political Geography, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/jgeoq.2025.151140.1628
Abstract
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies has highlighted the need to rethink educational and research methods in the geographical sciences. This study employs a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) approach to examine the extent of use, opportunities, challenges, and future scenarios associated with AI adoption among graduate students in geography. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population consisted of 180 master’s and doctoral students, from whom 125 valid questionnaires were collected through random sampling. The results showed that 67% of students had used AI software at least once in their academic or research activities; however, the overall mean usage level (3.1 out of 5) indicated a moderate rate of utilization. The highest levels of application were reported in academic writing and text editing (74%) and in spatial and remote-sensing data analysis (59%), whereas only 28% of students had employed AI-based environmental modeling capabilities. Pearson’s correlation test revealed a significant relationship between the level of AI use and academic degree (r = 0.38, p < 0.01). In the qualitative phase, data obtained from 15 semi-structured interviews were subjected to thematic analysis. The key opportunities identified included accelerated processing of spatial big data, enhanced research creativity, and strengthened problem-solving skills. Conversely, the challenges emerged across three major dimensions: insufficient technical and educational skills, ethical concerns and risks of plagiarism, and access limitations arising from sanctions or high costs. The foresight analysis outlined four potential scenarios: “widespread adoption and structured training,” “fragmented and informal use,” “institutional resistance and restriction,” and “localization and development of domestic AI tools.” Overall, the findings indicate that with targeted investment in formal training and the localization of AI technologies, a profound transformation in geographical education and research can be expected.
Keywords
Artificial intelligence
Geography
Higher education
Quantitative and Qualitative analysis
Opportunities and Challenges
Scenarios
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