The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Alan's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Alan
I am a Lecturer in Environmental Management in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Plymouth. My research interests include GIS, spatial analysis, population geography, quantitative methods/human geography, and natural hazard risk assessment. I am an ONS Accredited Researcher and member of the ESRC Peer Review College.
Current leadership responsibilities:
- Chair of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) South West Region
- PI of the ESRC funded project 'Watpop: understanding seasonal population change'
- Geography Stage 1 Leader
Qualifications:
- PGCAP Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Southampton, UK (2016)
- PhD Geography, University of Southampton, UK (2011-2014)
- MRes Science of Natural Hazards, University of Bristol, UK (2010/11)
- BSc (Hons) Geography, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK (2007-2010)
Previous positions:
Lecturer in Geographical Information Science, Geography and Environment, University of Southampton (2015-2016)
Research Interests
My research interests are broadly within the following themes:
- Quantitative human geography
- Geospatial data analysis and GIS
- Spatiotemporal population modelling
- Population vulnerability, risk and exposure to natural hazards
- Population dynamics research
- Big data applications
I am currently working on the development and application of methods to better understand seasonal population estimates and the PI of the ESRC SDAI project " WatPop: understanding seasonal population change ". This project concerns developing and assessing methodologies for estimating seasonal populations using water meter billing data. Transient and seasonally varying populations (e.g. tourists) have traditionally been difficult to enumerate despite their numbers fluctuating considerably across space and time. This has important implications for planners and policy makers.
Current research interests also include the application of high resolution spatiotemporal population estimates for UK flood hazard scenarios. Traditionally static census estimates have been applied in such scenarios but are often not best suited to hazard analyses alone. The creation of time-specific population estimates can be used to create a more realistic assessment of the distribution of vulnerable populations.
Previously, I have contributed to the development of SurfaceBuilder247 applications, a spatiotemporal population modelling tool. This encompasses the creation of a national open source population dataset for use with the spatiotemporal population modelling techniques currently being developed.
Research Grants:
- ESRC SDAI "WatPop: estimating seasonal population change" (2019, £300,000 FEC, Principal Investigator)
- World University Network Research Mobility Partnership grant - University of Southampton/University of Western Australia, Perth (2016, £1700)
- Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund, University of Southampton (2016, £10,000)
- EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Internship (October - December 2013) at HR Wallingford (£19,620)
- ESRC Advanced Quantitative Methods DTC studentship award (2011)
Supervised Research Degrees
PhD student(s)
- Dr Kate Rawlings (2020), PhD Geography, University of Southampton
- Kezz Millard (2023 - present), PhD Environmental Science, University of Plymouth
Teaching
My teaching interests (undergraduate and postgraduate) are also informed by my active research and broadly fall within the following themes:
- Spatial analytical skills and big data;
- Applied geospatial skills (GIS) for independent projects and in the field;
- Natural hazard risk assessment, causes and consequences;
- Population geography;
- Advanced quantitative methods.
Current teaching contributions
I currently lead, teach and have developed all or aspects of the following modules:
- GGX1207 Our Digital Planet
- ENVM1001 Environment and Society
- GGX2203 Geographic Information Systems
- GGX3204 Big Data and Spatial Analytics
- GGX2204 Fieldwork in Geography, developer and leader of the Western Australia field course.
I also contribute to the following modules:
GGX3200 Dissertation in Geography (BA/BSc); GEES523 Quantitative Research in Human Geography (MRes); GEES520 MSc Dissertation; GEES535 Terrestrial Environmental Sensors and Big Data (MSc); GEES534 Water Management and Sustainability in Mining (MSc).
