David Miller

Knowledge Exchange Coordinator

Information and Computational Sciences

Knowledge Exchange Coordinator

david.miller@hutton.ac.uk

+44 (0)1224 395276

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

David Miller has a BSc in Topographic Science [1] from University of Glasgow, and a PhD on expert systems from the University of Aberdeen. He has worked at the Institute since 1984, currently as the Knowledge Exchange Coordinator. In the initial years of the James Hutton Institute he was Research Theme Leader of Realising Land's Potential. He has worked on techniques for handling and analysing geographic information and applying them to mapping, monitoring and modelling changes in peatlands, land cover, urban and rural land use, landscape and seascape, and the development of Geographic Information Systems for use by government and its agencies. Currently he is a member of the Scottish Government Digital Task Force as part of the reformation of planning. He was an advisor to the Scottish Government Land Reform Review Group [2].

Current research interests

I am responsible for the strategic co-ordination of knowledge exchange at the institute, and research and commercial projects within the remits of several of the institute research themes. I am the Institute representative on the knowledge exchange and impact Gateway of SEFARI [3](the collective of six research institutes under the title: Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes). In the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme [4] (2011-16) I was co-ordinator of the Land Use Theme [5].

My current research interests are on understanding the landscape preferences [6] of different types of stakeholder with respect to characteristics of cultural landscapes, the implications for multi-functional land uses, and their incorporation into planning. This work takes account of the context of past and present land uses, and scenarios of future landscapes in the testing of public preferences with a view to understanding the significance of individual drivers of change on characteristics of landscapes. Research into visual quality in relation to scenarios of landscape change [7] was undertaken under the Rural Economy and Land Use [8] Programme (RELU), in collaboration with Dr Asa Ode [9], of Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. These studies make extensive use of spatial analysis of landscape characteristics and indicators [10], visualization tools, and both our stand alone and mobile virtual landscape theatre [11], with particular interest in enabling the development of visions [12] of future land uses, rural and urban by stakeholders and the public, and the role of public participation in land use decision-making.

The development of these tools increasingly involves the combination of spatial modelling outputs with virtual reality, to provide augmented reality tools for both research and knowledge exchange. Research applications include in renewable energy [13], urban green spaces [14] and human wellbeing [15], and rural and urban spatial land use planning. The direction of this research is to explore spatial and temporal pathways of change, and public perspectives on the evolution of land uses and landscapes into the future.

I lead areas of the Institute's knowledge exchange programme, including the Virtual Landscape Theatre [11], for communicating opinions about urban and rural pressures for land use change, between politicians, planners, and the public, including schools.

The Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Institutes (SEFARI [16]) have developed an education resources site which aligns existing online materials with the school curriculum, from early years to senior school (accessible here [17]). The resources include video diaries of a farming family under three scenarios of life in 2050 (Choosing our Tomorrows [18]).

My research involves close working in teams comprising the social and natural sciences, which is also reflected in most of my research proposals, Scottish Government research activities, and papers. Examples of such studies are the recent study of the Effects of Greenspace on Human Health and Wellbeing (Scottish Government, Green Health [19]), and Visualization Tools for Public Participation in the Management of Landscape Change (European Union, VisuLands [20]).

Current research projects include:

Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA), European Union H2020 [21]; (link to James Hutton Institute SIMRA webpage [22])
Understanding and improving the sustainability of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU [23] (UNISECO), European Union H2020
The Sustainable Hub to Engage in Rural Policies with Actors (SHERPA) [24], European Union H2020

Recent research projects include:

Ecosystem Approach to making Space for Sustainable Aquaculture (Aquaspace) [25], European Union H2020
European Landscapes: Challenge Learning Innovation Cooperation (ECLIC) [26], European Union Life Long Learning Programme
Contribution of green and open space to human health and wellbeing (GreenHealth) [19]
Space, land and society: challenges and opportunities for production and innovation in agriculture based value chains (AGRISPACE) [27]
unity Analyses for Forensics Purposes (MiSAFE) [28], European Union FP7
Development and application of new methodological frameworks for the evaluation of environmental impacts of rural development programmes in the EU (ENVIEVAL) [29], European Union FP7

Reviewing responsibilities have included the European Union Framework Programmes, and research councils in Australia, Switzerland, Belgium and Norway as well as public agencies in the UK.

Past research

My research background has included the development of methods for handling and analysing geographic information, using them to map, monitor and model change in urban and rural land use and landscapes, mapping peat deposits in Scotland, the creation of natural resource databases (for example, land cover [30]), and visual impacts of land use change [31].

Research on the visual impacts of land use change combine analysis of the landscape visibility, producing the first map of the intervisibility of the terrain of Scotland [32], land use change [33], and landscape preferences [6]. Applications of the analysis of landscape intervisibility have included the assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind turbine development [34] for Highland Council in Scotland, and the mapping of visibility for wind farm development in Scottish Borders [35]. It also led to the first national level mapping and analysis of visibility of the seascapes of the coast of Wales [36] as part of Maritime Ireland/Wales INTERREG 1994-1999 [37], and of Scotland.

Wales Visibility of the sea from the land

[38]

Wales Visibility of the land from the sea

[39]

Research on viewing distances and visual impact of offshore wind turbines [40] (with Ian Bishop [41], University of Melbourne) has been cited in a number of advisory reports, including in the UK and USA [42].

Our tools for the development of visual and cumulative impacts of wind turbines on landscapes have been applied extensively in the assessment of wind farm proposals. Examples include public enquiries into the extension of Cemmaes B, Llanbrynmair, Powys, and a conjoined public enquiry on the visual and cumulative visual impacts of wind turbines proposed at three sites in Mid-Wales, 2001, Carno, Powys, in each case presenting evidence on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales.

Work on spatial decision support tools has included the use of GIS tools and rules based systems to produce the first spatial plans for the development of wind farms for Wales [43], the spatial plan for wind energy for Scottish Borders Council [44]and inputs to the plan for Aberdeenshire [45].

Example of a spatial plan for wind energy in Wales (January 2002)

[46]

Spatial plan for wind energy for Scottish Borders Council

[47]

Digital mapping and analysis tools were developed to support the assessment of natural resources in Scotland. The principal applications have been as follows.

The topographic and peat depth surveys of 22 peat deposits in Scotland and England, listed here [48], (that is, surface and bottom contours, peat depth, isopachytes, cross-sections, peat volume, and peat quality), mainly raised bogs and peat workings. The survey methodology [49] was broadly the same as that of the Moss Survey Group for the Scottish Peat Committee, latterly based at the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research (MISR). A listing of the topographic, depth and reconnaissance surveys of peat deposits in Scotland for the Scottish Peat Committee, and further surveys by MISR is available here [50]. The deepest peat profile I surveyed was 10.0m (Creca Moss [51]). The deepest in the Scottish Peat Survey records is 11.0m (Threepwood Moss, Roxburghshire [52]). Maps of the areas surveys follow, with *.pdfs of the Scottish peat Survey sites to 1984 here [53], and peat depth surveys post 1984 here [54]. [55] [56]

[57]The survey of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) in Scotland, and its rates of change in extent. This was developed to identify potential impacts of bracken on habitats [58].
The mapping of the Land Cover of Scotland by aerial photographic interpretation [59].

Sites of topographic surveys of peat deposits in Scotland

[60]

Scottish Peat Committee and Macaulay Institute for Soil Research

[61]

Research on spatial planning and impacts of wind turbines, and resource assessments of peatlands are brought together in work on a payback calculator for wind turbines on peatland [62]. This was for the Scottish Government, in collaboration with University of Aberdeen and Forest Research, from which a paper describing the calculator [63] has also been published.

The studies of urban greenspaces Included inventories in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee; urban land use change; analysis of accessibility using route networks between every domestic property in the cities and the nearest of each type of greenspace. Projects have been undertaken for Scottish Enterprise on economic valuation [64] (Streetscapes [65], with Robert Gordon University), the European Union on preferences, use, spatial modelling, and 3D visualisations (Greenspace [66] – co-ordinated by University College Dublin; Greencluster – co-ordinated by Alterra), Edinburgh City Council on geographic analysis of access and greenspace audits, and Scottish Government on the contribution of greenspace to human health and wellbeing (GreenHealth [19], with Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Heriot Watt, and BioSS). Watch the video description of the findings here [67]. This is extended to the role of water, notably flooding [68], in relation to well-being such as a cause of stress, or a factor influencing psychological restoration (BlueHealth [68], for Scottish Government through CREW [69]).

Landscape visualisation

The Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT) environment has been designed to provide an immersive experience, with a 160o curved screen onto which an interactive 3D model is projected, from three projectors.The VLT is used in research into land use and land use change, engaging with people in venues that are accessible, and in surroundings with which they are familiar and comfortable. Photographs of events using the Virtual Landscape Theatre can be viewed for Chalara Ash Dieback [70].

Recent reports for Scottish Government

Miller, D.R., McKeen, M. and Ibiyemi, A. 2016. BB13 Proportion of local authority areas under impermeable surfaces; Change in impermeable surfacing in built-up areas [71]. Adapting to climate change/Indicators and trends/Flooding and infrastructure [72]. ClimateXChange [73].
Miller, D., Morrice, J., McKeen, M., Donaldson-Selby, G., Wang, C. and Munoz-Rojas, J. 2016. Use of digital and 3D technology in planning: research report [74]. FInal Report for Scottish Government [75]. pp109.

Recent presentations

Miller, D., Aalders, I. Podmaniczky, L., Centeri, C., and Balazs, K. 2015. Addressing challenges of evaluating impacts of RPDs on soil quality Experiences from case studies in Hungary and Scotland [76]. European Network for Rural Development and FP7 ENVIEVAL, Workshop, Vilnius, Lithuania, 27 October 2015.
ESCOM Conference 2014, ECCI, University of Edinburgh [77], Miller, DR, Horne PL, Donaldson-Selby, G, Wang, C, Morrice, JG, Morris, S. 2014. Green space services: Community engagement case study [78].
Culture and Landscape: Contributions to Sustainable Rural Development, Euracademy International Workshop [79], Loski Potok, Slovenia, July 2013. Miller, D, Munoz-Rojas, J, Aalders, I, Morrice, J, Donaldson-Selby, G, Wang, C, Horne, P, Castellazzi, M, Sutherland, L-A. 2013. Public visioning of future landscapes in the context of rural development [80].
GIScience Colloquium, University of Zurich, 17th December 2013. "Roles for visualisation tools and geospatial data in the delivery of public policy on land use and public participation [81]". Download a pdf of the presentation here [82].
A+DS Estate-Scale Renewables: Generating Sustainability from Scotland’s Land Assets [83]. Hilton Hotel, Edinburgh, 20th November 2012, Our landscapes and their responses to pressures [84]. Miller, D with Horne, P, Morrice, J, Brown, I, Wang, CD, Donaldson-Selby, G.

Recent training courses run

Co-organising An advanced course on Social Innovation in Rural Areas [85], held at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (Spain) on 18th to 22nd November 2019; organised under H2020 project Social Innovaton in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA) [21].

Co-organising a Massive Open Online Course on Social Innovation in Rural Areas [86], 30th March 2020 to 5th May 2020; organised under H2020 project Social Innovaton in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA) [21].

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David Miller

Current research interests

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Landscape visualisation

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