Margaret McKeen

Research Assistant
Information and Computational Sciences
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Margaret McKeen has developed her skills in GIS and spatial analysis over more than 30 years, (over 28 years of which within the institute), using mainly ESRI software, particularly using ModelBuilder and scripting, using Python and R. She applies her skills across most of the areas of research and commercial work undertaken within the institute including forensics in the UK and abroad. Margaret occasionally tutors colleagues who request help with GIS and spatial analysis and occasionally assisting on licensing and copyright issues.

Biography

Margaret McKeen has developed her skills in GIS and spatial analysis over more than 30 years, (over 28 years of which within the institute), using mainly ESRI software, particularly using ModelBuilder and scripting, using Python and R. She applies her skills across most of the areas of research and commercial work undertaken within the institute including forensics in the UK and abroad. Margaret occasionally tutors colleagues who request help with GIS and spatial analysis and occasionally assisting on licensing and copyright issues.

Margaret also has more than 20 years’ experience in working on visualising renewable energy projects using various software, including Windfarm software, to run visibility analysis for proposed renewable projects and produces high quality graphics, mainly for wind power and contributing to environmental statements for windfarm planning submissions and consultations by SNH, (now NatureScot) on visualisation techniques in wind farm development and undertaking research contributing to planning strategies for local authorities.

Margaret very much enjoys the Knowledge Exchange, (KE) aspects of her work having produced everything from photomontages for planning application, to coordinating and collating materials for conferences and exhibitions, to producing materials such as colour by soil character maps and quizzes for public open days and school visits.

Research

Within the environment of the Institute she frequently handles, manipulates and analyses national datasets, such as the 1:250 000 National Soils Map data and Land Cover of Scotland datasets and OS datasets working across a range of research themes. She provides GIS support for colleagues from all areas of the research programs, for both internal and external projects. She has worked on projects ranging from peat restoration, soil mapping to mapping community resilience during Covid-19 restrictions.

Margaret provides GIS and spatial analysis support to six of the work packages from 2023 – 2028 Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment (RAFE) Strategic Research Programme and is also involved in a number of EU funded projects, (including RURACTIVE, GRANULAR) as well as commercial projects.

 

Past research

She has also contributed to research which has fed into visualisation for planning guidelines for windfarm development for The Highland Council and contributed to the SNH consultations regarding the revision of their LVIA guidelines. She has worked with Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) on a project to build a Scottish Digital River Network from existing local authority and Scottish Water culvert data and OS MasterMapTM Water features and to feed into subsequent OS MasterMap Water Network LayerTM releases. She has also worked with ClimateXChange (CXC) on projects looking at influences on the effects of climate change, such as the increase in impermeable surfaces across Scotland and has worked on various projects and contracts for Scottish Government over the years over and above the work included in the Rural Affairs, Food and Environment Strategic Research Programme.

She is also provides GIS support and analysis for a range of EU funded projects e.g. complteed project, Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), European Union H2020 and has provided GIS and analysis for forensic projects throughout the UK and Europe, providing collation of data and building GIS applications to allow mapping of the data collated.

Most recently Margaret has worked on projects looking at potential peatland restoration both in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

 

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

  • Schwarz, G.; Wilson, R. M.; Swales, V.; Burton, R.; Wright, I. A.; Gilbert, A.; McLeod, J.; McKeen, M. (2007) Appraisal of options for the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme in Scotland post 2010., Agricultural Sciences (Zems ukio mokslai), No. 14, 99-107.
  • Lilly, A.; Malcolm, A.; Reid, D.C.; McGaw, A.; Montgomery, L.J.; McKeen, M.M. (2003) A rationale for the development of a groundwater quality monitoring network for Scotland., European Journal of Soil Biology, 93, Article No. 103096.

Technical / contract reports

  • McKeen, M.M.; Miller, D.R.; Morrice, J.G. (2011) Shadow flicker analysis for Mullacott Cross Industrial Estate wind turbine proposal for sites between 10 rotor diameters and 1km from the proposed turbine location., Report to Philip Dennis Food Services Ltd. Providing additional infromation supporting previous report regarding shadow flicker for the proposdal of a wind turbine at Mullacott Cross Industrial Estate.
  • Miller, D.R.; Bell, S.; McKeen, M.; Horne, P.L.; Morrice, J.G. (2009) Landscape assessment of the capacity for wind turbine development in Highland., Final Report for Highland Council, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, July 2009, pp129.
  • Booth, P.D.; Langan, S.; Towers, W.; Jones, M.; McKeen, M. (2008) Tay Western Catchments Project: Land use, geology and water quality report., Scottish Native Woods.
  • Nolan, A.J.; McKeen, M. (2007) Soil and peat depth and peat landslide hazard risk assessment – Spittal Hill proposed wind farm, Caithness., Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd.
  • Ball, J.S.; Cummins, R.P.; McKeen, M.; Lilly, A. (2006) A borders wetland vision: development of a strategic planning tool for wetland biodiversity conservation., Report to the Scottish Borders Council.
  • Wright, I.A.; Birnie, R.V.B.; Malcolm, A.; Towers, W.; McKeen, M. (2006) The potential use of the Land Capability for Agriculture Classification for determining support to disadvantaged areas of Scotland., The Macaulay Institute, May 2006.
  • Malcolm, A.; McKeen, M.; Towers, W. (2005) An assessment of the suitability of various available spatial datasets for providing information on agricultural land values in Scotland., Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. Contract No. MLU/945/04(extension), May 2005.
  • Nolan, A.J.; Malcolm, A.; McKeen, M. (2005) Rapid assessment of grazing and trampling impacts on upland habitats for the East Loch Ericht Deer Management Group Area., FPD Savills, Perth (on behalf of East Loch Ericht DMG).
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S.; McKeen, M.M.; Bruneau, P.M.C. (2003) Soils and nature conservation: an inventory of selected natural heritage futures areas., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. F00AC101.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S.; McKeen, M.M. and Bruneau, P.M.C. (2002) Soils and nature conservation: an invenoty of selected natural heritage futures areas., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report, No 019 (ROAME No. F00AC101)
  • Nolan, A.J.; Waterhouse, E.C.; Hewison, R.L.; Henderson, D.J.; McKeen, M. (2002) Rapid assessment of grazing and trampling impacts on upland habitats for the North Ross Deer Management Group Area., Contract Report for the North Ross Deer Management Group.
  • Nolan, A.J.; Stolte, A.M.; Hewison, R.L.; McKeen, M. (2002) Moorland condition assessment survey – Mar Lodge Estate., National Trust for Scotland.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2002) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation: Natural Heritage Zone 16, Eastern Lowlands., Report for Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2002) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation: Natural Heritage Zone 11, Cairngorm massif., Report for Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2002) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation.Natural heritage Zxone 20, Border Hills., Report for Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2002) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation: Natural Heritage Zone 14, Argyll West and islands., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Towers, W.; Lilly, A.; McKeen, M.; Malcolm, A. (2002) Mapping potential land supply for housing in Scotland., A report for Communities Scotland, Macaulay Research Consultancy Services, November 2002.
  • Milne, J.A.; Pakeman, R.J.; Waterhouse, C.; McKeen, M. (2002) Langholm – Newcastleton Hills SSSI. Moorland restoration plan., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage. Macaulay Research Consultancy Services, Aberdeen, April 2002.
  • Towers, W.; McKeen, M.; Hester, A.J.; Malcolm, A.; Ray, D.; Quinne, C.P.; Gray, H.; Stone, D. (2001) Comparison of outputs from the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) and the Native Woodland Model (NWM)., Contract Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Miller, D.R.; Robertson, R.A.; Gauld, J.; Morrice, J.G.; McKeen, M. (2001) Northern Periphery Programme: after-use of peatlands, progress report – September 2000 to April 2001., European Union / Project Co-ordinator: Northern Periphery Programme.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2001) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation. SNH Natural Heritage Zone 21: Moray Firth., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2001) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation. SNH Natural Heritage Zone 2: Pentland and Orkney., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Gauld, J.H.; Bell, J.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2001) Soils: their distribution, characteristics and importance for nature conservation. SNH Natural Heritage Zone 4: N.W. Seaboard., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Miller, D.; Morrice, J.G.; Horne, P.L.; McKeen, M. (2001) An assessment of the cumulative visual impact of four wind turbine generating stations at Nynydd Clogar, Cum Llwyd, Nant Carfon and an extension to Penrhyddlan and Llidiartyuvaun., Welsh Assembly.
  • Britton, A.J.; Gordon, I.J.; Hester, A.J.; Robertson, E.; McKeen, M.; Common, G.; Palmer, S.C.F.; Marquiss, M. (2000) A grazing plan for Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve., Contract Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Waterhouse, E.C.; Chalmers, N.A.; Ross, I.; Towers, W.; Bullough, D.; Gordon, I.J.; Hester, A.J.; Milne, J.A.; McKeen, M.; Malcolm, A. (2000) Invercauld Estate Audit., A Final Report for Invercauld Estate, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms Partnership and Grampian Enterprise, June 2000.
  • Miller, D.R.; Robertson, R.A.; Bell, J.; McKeen, M. (2000) Resource survey of Drumbreckmoss., Report for William Sinclair (Horticulture) Ltd.
  • Lilly, A.; Malcolm, A.; Reid, D.C.; McGaw, B.A.; Montgomery, L.S. and McKeen, M.M. (2000) A groundwater monitoring network for Scotland: supplementary report on identification of potential sample sites., SEPA.
  • Lilly, A.; Malcolm, A.; Reid, D.C.; McGaw, B.A.; Montgomery, L.J. and McKeen, M.M. (1999) A groundwater monitoring network for Scotland., Report prepared for SEPA/SERAD.
  • Reid, D.C.; Lilly, A.; Malcolm, A.; McGaw, B.A.; Montgomery, L.J.; McKeen, M.M. (1999) Report on the potential for a nationally networked database of local authority private water supply data., Contract Report for SEPA/SERAD.

Conference papers

  • Schwarz, G.; Wilson, R.M.; Swales, V.; Burton, R.; Wright, I. A.; Gilbert, A.; McLeod, J.; McKeen, M. (2007) Review of the less favoured area support scheme in Scotland: Past impact and future options., In: Less Favoured Areas for Agriculture and Rural Areas (eds. I. Herova, P. Jakobe, O. Kral, et al.). Conference, Jihlava, Czech Republic, 7-10 November 2007, pp57.
  • Miller, D.R.; Robertson, A.; Towers, W.; Malcolm, A. and McKeen, M. (2001) Modelling of after-use options for cut-over peatland on Islay., Proceedings of After-use of Peat Production Areas, Workshop, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, May 2001.
  • Miller, D.R.; Robertson, R.A.; Morrice, J.G.; McKeen, M.; Gauld, J. (2001) The development of a method for planning after-uses., Proceedings of 2nd International Seminar on After-use of Cut-over Peatlands, Islay of Islay, 5-6 October 2000.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Lilly, A.; Malcolm, A.; Reid, D.C.; McGaw, B.A.; Montgomery, L.J. and McKeen, M.M. (2000) A groundwater monitoring network for Scotland., Hydrology in Scotland: Agenda for the 21st Century, University of Dundee, 22-23 March 2000.

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