I am a geographer and informatics specialist working in the interdisciplinary field of geocomputation, which focuses on the use of computational methods to process, analyse, and visualise geographic data. My work bridges geography, computer science, and data analytics, applying techniques from programming, databases, and AI to spatial problems. I am particularly interested in developing reproducible, data-driven approaches that support research, planning, and decision-making in real-world geographic contexts.

My current research interests include exploring the integration of natural language processing (NLP), artificial intelligence (AI), and geographical information systems (GIS), and developing automated computing solutions to tackle complex, data-intensive geospatial analysis problems. I have recently begun working in the field of accessibility modelling, supporting colleagues in the University of South Wales’ GIS Research Centre, which has a strong record of delivering innovative and impactful research in this area. I also maintain an interest in the application of 3D landscape visualisation technologies for collaborative environmental planning.

I am affiliated with the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) - a national, interdisciplinary social science research institute.

Prior to re-joining USW, I spent 11 years at the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) , where I contributed to a wide range of environmental and social science research projects spanning both academic and contract research.

I have worked on numerous projects funded through UKRI and EU Horizon programmes, as well as contract research and consultancy for UK government agencies (including Defra, Natural England, the Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales), local authorities, businesses, and third sector organisations.

I am open to collaboration across a wide range of domains where the processing, analysis, and visualisation of geospatial information form a core component of the research or applied challenge.

Details of my research outputs can be accessed here. 

I contribute to teaching and student project supervision on USW’s MSc Computing and Information Systems and BSc Computing degree programmes. Current modules include:

Postgraduate

• IS4S765 Big Data and Analytics (R programming for data science)
• IS4S703 ICT Systems Development (PostgreSQL, SQL, PL/pgSQL, PostGIS)
• IS4T702 MSc Project (Master's project supervision)
• IS4S706 Project Management and Research Methodology (Thesis writing & quantitative research methods)

Undergraduate

• IS2S565 Database Development (Relational database design and optimisation, Oracle RDBMS, SQL)
• IS3S662 Advanced Databases and Modelling (Object-oriented database system design)
• IS3D660 Individual Project – Informatics (Final year project supervison)
• IS3S661 Strategic IS Management (Business planning and IT project management)

I have been working as an academic in higher education since starting my career as an hourly-paid lecturer in 2004 when I was a PhD student at the School of Computing, University of Glamorgan (now USW). 

Since then, I have been involved in teaching GIS and informatics subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students from a wide range of subject backgrounds, such as computing, human and physical geography, social sciences, biology, ecology, criminology, landscape architecture and urban planning. 

I am an active academic researcher who regularly engages with the latest research, journals, and publications in my areas of interest. I have been involved in producing around 50 research outputs, including publications in international journals, conference papers, book chapters, and technical/consultancy reports.

• Computing and computer science
• Data science
• Informatics
• Geographical information systems (GIS)
• Geocomputation
• Geoinformatics
• Cartography
• AI and maching learning
• Teaching 
• Research
• Student supervision
• Tendering/bid writing
• Project management

• Free and open source software (FOSS) for informatics teaching and research.
• Programming languages: particularly R for reproducible research and data science. Generative AI (LLMs) for coding development and optimisation.
• Desktop GIS software: now mainly QGIS and GeoDa, but have experience with many different products - ESRI, Erdas, MapInfo etc.
• Databases: Postgres/PostGIS, Oracle, SQLite, and others. 
• Geospatial analysis: Advanced spatial statistics, spatial econometrics, and network analysis.
• Natural language processing (NLP): topic modelling, text mining, and semantic analysis, with a focus on integrating textual and spatial data.
• High-performance computing (HPC) for GIS: Parallel processing and distributed computing in geospatial workflows to enhance the speed and scalability of spatial analysis, modelling, and data handling.
• Cloud computing: Practical experience with Microsoft Azure and AWS for geospatial and data science applications, including deploying and managing Ubuntu-based virtual machines, configuring PostgreSQL Flexible Servers, and integrating Shiny applications with cloud-hosted spatial databases. Skilled in setting up web map and analytical services (e.g. GeoServer, R Shiny) within secure, scalable Azure environments for interactive geospatial visualisation and analysis.
• Containerisation: Docker for packaging and deploying geospatial and data science stacks (e.g., PostGIS, GeoServer, R Shiny);
• 3D landscape visualisation.

• MRES and PhD project supervision.

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) since 2004