Research Interests  

• Applications of GIS in human and physical geography

• Applications of GIS in medical geography and in particular researching the use of network-based models in examining access to primary and secondary health care

• Use of GIS and visualisation techniques in emergency planning such as crime mapping and access to fire services

• Applying GIS techniques in collaborative environments and in particular the use of GIS in public participation arenas as part of decision support system frameworks.

• Investigating the use of participatory mapping in the siting of facilities such as windfarms and landfill sites.

• Investigating patterns of environmental (in)justice and social vulnerability mapping

• Use of innovative multi-method approaches based on spatial analytical techniques in investigating the socio-economic geography of Wales (WISERD initiative)

Current Projects

1. GIS-based analysis in accessibility modelling – with particular interests in investigating access to public services in rural areas in relation to the socio-economic characteristics 
2. Measuring spatial inequalities in service provision in health, education and social care using multi-modal transport approaches

Recent Research Grants

• Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD) Phase 1 (2008-2012): funded by the ESRC and HEFCW (Reconfiguration and Collaboration Fund) (jointly with Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea Universities)

• Understanding the role of ICT use in connectivity of minority communities in Wales funded by AHRC (jointly with Cardiff and Swansea Universities)

• Spatial Data Usability (funded by Ordnance Survey)

• WISERD Civil Society (2014-2019): Work-package 3.2: Implications of Spatial & Temporal Variation in Service Provision for Inequalities in Social Outcomes The proposed study will carry out analysis of existing secondary sources of quantitative data in order to investigate levels of social capital within communities in relation to changing levels of provision of key public services (Wales Institute of Social and Economic Data and Methods (WISERD) Civil Society, funded by ESRC Large Centres Grant scheme)
• WISERD Civil Society: Changing perspectives on Civic Stratification and Civil Repair (2019-2024): This Centre will look at divisions in society by focusing on the rights and obligations and practices of citizens and the role of civil society organisations in addressing inequalities in those rights and obligations. This will examine issues such as trends in polarisation of economic, political and social rights – looking at how campaigns for rights are changing and undertaking case studies of attempts to repair the fabric of civil life. WISERD is a partnership between the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea. Principal Investigator, Professor Ian Jones
• WISERD Transitional Centre: ‘People, Places, and the Public Sphere’ (2024-2027) The research programme comprises four research themes:
  • Workplaces and participatory democracy will focus on the Fair Work Agenda, including Wales’s progress in moving towards being a Fair Work Nation.
  • Rights, refugees and marginalised communities will examine the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in supporting refugees and state surveillance of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities.
  • Collaborative governance and deliberative politics will look at new and innovative ways to support the collaborative engagement of citizens in policymaking and to counter polarisation.
  • Local economies and place-based innovations will explore ways of involving economic actors in developing local leadership, resilience and capital to support economic growth.

These themes will be supported by the development of a place-based and public-facing WISERD Data Lab which will support community-led data collection to enable citizens, communities, and policy actors to play their part in co-production projects. Centre Lead (Cardiff University): Rhys Davies. Principal Investigators (USW): Professor Gary Higgs and Professor Mitch Langford 

Main Teaching subjects and course leadership

• MSc Computing Schemes: IS4S766 GIS Principles and Practice (Module Leader)
• BSc/MSc Project Supervision
• MPhil/PhD (KESS) Research Supervision

Administrative Duties

• Co-Director Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) since its inception in 2009; WISERD Executive

• Director GIS Research Centre, University of South Wales

Professional Contribution

• Reviewed manuscripts for over 60 academic journals and book proposals for 5 publishers
• Chairperson, Quantitative Methods Research Group (QMRG) of the RGS/IBG, 2001-2004
• Panel member for the RGS/IBG Geographical Information Science Research Group: Best Dissertation in the area of Geographic Information Science, 2012-
• Editorial Board Member for Computers, Environment and Urban Systems (2000-2008)
• Editorial Board Member for International Journal of Health Geographics - 
• Refereed Research Proposals for; ESRC, AHRC, NERC and EPSRC; Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Irish Health Research Board and Royal Irish Academy and Science Foundation Ireland, University of Florida CRC/Cornerstone SSPEG Program and Referee for Leverhulme Prize in Geography

External Examiner (MSc GIS courses)

• University of Ulster, 
• University of Leeds 
• Validation panel for several GIS courses in other universities

Postgraduate PhD External Examiner at

• Cardiff University
• University of Lancaster
• University of Leeds
• University College London
• University of Hull

Internal Examiner for

• Undergraduate, University of South Wales, 2000- 
• Taught Postgraduate, University of South Wales, 2000-
• Postgraduate Research: Masters, MPhil and PhD, University of South Wales, 2000 - 
• Chair, MRes and PhD, University of South Wales, 2000-