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Matt Aitkenhead

Staff picture: Matt Aitkenhead
Information and Computational Sciences
Information and Computational Sciences
Soils Modeller
matt.aitkenhead@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK

 

Current research interests

I have a background in a wide range of soil and environmental topics, and in the modelling of complex environmental system. I have qualifications in a range of subjects, and have worked for several years in Aberdeen at the University and the James Hutton Institute. I have over 50 publications including refereed papers, conference proceedings, technical reports and popular articles. I also have expertise in soil modelling, land cover mapping, remote sensing interpretation, environmental modelling, soil formation, land use and land use change, artificial intelligence and computer programming. I have an intimate knowledge of the Scottish landscape, and of the data held at the James Hutton Institute which describes it.

A key aspect of my work is the development of novel modelling and classification methods and software packages that utilise spatial remote sensing and environmental data in a wide range of environmental applications. This includes the development, with other staff members, or mobile phone apps for environmental monitoring in real-time.

The 'Related Content' links at the side of the page will take you to projects that I am involved in.

Bibliography

  • Williams, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Karley, A.J.; Graham, J.; Jones, H.G. (2018) Use of imaging technologies for high throughput phenotyping., In: Graham, J. & Brennan, R. (eds.). Raspberry: Breeding, Challenges and Advances. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Chapter 9, pp145-158.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Donnelly, D.; Coull, M.C.; Gwatkin, R. (2016) Estimating soil properties with a mobile phone., In: Hartemink, A. & Minasny, B. (eds.). Digital Soil Morphometrics (Progress in Soil Science). Springer, Chapter 7, pp89-110.
  • Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J. (2014) Assessing carbon in Scottish soils using traditional and novel analytical approaches., In: Arrouays, D., McKenzie, N., Hempel, J., Richer de Forges, A.C. & McBratney, A. (eds.). GlobalSoilMap: Basis of the global spatial soil information system. Proceedings of the 1st GlobalSoilMap Conference, Orleans, France, 7-9 October 2013. CRC Press/Balkema, Leiden, pp287-290.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Richards, M. (2005) The Ordersort algorithm., C++ User's Journal, September 2005, p6-12.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Aalders, I.H. (2005) A framework for developing environmental models, In: MODSIM 2005 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (eds. A. Zerger and R.M. Argent). Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, December 2005, pp587-593.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J. (2005) Evolving an autonomous neural network., In: MODSIM 2005 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (eds. A. Zerger and R.M. Argent). Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, December 2005, pp587-593.

  • Burgess, P.; Sanders, D.; Keay, C.; Hannan, J.; Aitkenhead, M.; Rivington, M. (2021) Exploring the effects on UK food security and land use of four scenarios describing socioeconomic responses to COVID19, Online
  • Rivington, M.; Duckett, D.; Iannetta, P.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G.; Polhill, G.; Loades, K.; Newton, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Neilson, R.; Gandossi, G.; Stewart, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D.; Udugbezi, E.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A.; Benton, T.; King, R., Burgess, P. (2021) An overview assessment of the COVID19 pandemic on the UK food and nutrition security, Online
  • Rivington, M.; King, R.; Duckett, D.; Iannetta, P.; G. Benton, T.; Burgess, P. J.; Hawes, C.; Wellesley, L.; Polhill, G.; Aitkenhead, M.; Lozada-Ellison, L. M.; Begg, G.; Williams, A. G.; Newton, A.; Lorenzo-Arribas, A.; Neilson, R.; Watts, C. (2021) UK Food and nutrition security during and after the COVID19 pandemic Project Report and Recommendations, On the institute, project website: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/projects/uk-food-and-nutrition-security-during-and-after-covid-19-pandemic
  • Brewster, A.; Roberts, D.; Grant, E.; Casas, C.; Jorat, E.; Morel, A.; Aitkenhead, M. (2021) Basic silicate rock by-product: a new agricultural input that captures CO2 also known as 'Rock on Soils'., Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fund, Report to Scottish Government, 67pp.
  • Neilson, R.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.E.; Holland, J.; Loades, K.; Ovando Pol, P.; Rivington, M.; Roberts, M.; Yeluripati, J. (2020) Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate., ClimateXChange Report, 42pp.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Waylen, K.A.; Compagnucci, A.; Rivington, M.; Gimona, A. (2019) Extreme climate change scenarios for Scotland: Workshop report., Report for SEFARI Gateway, 20pp.
  • Evans, C.; Artz, R.R.E.; Moxley, J.; Smyth, M.A.; Taylor, E.; Archer, N.; Burden, A.; Williamson, J.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Thomson, A.; Buys, G.; Malcolm, H.; Wilson, D.; Renou-Wilson, F. (2019) Implementation of an emissions inventory for UK peatlands., Report to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, 88pp.
  • Artz, R.R.E.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Poggio, L.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.J. (2017) Comparison of remote sensing approaches for detection of peatland drainage in Scotland., Report for CxC website.
  • Taylor, E.; Smyth, M-A.; Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Evans, C.; Moxley, J.; Archer, N.J. (2017) Activity data for drainage and rewetting of organic soils 1990-2013., Report to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Work package 4 Project report, not for external publication), 37pp.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J. (2017) Linking peatland restoration project data to a model of peat depth and condition: Acquisition and integration of restoration project data with spatial covariates., Internal RESAS Report on Dataset Generation.
  • Taylor, E.; Smyth, M.A.; Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Evans, C.; Moxley, J.; Archer, N. (2016) Activity data for drainage and rewetting of organic soils 1990-2013., Workpackage Report to the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Poggio, L.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Gimona, A.; Artz, R.R.E. (2016) Detection of peatland drainage with remote sensing - a scoping study., Technical Report to CxC Directorate.
  • Hallett, P.; Hall, R.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Crooks, B.; Ball, B.; Raffan, A.; Braun, H.; Russell, T.; Aitkenhead, M.J.; Riach, D.; Rowan, J.; Long, A. (2016) Effect of soil structure and field drainage on water quality and flood risk., CREW Report, CRW 2014_03, 34pp.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J.; Squire, G.; McLeod, K.; Hastings, E.; Troldborg, M.; Aalders, I.H.; Towers, W.; Lilly, A.; Brown, I.; Coull, M.C.; Castellazzi, M.; Matthews, K.B.; Baggaley, N.J. (2016) A review of ecosystem service mapping within Scottish Government RESAS-funded research., Report for Scottish Government.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Campbell, G.; Coull, M.C. (2015) Using remote sensing to assess the condition of peat in drinking water catchments., CREW Report.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Campbell, G.; Coull, M.C. (2015) Using remote sensing to assess the condition of peat in drinking water catchments., Report to Scottish Water.
  • Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Balana, B.; Chapman, S. (2014) WISE Peatland Choices - A decision support tool for peatland restoration in Scotland., Version 2- September 2014, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, 16pp.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J.; Squire, G.; McLeod, K.; Hastings, E.; Troldborg, M.; Aalders, I.; Towers, W.; Lilly, A.; Poggio, L.; Gimona, A.; Brown, I.; Castellazzi, M.; Matthews, K.B.; Baggaley, N.J. (2014) A review of ecosystem service mapping within Scottish Government RESAS funded research., Report for Scottish Government.
  • McKee, A.J.; Sutherland, L.A.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Campbell, C. (2014) On-farm assessment of soil carbon status., Self-published Report for Quality Meat Scotland and research participants; to be published on JHI website.
  • Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Balana, B.; Chapman, S.J. (2013) WISE peatland choices - a decision support tool for peatland restoration in Scotland., ClimateXChange Scotland, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Donnelly, D.; Coull, M.C. (2013) Innovations in aquatic monitoring., CREW Report to SEPA, CREW Project Number CD2013_04.
  • McVittie, A.; Norton, L.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Glenk, K.; Aitkenhead, M.; Aalders, I.H.; Hough, R.L.; Smart, S.; Edwards, F.; Kenyon, W.; Black, H.I.J.; Dunbar, M.; Maskell, L. (2012) Valuing the impacts of ecosystem service interactions for policy effectiveness., Valuing Nature Network. Final Project Report.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Poggio, L.; Gimona, A.; Aalders, I.H. (2012) PROBA-V Evaluation of accuracy characteristics in heterogeneous zones., Report to Belgian Space Agency.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Coull, M.C. (2012) Report on soil remediation decision support tool., External Contract Report and Software for REMEDIOS Ltd.
  • Brown, I.; Gimona, A.; Poggio, L.; Castellazzi, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Brooker, R. (2011) Developing upland habitat inventories for Annex 1 and priority BAP habitats., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Smith, P.; Smith, J.; Flyn, H.; Killham, K.; Rangel-Castro, I.; Foereid, B.; Aitkenhead, M.; Chapman, S.; Towers, W.; Bell, J.; Lumsdon, D.; Milne, R.; Thomson, A.; Simmons, I.; Skiba, U.; Reynolds, B.; Evans, C.; Frogbrook, Z.; Bradley, I.; Whitmore, A. (2007) ECOSSE - Estimating carbon in organic soils sequestration and emissions., Report to Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Edinburgh, 177pp. ISBN 978 0 7559 1498 2.

  • Pérez-Fernández, E.; Aitkenhead, M.; Shand, C.A.; Robertson, A.H.J. (2017) On using the precise sensor., Proceedings of the 11th European Conference in Precision Agriculture, John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh, 16-20 July 2017. Presentation 17 July 2017.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Cameron, C.; Gaskin, G.; Choisy, B.; Coull, M.C.; Black, H.I.J.; Robertson, A.H.J. (2016) The Scottish way - getting results in soil spectroscopy without spending money., European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2016 (EGU 2016), Vienna, Austria, 17-22 April 2016. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 18, EGU2016-162.
  • Lilly, A.; Hallet, P.; Hall, R.; Russell, T.; Raffan, A.; Long, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Baggaley, N.; Troldborg, M.; Crooks, B.; Ball, B. (2016) Are Scotland's soils physically degrading?, SRUC SEPA Conference, What Future for our Farming Systems? Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions, Radisson Blu Hotel, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 1-2 March 2016.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Saunders, M.; Yeluripati, J.B.; Bell, J. (2014) A digital soil mapping neural network approach for peat depth mapping in Scotland., EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 2 May 2014.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Coull, M.C.; Robertson, A.J.H. (2013) Prediction of soil properties with NIR data and site descriptors using preprocessing and neural networks., International Workshop, Soil Spectroscopy: the present and future of Soil Monitoring, FAO HQ, Rome, Italy, 4-6 December 2013.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Donnelly, D.; Coull, M.; Black, H.I.A. (2013) E-SMART: Environmental Sensing for Monitoring and Advising in Real-Time., In: Hrebicek, J., Schimak, G., Kubasek, M. & Rizzoli A.E. (eds.). Environmental Software Systems: Fostering Information Sharing, 10th IFIP WG 5.11 International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems (ISESS), Springer, 413, 129-142.
  • Gimona, A.; Poggio, L.; Aalders, I.H.; Aitkenhead, M.J. (2012) The impacts of TER image compression on classification of synthetic PROBA-V images., 32nd EARSeL Symposium "Advances in Geosciences", Mykonos, Greece, May 2012.
  • Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Chapman, S.J.; Aitkenhead, M.; Cummins, R.; Smith, J.; Smith, P.; Bain, C.; Coupar, A. (2012) WISE peatland choices - a GIS based tool to prioritise restoration opportunities on the peatlands of Scotland., 14th International Peat Congress, "Peatlands in Balance", Stockholm, Sweden, 3-8 June 2012.
  • Artz, R.R.E.; Donnelly, D.; Chapman, S.J.; Towers, W.; Aitkenhead, M.; Andersen, R.; Coupar, A.; Bain, C.; Hughes J. (2012) WISE peatland choices - a scoping tool for the prioritisation of restoration needs of peatlands in Scotland., British Ecological Society Joint BES and IUCN UK Symposium, Bangor University, Wales, 26-28 June 2012.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J. (2011) Exploring potential contributions of soil microbes to Martian terraforming through soil simulation., CAREX Conference on Life in Extreme Environments, Dublin, October 2011.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Foereid, B.; Smith, J.U.; Smith, P. (2006) ECOSSE - a globally applicable model of carbon and nitrogen dynamics in soil?, Reduced Nitrogen in Ecology and the Environment, Obergurgl, Austria, October 2006.
  • Birnie, R.V.B.; Aitkenhead, M.; Lumsdon, P.; Miller, D.R.; Towers, W.; Wright, G.G.; Gill, M. (2005) The changing role of remote sensing for land resource assessment in scotland: lessons for the future., Proceedings of Annual Conference of Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society.
  • Birnie, R.V.B.; Aitkenhead, M.; Lumsdon, P.; Miller, D.R.; Towers, W.; Wright, G.G.; Gill, M. (2004) The changing role of remote sensing for land resource assessment in Scotland: lessons for the future., Proceedings of Annual Conference of Remote Sensing and Photogrammetric Society. Published on cd-rom.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Wright, G.G. (2004) Mapping land use in NE Scotland with neural networks from remote sensing imagery., RSPSoc. Conference, Aberdeen, 2004.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J. (2004) Environmental pattern recognition and prediction using evolved neural networks., International Conference on Artificial Intelligence 2004 (IC-AI '04), Volume, pp188-194.

Printed from /staff/matt-aitkenhead on 01/12/22 05:14:57 PM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.