abcGIS was founded in 2009 by Ian Elliott and Helen Edwards. Ian and Helen met whilst studying for their Masters degree in Mathematics in the Living Environment at the University of York in 2001. Since then they have worked together on a number of projects at the Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory at the University of Exeter. These include mapping of disturbance regimes at different scales across the Caribbean and introducing more realism into reserve-selection algorithms to design marine reserves for the Belize barrier reef and Bahamas Archipelago. Ian and Helen have multi-disciplinary backgrounds with an emphasis on computing, mathematics and ecology.
Recent projects completed by abcGIS include a website to display the potential of Earth Observation data for monitoring the health of, and stressors acting upon, coral reefs off the coast of Belize and a website that maps UK Biodiversity Action Plan species associated with ponds. See the projects page for more information.
Helen Edwards, BSc, MRes, PhD
Managing Director
Helen has had an interest in natural history, the environment and conservation from an early age, and following an honours degree in mathematics took graduate degrees in biology, enabling her to realise her dream of applying her skills in mathematics to the field of ecology. Helen's interest in spatial information and spatial processes began during her PhD, during which she developed and analysed mathematical and computer simulation models of the spatial population dynamics of Atlantic cod. Since then she has continued to work in the field of spatial ecology as a post doctoral researcher at the University of Exeter. Helen has co-authored a number of reports and papers including an article in the leading scientific journal Nature.
Helen's research has focused on understanding the spatial dynamics of interacting populations, the development of tools for conservation planning, and exploring how incorporating differing levels of complexity can influence model outcomes. Helen's post doctoral research, funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the UK's Natural Environment Research Council explored variation in disturbance regimes across the Caribbean and how such variation may impact upon the future trajectories of marine ecosystems. Together with Ian Elliott and in collaboration with other researchers from the Bahamas Biocomplexity Project Helen developed a new reserve-selection tool with the aim of integrating biodiversity and socio-economic perspectives into reserve-system design.
View Helen's Curriculum Vitae.
Ian Elliott, BEng, MRes
Director
Ian's post-graduate research, conducted at the University of Exeter, UK, consisted of various projects related to the science of marine reserve design with an emphasis on mapping marine habitats and designing reserves that are robust in a changing climate. Ian’s previous positions include researcher at the University of Cambridge and at the British Antarctic Survey where he investigated the population dynamics of marine species in the Antarctic. Ian is a graduate of the University of York where he gained honours degrees in computer science and a masters degree in mathematics for the environment.
Ian's recent work, funded by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, has included the development of a web GIS application for the Bahamas Archipelago.
Ian's background in computing and experience in programming, information management and web development, together with recent work on the remote sensing of satellite imagery, spatial conservation and web GIS systems have given him a unique combination of skills in the field of geospatial information management.
View Ian's Curriculum Vitae.