Peter Anthamatten

Dr. Peter Anthamatten
Ph.D., MPH • Associate Professor • Interim GAM Lab Director • CU Denver Fellow for Faculty Governance • GIS Certificate Coordinator
Department of Geography & Environmental Sciences
Peter.Anthamatten@ucdenver.edu

Mailing Address:
Dept. of Geography & Environmental Sciences
Campus Box 172
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

Physical Location:
Auraria Campus
North Classroom Building
Room 3514-A

Fields of Interest:

Cartography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Environmental Health, Children, Quantitative Spatial Analysis

Biography

Dr. Peter Anthamatten is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver, where his work sits at the vital intersection of geography, public health, and environmental science. His research primarily explores the geography of health, investigating how the built and natural environments shape human well-being. With a career-long commitment to systems-based approaches, Dr. Anthamatten has led diverse projects examining children's physical activity patterns, the impacts of air pollution on stunting in Africa, and the relationship between urban heat and mortality. His recent work leverages advanced spatial-analytical techniques and multispectral imaging to address pressing environmental challenges, including identifying PFAS water sampling priorities and monitoring the effects of climate change on high-altitude vegetation.

A dedicated educator and cartographer, Dr. Anthamatten is the author of How to Make Maps and co-author of the textbook An Introduction to the Geography of Health. His pedagogical research focuses on geographic education and the development of spatial thinking skills in children, collaborating with the National Geographic Society to evaluate the efficacy of giant maps as teaching tools. Beyond the classroom, he holds affiliations with the College of Architecture and Planning and the Anschutz Medical Campus, bridging the gap between theoretical spatial analysis and practical applications in public health and urban design. 

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellowship | Center for Geographic Learning at Hunter-CUNY | 2008
PhD, Geography | University of Minnesota | 2007
MPH Environmental Health | University of Minnesota | 2002
MA, Geography | University of Minnesota | 2001
BA, Geography, German, and Political Science with a minor in Psychology, summa cum laude with honors | University of Missouri | 1997

Sindewald, L. A., Lagerquist, R., Cross, M. D., Scambos, T. A., Anthamatten, P.J., & Tomback, D. F. (2025). Identifying alpine treeline species using high-resolution WorldView-3 multispectral imagery and convolutional neural networks. Biogeosciences, 22(21), 6509-6543. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6509-2025 

Dzwonczyk, E. A., Anthamatten, P.J., & Crawford, B. R. (2025). Heat and mortality in a semi-arid city: A multi-scalar analysis of the impacts of temperature in Denver, Colorado. Urban climate, 64, 102709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102709 

Barton, K. E., Anthamatten, P.J., Adgate, J. L., McKenzie, L. M., Starling, A. P., Berg, K., Murphy, R. C., & Richardson, K. (2025). A data-driven approach to identifying PFAS water sampling priorities in Colorado, United States. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 35(3), 414-424. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00705-7 

deSouza, P. N., Hammer, M., Anthamatten, P., Kinney, P. L., Kim, R., Subramanian, S. V., Bell, M. L., & Mwenda, K. M. (2022). Impact of air pollution on stunting among children in Africa. Environmental health, 21(1), 128-113. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00943-y 

Anthamatten, P. (2021). How to make maps: an introduction to theory and practice of cartography. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315158426 

Chin, A., Simon, G. L., Anthamatten, P.J., Kelsey, K. C., Crawford, B. R., & Weaver, A. J. (2020). Pandemics and the future of human-landscape interactions. Anthropocene, 31, 100256-100256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2020.100256 

Anthamatten, P.J., Thomas, D. S. K., Williford, D., Barrow, J. C., Bol, K. A., Davidson, A. J., Davies, S. J. D., Kraus, E. M., Tabano, D. C., & Daley, M. F. (2020). Geospatial Monitoring of Body Mass Index: Use of Electronic Health Record Data Across Health Care Systems. Public health reports (1974), 135(2), 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920904078 

Nigg, C. R., Kutchman, E., Amato, K., Schäfer, C. A., Zhang, G., Anwar, M. M. u., Anthamatten, P., Browning, R. C., Brink, L., & Hill, J. R. (2019). Recess environment and curriculum intervention on children's physical activity: IPLAY. Translational behavioral medicine, 9(2), 202-216. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/iby015 

Hazen, H. & Anthamatten, P. (2019). An Introduction to the Geography of Health (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429024115 

Mastin, J., Luebke, N., Anthamatten, P., & Bruederle, L. P. (2018). Evidence for genetic allopolyploidy in Eutrema edwardsii (Brassicaceae): implications for conservation. Plant systematics and evolution, 304(1), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-017-1447-2 

Mastin, J., Bruederle, L. P., & Anthamatten, P. (2018). CLIMATIC NICHE MODELING REVEALS DIVERGENCE BETWEEN CYTOTYPES IN EUTREMA EDWARDSII (BRASSICACEAE). Botany. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2018-0027 

Mastin, J., Bruederle, L. P., & Anthamatten, P. (2018). CLIMATIC NICHE MODELING REVEALS DIVERGENCE BETWEEN CYTOTYPES IN EUTREMA EDWARDSII (BRASSICACEAE). Botany, 96(12), 813-823. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2018-0027 

Anthamatten, P., Bryant, L. M. P., Ferrucci, B. J., Jennings, S., & Theobald, R. (2018). Giant Maps as Pedagogical Tools for Teaching Geography and Mathematics. Journal of geography (Houston), 117(5), 183-192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221341.2017.1413413 

Thomas, D. S. K., Anthamatten, P., Root, E. D., Lucero, M., Nohynek, H., Tallo, V., Williams, G. M., Simões, E. A. F., Mulholland, K., Klugman, K., Lansang, M. A., Sack, D., Singhashivanon, P., Smith, P., Tan, C., Lupisan, S., Quimbao, B., Sanvictores, D., Abucejo‐Ladesma, E., Consortium, A. (2015). Disease mapping for informing targeted health interventions: childhood pneumonia in Bohol, Philippines. Tropical medicine & international health, 20(11), 1525-1533. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12561 

Anthamatten, P. & Hazen, H. (2015). Changes in the Global Distribution of Protected Areas, 2003-2012. The Professional geographer, 67(2), 195-203. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2014.921014 

Wee, B. & Anthamatten, P. (2014). Using Photography to Visualize Children's Culture of Play: A Socio-Spatial Perspective. Geographical review, 104(1), 87-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1931-0846.2014.12006.x 

Tabano, D., Barrow, J., McCormick, E., Bol, K., Anthamatten, P., Thomas, D., & Daley, M. (2014). PS2-20: Obesity Mapping in Colorado: A Novel System for Monitoring and Tracking BMI. Clinical medicine & research, 12(1-2), 83-83. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2014.1250.ps2-20 

Smolinski, S. L., Anthamatten, P. J., Bruederle, L. P., Barbour, J. M., & Chambers, F. B. (2014). Mountain pine beetle infestation of lodgepole pine in areas of water diversion. Journal of environmental management, 139, 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.02.034 

Root, E. D., Lucero, M., Nohynek, H., Anthamatten, P., Thomas, D. S. K., Tallo, V., Tanskanen, A., Quiambao, B. P., Puumalainen, T., Lupisan, S. P., Ruutu, P., Ladesma, E., Williams, G. M., Riley, I., & Simões, E. A. F. (2014). Distance to health services affects local-level vaccine efficacy for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) among rural Filipino children. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, 111(9), 3520-3525. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1313748111 

Nikoi, E. & Anthamatten, P. (2014). Childhood anaemia in Ghana: an examination of associated socioeconomic and health factors. African geographical review, 33(1), 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2013.838688 

Nigg, C. R., Amato, K., Browning, R. C., Schaefer, C. A., Steffen, A. D., ul Anwar, M. M., Lampe, S., Kutchman, E., Brunner, E., Bensman, L., Anthamatten, P., Brink, L., & Hill, J. (2014). Is Access To Renovated Schoolyards Associated With Children’s Leisure-time PA? Evidence From Three Complementary Measures: 857 Board #272 May 28, 2. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 46, 229. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000493876.34753.10 

Harmon, B. E., Nigg, C. R., Long, C., Amato, K., Anwar, Kutchman, E., Anthamatten, P., Browning, R. C., Brink, L., & Hill, J. O. (2014). What matters when children play: Influence of Social Cognitive Theory and perceived environment on levels of physical activity among elementary-aged youth. Psychology of sport and exercise, 15(3), 272-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.02.001 

Anthamatten, P., Fiene, E., Kutchman, E., Mainar, M., Brink, L., Browning, R., & Nigg, C. R. (2014). A Microgeographic Analysis of Physical Activity Behavior within Elementary School Grounds. American journal of health promotion, 28(6), 403-412. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.121116-QUAN-566 

Anthamatten, P., Brink, L., Kingston, B., Kutchman, E., Lampe, S., & Nigg, C. (2014). An Assessment of Schoolyard Features and Behavior Patterns in Children’s Utilization and Physical Activity. Journal of physical activity & health, 11(3), 564-573. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2012-0064 

Wee, B., DePierre, A., Anthamatten, P., & Barbour, J. (2013). Visual methodology as a pedagogical research tool in geography education. Journal of geography in higher education, 37(2), 164-173. https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2013.775568 

Tinker, M., Anthamatten, P., Simley, J., & Finn, M. P. (2013). A method to generalize stream flowlines in small-scale maps by a variable flow-based pruning threshold. Cartography and geographic information science, 40(5), 444-457. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2013.801701 

Nikoi, E. & Anthamatten, P. (2013). An examination of environmental correlates with childhood height-for-age in Ghana. Public Health Nutrition, 16(1), 46-53. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980012001346 

Anthamatten, P., Wee, B. S.-C., & Korris, E. (2013). Exploring children’s perceptions of play using visual methodologies. Health education journal, 72(3), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896912443119 

Anthamatten, P., & Hazen, H. (2011). An introduction to the geography of health. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203877463 

Anthamatten, P., Brink, L., Lampe, S., Greenwood, E., Kingston, B., & Nigg, C. (2011). An assessment of schoolyard renovation strategies to encourage children's physical activity. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 8(1), 27-423. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-27 

Anthamatten, P. (2010). Spatial Thinking Concepts in Early Grade-Level Geography Standards. Journal of geography (Houston), 109(5), 169-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221341.2010.498898 

Anthamatten, P. & Hazen, H. (2007). Unnatural Selection: An Analysis of the Ecological Representativeness of Natural World Heritage Sites. The Professional geographer, 59(2), 256-268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9272.2007.00611.x 

Anthamatten, P. & Ziegler, S. S. (2006). Teaching Geography with 3-D Visualization Technology. Journal of geography (Houston), 105(6), 231-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221340608978692 

Hazen, H. D. & Anthamatten, P. J. (2004). Representation of Ecological Regions by Protected Areas at the Global Scale. Physical geography, 25(6), 499-512. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3646.25.6.499 

Anthamatten, P. (2004). State Geography Standards in 2004. Journal of geography (Houston), 103(4), 182-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221340408978596

GEOG 2080: Introduction to Mapping and Map Analysis
GEOG 3501: Introduction to the Geography of Health
GEOG 4080/5080: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
GEOG 4081/5081: Cartography and Computer Mapping
GEOG 4235/5235: GIS Applications in the Health Sciences
GEOG 4995/5995: Sustainable Development in Costa Rica
GEOG 5050: Spatial Statistics
PBHL 2020: Introduction to Environmental Health
PBHL 6623: Global Health Perspectives