Justin Gleeson

Director of AIRO

Justin Gleeson is the Director of the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) and Technical Manager of spatial projects at the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA). Justin has a BA and MA in Economic Geography from the National University of Ireland, Galway and an MSc in GIS from the University of Leeds. Following a 5 year term in the commercial GIS industry in the UK, Justin joined NIRSA as Technical Manager of spatial projects in 2006. Justin has been leading the development of the All-Island Research Observatory project for the past number of years and has secured its status as a key part in the national data infrastructure of Ireland. Justin is also involved in a wide range of other projects with the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and well as Europe wide spatial planning projects.

Justin’s main research areas are in geographical information systems (GIS), spatial planning, demographics, social inclusion, mapping and spatial analysis and improving public data usage and dissemination.

Justin is also currently a Board Member of Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) and Vice President of the Irish Organisation for Geographical Information (IRLOGI).

 

Contact Justin

justin.gleeson@nuim.ie
+353 87 9700828

Aoife Dowling

Senior Data Analyst

Aoife Dowling graduated with an honours degree in Geography and also holds a Higher Diploma in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing from NUI Maynooth. Since graduation Aoife was employed as a GIS technician within the Local Authority sector in Ireland and was appointed as a Data Analyst with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) project in early 2010.

Aoife is an expert in the design and development of AIRO Instant Atlas web mapping census toolkits and acts as the primary contact point for all AIRO public sector clients. Aoife is responsible for the delivery of our 'Data for Decisions' workshops, the development of the AIRO Data Store and is also our main contact point for both INSPIRE and the ISDE.

Aoife's main research areas are in the development of interactive mapping and visualisation systems to aid the improvement of evidence informed planning in Ireland. A key aspect of Aoife's current work is focused on the development of a new AIRO DataStore containing a national set of open data. Aoife has expert knowledge in a series of key data and mapping software's: Instant Atlas, ESRI ArcGIS, ArcGIS Viewer for Flex, ArcGIS for Server, QGIS, Mapinfo, Tableau and FME. 

Contact Aoife

aoife.dowling@nuim.ie
+353 1 708 6688

Eoghan McCarthy

Senior Data Analyst

A graduate of the Masters in Regional and Urban Planning programme in UCD, Eoghan joined AIRO following a number of years working as a consultant in transport planning sector in Ireland and the UK. With a strong background of planning knowledge combined with expertise in the area of spatial data analysis, Eoghan is currently the data management and visualisation coordinator for AIRO. His brief is to develop and maintain spatial planning data systems for AIRO, undertake research projects in the area of spatial planning and to develop bespoke data visualisations using the latest off the shelf and open source mapping and visualisation software.

Eoghan's main research areas are in the development of interactive mapping and visualisation systems to aid the improvement of evidence informed planning in Ireland. A key aspect of Eoghan's current work is focused on the integration of cross border datasets to develop an all-island spatial planning toolkit.

Eoghan has expert knowledge in a series of key data and mapping software's: ESRI ArcGIS, ArcGIS Viewer for Flex, ArcGIS for Server, QGIS, Mapinfo, Tableau and FME.

 

Contact Eoghan

eoghan.mccarthy@nuim.ie
+353 1 708 6688

David Jordan

GIS Analyst

David works with the All-Ireland Research Observatory (AIRO) as a postdoctoral GIS analyst involved in Census mapping and report writing. David is also a graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a B.A. in Geology and a PH.D in Geology and Geomorphology.

Prior to working as a GIS Analyst for AIRO, David was employed at ESB Networks as a GIS Technician, maintaining the ESB's geodatabase detailing Ireland's extensive electrical network. Following his time with ESB Networks, He worked as a GIS Analyst at the Parks and Landscape Department of Dublin City Council, carrying out advanced geospatial analysis for Dublin's Open Space Strategy. This innovative project aimed to find the optimal placement parks and recreational facilities in relation to Dublin's dynamic population using objective analysis of Census data gathered in 2011.

David has also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Biology and Environmental Science and a tutor in the School of Geography, at University College Dublin. His postdoctoral research involved exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (NOx) and nitrate runoff from agricultural land by reconfiguring land use patterns using LUMASS, an advanced multi-objective optimisation software. Following this he has also worked as a tutor in the School of Geography, where he taught GIS techniques to undergraduate students and MSc geography students studying Urban Design and Planning.

Contact David

david.jordan@mu.ie
+353 1 708 6688

Dr Ainhoa González

Senior Environmental Analyst

Ainhoa González graduated with a first class honours degree in Agricultural Engineering from Pamplona University in 1997, a first class honours Masters in Environmental Resource Management from University College Dublin in 2001, and a PhD in Environmental Planning from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2008. She has complemented her studies with a Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment Management from University College Dublin in 2000, and a Higher Diploma in Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin in 2004. In 2009 she took a research officer position at Trinity College Dublin, and led a work package on a European FP-7 funded project BRIDGE that developed a pragmatic GIS-based decision-support system for assessing the sustainability of urban planning alternatives. In 2012 she became a part-time teaching assistant at Trinity College Dublin, where she coordinates a number of MSc course modules, and a part-time researcher at NIRSA where she has contributed to European and national research projects. She is a board member of the International Association for Impact Assessment’s UK-Ireland branch, and the regional delegate of the Spanish Association for Impact Assessment. She is also a member of the international editorial review board of the Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM) and the International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change (IJISSC).

Ainhoa’s research focuses on the contribution of spatial data and GIS to environmental planning and sustainable development. This includes the development of pragmatic methodologies in support of sustainable development, and geographically-explicit indicators to assist assessment and monitoring processes associated with land-use planning and decision-making. The focal point of her research has been physical geography and, in particular, spatial examination of environmental aspects. However, environmental policy implementation and public participation are of significant interest to her. Her research has always strived to bring science and practice together through the development of practical methods and research findings that can be used and applied by practitioners.

Contact Ainhoa

Ainhoa.Gonzalez@nuim.ie