GIS expertise
GIS technologies and techniques are used in research and modelling across a range of subjects within the university, some applications are less obvious than others. We have experts with interests in GIS spanning ecology, forestry, rural health, aquaculture, mountain studies, marine science, archaeology and the Gaelic language.
We have expertise in the collection of data from many sources, using specialist equipment including drones, GeoAcoustic Sub Bottom Profiler, combined with analysis in a number of packages (QGIS, ArcGIS). Our experts then apply their analysis to research, consultancy and teaching questions to form visual aids to understanding complex sets of data.
Beyond university staff and students, we can design and deliver bespoke short courses to fit your need; whether it be specific training, CPD, or a need to engage one of our experts to produce a specialist report.
Contacts
For all GIS enquiries please email: GIS@uhi.ac.uk
Your enquiry will then be directed to the most appropriate person.
Please use this email as your first point of contact if you are a member of staff or a student looking to connect with the group, or have a business need you think our experts can solve.
What can GIS be used for?
What can GIS be used for?
What is GIS?
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software is designed to capture, manage, analyze, stores, manipulate and visualise all forms of geographically referenced information, linking to a map or maps.
The software helps you interpret data to understand relationships, patterns, and trends. Global and local issues with a geospatial perspective require pervasive, complex, location-based knowledge and clear representations to illustrate and explain conclusions - GIS can help you.
In basic form GIS allows you to:
- Create geographic data
- Manage multiple data
- Analyze multiple data
- Display it on a map.
GIS Connects Geography with Data
GIS analysis and visualisations can have benefits to organizations of all sizes and in almost every industry. There is a growing interest in and awareness of the economic and strategic value of GIS. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize our world in ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.
GIS software helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared.
Understand the World around You
Every day, millions of decisions are being powered by GIS, from pinpointing new store locations, predicting climate change, mapping movements of people or animals, changes to vegetation over time, reporting power outages or helping councils map the use of services. It relates groups of data to other data in a geographic context.
GIS Software
There are many software packages available, the most popular being from ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS GIS, SuperGIS, SAGA GIS to JUMP GIS. There is other free GIS software, available.
The next section details the software programmes used at the university.....
GIS practitioners, software and equipment across the university
GIS practitioners, software and equipment across the university
| Department/ Discipline | Current GIS Staff Users | GIS Software used | GIS Equipment/ Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecology | Louise de Raad | QGIS, ArcGIS Online, ArcMap, R, Story Maps | 4 handheld GPS (Garmin 64 stc). 4 iPads of ICT have the free Survey 123 and Collector app installed (to collect spatial data in the field); about 13 GPS devices; |
| Forestry/ ecology | Euan Bowditch | ArcMap | |
| PDM Forestry, Science | Liz Barron-Majerik | ||
| Lecturer in Geography | Margaret Carlisle | QGIS, ArcGIS,GRDAS (also IDRIS, MapMaker, MapLife) | |
| Joachim Boehm | ArcMap | ||
| Aquaculture | Lucio Marcello | ArcGIS Online, Story Maps | |
| Teaching | Su Engstrand | ||
| Rural Health | Sarah Ann Munoz | ||
| ICT | Garry Main | ||
| STEM | Samantha Clark | ||
| Ecology/ Aquaculture | Melanie Smith | ||
| Environmental Science | Margaret Carlisle | ||
| Marine Science and Technology (MST) | Richard Shelmerdine | ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, qGIS | In addition to UHI's ArcGIS licence, we have a stand-alone ArcGIS licence with some extensions for commercial work. Garmin Montana 600 handheld GPS units. |
| MST | Rachel Shucksmith | ArcMap, MapInfo | |
| MST | Charlotte Slater | ArcMap | |
| MST | Leanna Henderson | ArcMap | |
| MST | Kathryn Allan | ArcMap | |
| MST | Mark Hamilton | ArcMap | |
| Archaeology Institute | Rebecca Rennell | QGIS, ArcGIS | Leica TCR+1205 R400 |
| Northern Studies | Alex Sanmark | ArcGIS | None |
| Mountain studies | Ros Bryce | ||
| Mountain studies | Martin Price | ||
| Archaeology Institute/ORCA | Jen Harland | QGIS, ArcMap | Leica TS11 |
| Archaeology | James Moore | ArcMap | Leica Viva GNSS (GS15/GS15) |
| Archaeology | Crane Begg | QGIS, ArcMap | Leica Viva GNSS (GS16, CS20) |
| Archaeology | Sean Bell | ArcMap | Leica ScanStation C10 |
| Archaeology | Rick Barton | ArcMap | Trimble VRS R8 GNSS |
| Archaeology | Amanda Brend | ArcMap | Paired Trimble R8 GNSS |
| Archaeology | Linda Somerville | ArcMap | Kongsberg GeoAcoustics Sub Bottom Profiler (Pinger) |
| Archaeology | Rebecca Rendell | ||
| Archaeology | Pete Higgins | QGIS | Handheld GPS |
| ICT & Information Systems, Marine Science | Steve Gontarek | ArcGIS, Openlayers, PostGIS, GeoServer | Multiple handhelds. Specialised Autonomous Intrumentaion in the field |
| ICT & Information Systems | Paola Arce | ArcGIS, QGIS, Openlayers, Leaflet, PostGIS, GeoServer, ERDDAP | |
| Science\Ecology | Michael Burrows | ArcGIS, QGIS | |
| Various Marine | 20+ practitioners | Various Marine | Contact Michael Burrows as SAMS GIS lead |
| Gaelic language | Iain Campbell |
Digital maps and collections available from UHI Libraries
Digital maps and collections available from UHI Libraries
Within the university library, staff and students have access to a range of digital mapping from sources including The British Library, Ordnance Survey, Jisc Geostore (OS and BGS maps + more), Edina, Film and sound collections, historic collections, geology and marine mapping, Naxos, radio collections and various discipline specific collections (you must sign in to the library system using your university logon).
For more information and access to these collections follow the link below:
Training, mentoring and courses with GIS
Training, mentoring and courses with GIS
Available training and mentoring across the university
| Location | Description | Duration (days) | Delivered to whom? | Delivered by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverness College UHI | Staff development course: Introduction to Survey123. Survey123 is an app that can be used to set up (spatial) data collection in the field | 0.5 | Open to all IC staff and PGR students | Louise de Raad |
| Inverness College UHI | Staff development course: Introduction to ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS online is a cloud based GIS package that allows users to analyse and share data | 0.5 | Open to all IC staff and PGR students | Louise de Raad |
| Orkney College UHI | GIS in Maritime Archaeology: The Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) Part III course | 2 | All divers and non-divers interested in maritime archaeology | On Hold (Previous tutors have left the Institute) |
| Orkney College UHI | Introduction to GIS (QGIS) | 0.5 | Short introduction for UGT and PG students | |
| Orkney College UHI | Digital Heritage, part of Introduction to Archaeology Evening Classes | 0.5 | Members of the public, evening class course | Jen Harland/Crane Begg |
| SAMS | No training courses offered, extensive use in commercial contracts |
GIS modules within existing courses:
| SCQF level | Unit / Module name | Software used | Unit / Module Leader | Part of what programme? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Introduction to GIS | QGIS | Margaret Carlisle | BSc Environmental Science, but also several students from other disciplines (Archaeology, Social work) |
| 8 | Digital Heritage | QGIS, ArcMap | Jen Harland/Crane Begg | BA Hons Archaeology, BSc Archaeological Science and all joint Archaeology Degrees |
| 9 | Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing | ArcGIS Online, ArcMap, ArcCatalog | Margaret Carlisle | BSc Geography |
| 11 | Digital Analysis in Archaeology | QGIS, ArcMap | Rebecca Rennell | Mlitt in Archaeological Studies |
| 12 | Individual PGR training | QGIS, R | Mike Burrows | |
| 9 | Introduction to GIS / Scottish School of Forestry | ArcGIS | Joachim Boehm | HND Forestry and BSc Forest Management |
Additional resources
Additional resources
Wiki.GIS.com
Wiki.GIS.com is an encyclopedia dedicated to geographic information systems. This repository incorporates contributions from the GIS community for the benefit of GIS professionals, students, and anyone with an interest in GIS software. The wiki contains informative articles about GIS concepts, new technologies, products, people, and organizations.
Publications
Keep up-to-date on the latest GIS software news and trends.
- ArcNews — A magazine featuring GIS success stories
- ArcUser — The magazine for esri software users
- ArcWatch — E-magazine for GIS news, views, and insights
- A Very Spatial Podcast
- Directions Magazine
- Geo: International Magazine
- GeoConnexion
- Geospatial Today
Free E-books
A large library of free e-books can help you learn more about GIS.
- What is GIS? [PDF]
- The New Geographers [PDF]
- Understanding Earth [PDF]
Essays on Geography and GIS