Dr Duncan Whyatt

Senior Lecturer

Research Overview

Duncan is a geographer who uses Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to study air pollution at national, regional and local scales. He uses the GIS to visualise, integrate and analyse spatial data from a variety of different sources including pollution models, environmental data and socio-economic data. He also works with other staff and students across Lancaster Environment Centre on spatial problems.

Published research

Duncan has published over 70 peer reviewed journal papers, including a publication from his PhD which was selected as one of the 16 most influential papers in the British Cartographic Journal over the last 50 years. He publishes in a wide range of geospatial journals including Applied Geography, Transactions in GIS and Remote Sensing of the Environment and pollution journals including Atmospheric Environment, Science of the Total Environment and Environmental Pollution.

Duncan is an advocate of GIS being applied across the breadth of disciplines studied within the Lancaster Environment Centre and has supervised PhD students in fields as diverse as coastal management, urban development, landscape ecology, renewable energy and mapping trends in social media.

Duncan has received funding for his research from a range of organisations including:

  • Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
  • Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC)
  • The Environment Agency

Current research

Duncan’s current research projects include:

  • NERC funded ‘Quantifying the risks of tree failure to guide proactive management and increase the resilience of electricity distribution networks’
  • ESRC funded ‘Belfast Mobility Project: Intergroup contact, segregation and the time-geography of sectarian relations in Belfast’
  • Environment Agency funded ‘Breath Easier: Resolving critical air quality problems with directional passive sampling’

Roles

Duncan is lead admissions tutor for undergraduate programmes in Geography

Teaching

Duncan’s teaching includes:

  • First year undergraduate module: Geographical Skills
  • Second year undergraduate module: Spatial Analysis and GIS
  • Third year undergraduate module: GIS: Principles and Practice
  • Third year undergraduate module: Dissertation with Work Placement
  • Masters level module: Geoinformatics

Contributions of gas flaring to a global air pollution hotspot: spatial and temporal variations, impacts and alleviation
Anejionu, O., Whyatt, D., Blackburn, A., Price, C. 10/2015 In: Atmospheric Environment. 118, p. 184-193. 10 p.
Journal article

Evaluation of the performance of different atmospheric chemical transport models and inter-comparison of nitrogen and sulphur deposition estimates for the UK
Dore, A.J., Carslaw, D.C., Braban, C.F., Cain, M., Chemel, C., Conolly, C., Derwent, R.G., Griffiths, S.J., Hall, J., Hayman, G., Lawrence, S., Metcalfe, S.E., Redington, A., Simpson, D., Sutton, M.A., Sutton, P., Tang, Y.S., Vieno, M., Werner, M., Whyatt, D. 10/2015 In: Atmospheric Environment. 119, p. 131-143. 13 p.
Journal article

Towards the integration of urban planning and biodiversity conservation through collaboration
Wood, G., Whyatt, D., Stevens, C. 10/2015 In: Environmental Technology and Innovation. 4, p. 218-226. 9 p.
Journal article

Cartography, location-based gaming and the legibility of mixed reality spaces
Huck, J., Coulton, P., Gradinar, A., Whyatt, D. 15/04/2015
Conference paper

Evaluating the spraycan: understanding participant interaction with a PPGIS
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P. 15/04/2015
Conference paper

Visualising patterns in spatially ambiguous point data
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P. 04/2015 In: Journal of Spatial Information Systems. 10, p. 47-66. 20 p.
Journal article

Detecting gas flares and estimating flaring volumes at individual flow stations using MODIS data.
Anejionu, O., Blackburn, A., Whyatt, D. 1/03/2015 In: Remote Sensing of Environment. 158, p. 81–94. 14 p.
Journal article

How well is current plant trait composition predicted by modern and historical forest spatial configuration?
Kimberley, A., Blackburn, A., Whyatt, D., Smart, S. 2015 In: Ecography.
Journal article

‘It’s everything else you do…’: alumni views on extracurricular activities and employability
Clark, G., Marsden, R., Whyatt, D., Thompson, L., Walker, M. 2015 In: Active Learning in Higher Education. 16, 2, p. 133-147. 15 p.
Journal article

Spraycan: a PPGIS for capturing imprecise notions of place
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P. 12/2014 In: Applied Geography. 55, p. 229-237. 9 p.
Journal article

“They made gunpowder … yes down by the river there, that's your energy source”: attitudes towards community renewable energy in Cumbria
Gormally, A., Pooley, C., Whyatt, D., Timmis, R. 08/2014 In: Local Environment : The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. 19, 8, p. 915-932. 18 p.
Journal article

A network-based approach for estimating pedestrian journey-time exposure to air pollution
Davies, G., Whyatt, D. 1/07/2014 In: Science of the Total Environment. 485-486, p. 62-70. 9 p.
Journal article

Developing the desert: the pace and process of urban growth in Dubai
Nassar, A.K., Blackburn, G.A., Whyatt, D. 05/2014 In: Computers, Environment and Urban Systems. 45, p. 50-62. 13 p.
Journal article

Traits of plant communities in fragmented forests: the relative influence of habitat spatial configuration and local abiotic conditions
Kimberley, A., Blackburn, G.A., Whyatt, D., Smart, S. 05/2014 In: Journal of Ecology. 102, 3, p. 632-640. 9 p.
Journal article

Investigating the structural condition of trees using LiDAR metrics
Murray, J., Blackburn, A., Whyatt, D., Edwards, C. 18/04/2014
Conference paper

Mapping traffic pollution exposure: the quantified self
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P., Gradinar, A. 04/2014 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 22nd Annual Conference. Glasgow : Geomatic Group, University of Glasgow p. 243-251. 9 p.
Paper

Spatially-varying surface roughness and ground-level air quality in an operational dispersion model
Barnes, M., Brade, T.K., Mackenzie, A.R., Whyatt, D., Carruthers, D.J., Stocker, J., Cai, X., Hewitt, C.N. 02/2014 In: Environmental Pollution. 185, p. 44-51. 8 p.
Journal article

Satellite survey of gas flares: development and application of a Landsat-based technique in the Niger Delta
Anejionu, O., Blackburn, G., Whyatt, D. 2014 In: International Journal of Remote Sensing. 35, 5, p. 1900-1925. 26 p.
Journal article

Identifying the trait syndromes of conservation indicator species: how distinct are British ancient woodland indicator plants from other woodland species?
Kimberley, A., Blackburn, G., Whyatt, D., Kirby, K., Smart, S. 10/2013 In: Applied Vegetation Science. 16, 4, p. 667-675. 9 p.
Journal article

Conditional extraction of air-pollutant source signals from air-quality monitoring
Malby, A.R., Whyatt, D., Timmis, R. 08/2013 In: Atmospheric Environment. 74, p. 112-122. 11 p.
Journal article

How reliable are citizen‐derived scientific data?: assessing the quality of contrail observations made by the general public
Fowler, A., Whyatt, D., Davies, G., Ellis, R. 08/2013 In: Transactions in GIS. 17, 4, p. 488-506. 19 p.
Journal article

Investigating the impacts of anthropogenic and biogenic VOC emissions and elevated temperatures during the 2003 ozone episode in the UK
Strong, J., Whyatt, D., Metcalfe, S., Derwent, R., Hewitt, C.N. 08/2013 In: Atmospheric Environment. 74, p. 393-401. 9 p.
Journal article

'It's just like an extra string to your bow': exploring Higher Education students' perceptions and experiences of extra-curricular activity and employability
Thompson, L., Clark, G., Walker, M., Whyatt, D. 07/2013 In: Active Learning in Higher Education. 14, 2, p. 135-147. 13 p.
Journal article

Development and application of a "spray-can" tool for fuzzy geographical analysis
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P. 04/2013 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 21st Annual Conference.
Conference contribution

Morphological evolution around a groyne structure at Cleveleys beach, Northwest England, during a range of wave conditions
Miles, A., Ilic, S., James, M., Whyatt, D. 2013 In: Proceedings of Coastal Dynamics 2013. p. 1195-1206. 12 p.
Paper

A Regional Scale Assessment of Local Renewable Energy Resources in Cumbria, UK
Gormally, A., Whyatt, D., Timmis, R., Pooley, C. 11/2012 In: Energy Policy. 50, p. 283-293. 11 p.
Journal article

Scenario archetypes: converging rather than diverging themes
Hunt, D., Lombardi, D.R., Atkinson, S., Barber, A.R.G., Barnes, M., Boyko, C., Brown, J., Bryson, J., Butler, D., Caputo, S., Caserio, M., Coles, R., Cooper, R., Farmani, R., Gaterell, M., Hale, J., Hales, A.C., Hewitt, C.N., Jankovic, L., Jefferson, I., Leach, J., Mackenzie, R., Memon, F.A., Sadler, J.P., Weingaertner, C., Whyatt, D., Rogers, C.D. 20/04/2012 In: Sustainability. 4, 4, p. 740-772. 33 p.
Journal article

Challenges in geocoding socially-generated data
Huck, J., Whyatt, D., Coulton, P. 04/2012 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 20th Annual Conference. Lancaster : Lancaster University p. 39-45. 7 p.
Paper

Designing Resilient Cities: A guide to good practice
Lombardi, D.R., Leach, J.M., Rogers, C.D., Aston, R., Barber, A., Boyko, C., Brown, J., Bryson, J.R., Butler, D., Caputo, S., Caserio, M., Coles, R., Cooper, R., Coyne, R., Farmani, R., Gaterell, M., Hale, J., Hales, A.C., Hewitt, C.N., Hunt, D., Jancovic, L., Jefferson, I., Mackenzie, R., Memon, F.A., Phenix-Walker, R., Pugh, T., Sadler, J.P., Weingaertner, C., Whyatt, D. 04/2012 Bracknell : IHS BRE Press. 126 p. ISBN: 978-1-84806-253-5.
Book

How Reliable is Citizen-Derived Scientific Data? An Evaluatoin of Contrail Observations using Multiple Datasets and GIS Techniques
Fowler, A., Whyatt, D., Ellis, R., Davies, G. 04/2012 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 20th Annual Conference. Lancaster : Lancaster University p. 145-152. 8 p. ISBN: 978-1-86220-294-8.
Conference contribution

Morphological Variability of Cleveleys Beach, UK at Multiannual Timescales based on Airborne LiDAR Data
Miles, A., Ilic, S., James, M., Whyatt, D. 04/2012 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 20th Annual Conference. Lancaster : Lancaster University p. 263-268. 6 p. Electronic ISBN: 978-1-86220-294-8.
Conference contribution

Benchmarking sustainability in cities: The role of indicators and future scenarios
Boyko, C., Gaterell, M., Barber, A.R.G., Brown, J., Bryson, J.R., Butler, D., Caputo, S., Caserio, M., Coles, R., Cooper, R., Davies, G., Farmani, R., Hale, J., Hales, A.C., Hewitt, C.N., Hunt, D.V.L., Jankovic, L., Jefferson, I., Leach, J.M., Lombardi, D.R., Mackenzie, R., Memon, F.A., Pugh, T., Sadler, J.P., Weingaertner, C., Whyatt, D., Rogers, C.D. 02/2012 In: Global Environmental Change. 22, 1, p. 245-254. 10 p.
Journal article

A futures-based analysis for urban air quality remediation
Pugh, T., Mackenzie, R., Davies, G., Whyatt, D., Barnes, M., Hewitt, C.N. 2012 In: Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering Sustainability. 165, 1, p. 21-36. 16 p.
Journal article

Effectiveness of green infrastructure for improvement of air quality in urban street canyons
Pugh, T., Mackenzie, R., Whyatt, D., Hewitt, C.N. 2012 In: Environmental Science and Technology. 46, 14, p. 7692–7699. 8 p.
Journal article

Residential proximity to main roads and lung function in healthy young children
Sonnappa, S., Bastardo, C., Aurora, P., Whyatt, D., Kelly, F., Beevers, S., Grigg, J. 06/2011 In: European Respiratory Journal. 37, 6, 2 p.
Letter

Talk, technologies and teenagers : understanding the school journey using the mixed-methods approach.
Walker, M., Whyatt, J.D., Pooley, C.G., Davies, G., Coulton, P., Bamford, W. 02/2011 In: Researching Young People. London : Sage p. 141-161. 21 p. ISBN: 9781848607743.
Chapter

A Renaissance Study of Dispersion Processes around a Major Roadway
Whyatt, D., Malby, A., Isakov, V., Stephen, H., Perry, S., Timmis, R., Carruthers, D. 2011 In: Proceedings of the 14th Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes . p. 81-85. 5 p.
Conference contribution

Comparing the Performance of ADMS and AERMOD using a Hybrid Model and Conditional Analysis Techniques
Malby, A., Whyatt, D., Timmis, R., Carruthers, D., Stocker, J. 2011 In: Proceedings of the 14th Conference on Harmonisation within Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling for Regulatory Purposes . p. 110-114. 5 p.
Conference contribution

Reducing exposure to air pollution: a network approach
Davies, G., Whyatt, D. 2011
Conference paper

Regional Scale Assessment of Cumbria's Renewable Energy Resource
Gormally, A., Whyatt, D. 2011 In: Proceedings of the GIS Research UK 19th Annual Conference. University of Portsmouth p. 199-204. 6 p.
Conference contribution

Teaching Geographical Information Systems in geography degrees: a critical reassessment of vocationalism
Whyatt, D., Clark, G., Davies, G. 2011 In: Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 35, 2, p. 233-244. 12 p.
Journal article

Development and application of a Lagrangian model to determine the origins of ozone episodes in the UK
Strong, J., Whyatt, D., Hewitt, C.N., Derwent, R.G. 02/2010 In: Atmospheric Environment. 44, 5, p. 631-641. 11 p.
Journal article

Directional Analysis of Sub-Antarctic Climate Change on South Georgia 1905-2009
Ferranti, E.J.S., Solera Garcia, M.A., Timmis, R.J., Whyatt, D. 2010
Other

Impacts of pollution and climate change on ombrotrophic Sphagnum species in the UK: analysis of uncertainties in two empirical niche models
Smart, S., Henrys, P., Scott, W., Hall, J., Evans, C., Rowe, E., Page, T., Whyatt, D., Sowerby, A., Clark, J. 2010 In: Climate Research. 45, CR Special 24, p. 163-177. 15 p.
Journal article

Understanding the school journey : integrating data on travel and environment.
Pooley, C.G., Whyatt, J.D., Walker, M., Davies, G., Coulton, P., Bamford, W. 2010 In: Environment and Planning A. 42, 4, p. 948-965. 18 p.
Journal article

Using Conditional Analysis to Investigate Spatial and Temporal patterns in Upland Rainfall
Ferranti, E.J.S., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R. 2010
Poster

Using GIS to investigate spatial and temporal variations in upland rainfall.
Ferranti, E.J.S., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R.J., Davies, G. 2010 In: Transactions in GIS. 14, 3, p. 265-282. 18 p.
Journal article

Effect of traffic pollution on respiratory and allergic disease in adults: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses
Pujades-Rodriguez, M., McKeever, T., Lewis, S., Whyatt, J., Britton, J., Venn, A. 24/08/2009 In: BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 9, 42
Journal article

Development and application of topographic descriptors for conditional analysis of rainfall.
Ferranti, E.J.S., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R.J. 07/2009 In: Atmospheric Science Letters. 10, 3, p. 177-184. 8 p.
Journal article

Aerosol evolution from a busy road in North West England
Davison, B., Whyatt, J.D., Boardman, C. 3/06/2009 In: Meteorologische Zeitschrift. 18, 1, p. 55-60. 6 p.
Journal article

Talk, technologies and teenagers : understanding the school journey using a mixed-methods approach.
Walker, M., Whyatt, J.D., Pooley, C.G., Davies, G., Coulton, P., Bamford, W. 05/2009 In: Children's Geographies. 7, 2, p. 107-122. 16 p.
Journal article

Developing topographic descriptors to study orographic processes under a changing climate.
Ferranti, E.J.S., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R.J. 2/04/2009
Conference paper

A least-cost approach to personal exposure reduction.
Davies, G., Whyatt, J.D. 04/2009 In: Transactions in GIS. 13, 2, p. 229-246. 18 p.
Journal article

Assessment of uncertainties in a long range atmospheric transport model : methodology, application and implications in a UK context.
Page, T., Whyatt, J.D., Metcalfe, S.E., Derwent, R.G., Curtis, C. 12/2008 In: Environmental Pollution. 156, 3, p. 997-1006. 10 p.
Journal article

Using mobile phones to reveal the complexities of the school journey.
Bamford, W., Coulton, P., Walker, M., Whyatt, D., Davies, G., Pooley, C. 09/2008 In: MobileHCI '08 Proceedings of the 10th international conference on Human computer interaction with mobile devices and services. New York : ACM p. 283-292. 10 p.
Paper

Noisy school kids : using GPS in an urban environment.
Whyatt, J.D., Davies, G., Walker, M., Pooley, C.G., Coulton, P., Bamford, W. 3/04/2008
Conference paper

An Investigation into the Origins of a Series of PM10 Anomalies at a Remote Location in NW England.
Ferranti, E.J.S., Whyatt, J.D., Davison, B. 2008 In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 10, 9, p. 1033-1040. 8 p.
Journal article

Estimating personal exposure to air pollution on the journey to and from school using GPS, GIS and mobile phone technology.
Whyatt, J.D., Pooley, C.G., Coulton, P., Moser, M., Bamford, W., Davies, G. 07/2007 In: Harmonisation within Atmospheric Disperson Modelling for Regulatory Purposes. Cambridge : Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd p. 81-85. 5 p.
Paper

The Effect of Climate Change on the Local Dispersion of Air Pollutants.
Malby, A.R., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R.J., Carruthers, D., McHugh, C. 07/2007 Cambridge : Cambrdige Environmental Research Consultants Ltd.
Book

Regional Scale Modelling of Particulate Matter in the UK: Source Attribution and Assessment of Uncertainties.
Whyatt, J.D., Metcalfe, S.E., Nicholson, J.P.G., Derwent, R.G., Page, T., Stedman, J.R. 05/2007 In: Atmospheric Environment. 41, 16, p. 3315-3327. 13 p.
Journal article

Long Term Variations in Orographic Rainfall: Analysis and Implications for Upland Catchments.
Malby, A.R., Whyatt, J.D., Timmis, R.J., Wilby, R.L., Orr, H.G. 04/2007 In: Hydrological Sciences Journal. 52, 2, p. 276-291. 16 p.
Journal article

Application of multiple wind-roses to improve the modelling of ground-level ozone in the UK
Strong, J., Whyatt, D., Hewitt, C.N. 12/2006 In: Atmospheric Environment. 40, 39, p. 7480-7493. 14 p.
Journal article

Presentation of the Influence of Deposition Uncertainties on Acidity Critical Load Exceedance across Wales.
Heywood, E., Whyatt, J.D., Hall, J., Wadsworth, R.A., Page, T. 02/2006 In: Environmental Science and Policy. 9, 1, p. 32-45. 14 p.
Journal article

Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Acid Deposition across the UK: A Modelling Approach using HARM.
Whyatt, J.D., Metcalfe, S.E., Hunova, I., Ostatnicka, J., Dostalova, Z., Navratil, T. 06/2005 Czech Republic : Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Book

Issues in Model Validation: Assessing the Performance of a Regional Scale Acid Deposition Model using Measured and Modelled Data.
Metcalfe, S.E., Whyatt, J.D., Nicholson, J.P.G., Derwent, R.G., Heywood, E. 02/2005 In: Atmospheric Environment. 39, 4, p. 587-598. 12 p.
Journal article

Optimising the Environmental Benefits of Emission Reductions from UK Coal and Oil-Fired Power Stations: A Critical Loads Approach.
Whyatt, J.D., Metcalfe, S.E. 2005 In: Environmental Science and Policy. 7, 6, p. 451-463. 13 p.
Journal article

Regional Scale Modelling of Particulate Matter in the UK: Attribution and Future Trends.
Whyatt, J.D., Metcalfe, S.E., Nicholson, J.P.G., Stedman, J., Suppan, P. 06/2004 Germany : Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH. 238 p.
Book

Uncertainty in Modelled Estimates of Acid Deposition Across Wales: A GLUE Approach.
Page, T., Whyatt, J.D., Beven, K.J., Metcalfe, S.E. 05/2004 In: Atmospheric Environment. 38, 14, p. 2079-2090. 12 p.
Journal article

Predictive Capability in Estimating Changes in Water Quality: Long-Term Responses to Atmospheric Deposition.
Page, T., Beven, K.J., Whyatt, J.D. 01/2004 In: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 151, 1-4, p. 215-244. 30 p.
Journal article

Understanding the factors affecting health in Halton : final report.
Burgess, C., Crutchley, A., Clark, G., Davies, G., Gattrell, T.C., Pooley, C.G., Stelfox, M., Watson, N., Welshman, J., Whyatt, D. 2004
Other contribution

The Regional Distribution of Ozone Across the British Isles and its Response to Control Strategies.
Metcalfe, S.E., Whyatt, J.D., Derwent, R.G., O'Donoghue, M. 09/2002 In: Atmospheric Environment. 36, 25, p. 4045-4055. 11 p.
Journal article

Developing the Hull Acid Rain Model: Its Validation and Implications for Policy Makers.
Metcalfe, S.E., Whyatt, J.D., Broughton, R., Derwent, R.G., Finnegan, D., Hall, J., Mineter, M., O'Donoghue, M., Sutton, M.A. 12/2001 In: Environmental Science and Policy. 4, 1, p. 25-37. 13 p.
Journal article

Assessing Potential Impacts on Biodiversity using Critical Loads.
Bull, K.R., Hall, J.R., Cooper, J., Metcalfe, S.E., Morton, D., Ullyet, J., Warr, T.L., Whyatt, J.D. 08/2001 In: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 130, 1-4, p. 1229-1234. 6 p.
Journal article