Zisis Gagkas

Senior Research Scientist
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Zisis is an interdisciplinary researcher with >15 years’ experience in land, soil and water resources research and geospatial analysis. He has experience in developing approaches for modelling the spatial distribution of soils and other environmental properties and functions using advanced statistical and geospatial data analysis techniques. His work focuses on integrating soils and other biophysical data within existing and new applications and frameworks for ecosystem services provision, land management and evaluation, and diffuse pollution and flooding mitigation.

 

 

Zisis’ research interests comprise:

  • Soil-water relationships and soil hydrological pathways’ influence on river flows and chemistry at a catchment scale.
  • Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) techniques for predictive spatial modelling of soil properties and functions.
  • Spatial decision support systems for environmental modelling.
  • Climate change impacts on Natural Capital (habitats, soils, waters), including wildfire danger and risk.

Past research

Zisis has previously worked in the James Hutton Institute as a Macaulay Development Trust (MDT) Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2016-2019) in coupling Digital Soil Mapping with hydropedology by developing and applying DSM techniques for spatial predictive modelling of soil hydrological properties and functions.

Journals

Prior to appointment

Technical / contract reports

  • Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M. (2024) Climate change effects on soil properties and functions: the case of soil water balance. Deliverable 2.2a for the D5-2 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital project, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen. Report submitted to RESAS
  • Glendell, M.; Blackstock, K.; Adams, K.; Brickell, J.; Comte, J.; Gagkas, Z.; Geris, J.; Haro, D.; Jabloun, M.; Karley, A.; MacLeod, K.; Naha, S.; Paterson, E.; Rivington, M.; Thompson, C.; Upton, K.; Wilkinson, M.; Williams, K. (2024) Future predictions of water scarcity in Scotland impact on distilleries and agricultural abstractors CRW2023_05, Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Glendell, M.; Jabloun, M.; Adams, K. (2024) Development of a BBN model for wildfire risk Deliverable 24a for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen Scotland Report submitted to RESAS
  • May, L.; Glendell, M.; Adams, K.; Gagkas, Z.; Gouldsbrough, L.; Gunn, I.; Hannah, M.; Roberts, M.; Spears, B.; Taylor, P.; Thackeray, S.; Troldborg, M.; Zaja, E. (2024) Mitigating climate change impacts on the water quality of Scottish standing waters, CRW2022_03, Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW)
  • Naha, S.; Macleod, K.; Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Understanding the vulnerabilities of Scotland’s water resources to drought: summary of stakeholder engagement, review of related studies, and an outline of our research, Emerging Water Futures, Version 210223
  • Thomson, S.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Moxey, A. (2023) Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands – a potential new GAEC measure for Scotland, Published via Scottish Government website, 21pp
  • Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Udugbezi, E.; Rivington, M. (2023) Assessment of Natural Capital asset exposure to current and future meteorological drought Deliverables 21d and 23c for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, RESAS D5-2 deliverable
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Coull, M.; Fielding, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Lambe, S.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Macfarlane, F.; McKeen, M.; Sideris, K.; Sozanska-Stanton, G. (2023) Restoration prioritisation in Northern Ireland, A report prepared by James Hutton Institute for Ulster Wildlife and Northern Ireland Environment Agency
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Rivington, M.; Coull, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Identification and Assessment of Data Deliverable D1.4a for the Project D5-2 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, RESAS project report uploaded to ResearchFish and sent to Peter Phillips and Michael Cairns.
  • Stutter, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Data synthesis for developing Riparian Corridor units Deliverable D3B for Project JID22 Achieving MultiPurpose NatureBased Solutions (AiM NBS),
  • Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M.; Glendell, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S. (2023) Fire Danger Assessment of Scotish Habitat Types Deliverable 23b for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, Technical report for JHI-D5-2 project.
  • Rivington, M.; Jabloun, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S.; Aitkenhead, M.; Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Climate Extremes in Scotland. Deliverable D2.1b for the Project D5-2 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, Zenodo, 10.5281/zenodo.7699842.
  • Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M.; Pakeman, R.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gimona, A. (2023) Habitat Data layer for Natural Capital assessments Deliverable 23a for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital , RESAS deliverable.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Pakeman, R.; Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M. (2022) D12 An overview of issues concerning Climate Change Impacts on Scottish Natural Capital , Literature review submitted to RESAS.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Pakeman, R.; Nijnik, M.; Gimona, A.; Glendell, M.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; McKeen, M.; Donnelly, D.; Jabloun, M.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Salt, D.; Sideris, K.; Udugbezi, E. (2022) D52 Deliverable D11 Risk and Opportunities Assessment Framework Scope, Concepts and Structure, Technical report submitted to RESAS.
  • Stutter, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2022) Landscape typing based on hillslope and floodplain soil water models to functionally target sixteen riparian management options, Webpage and Zenodo doi
  • Gagkas, Z.; Haghi, R.; Robertson, J.; Lilly, A. (2022) Coupling soil spectroscopy and digital soil mapping for modelling soil available water capacity, End of project report for MDT
  • Gagkas, Z.; Campbell, G.; Owen, J.; Davies, M. (2022) Provision of Analyses of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Reporting System (IRS) Data in Relation to Wildfire Incidents, SFRS Wildfire Data Analysis.
  • Hare, M.; McBride, A.; Addy, S.; Pakeman, R.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Rivington, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Lilly, A.; Wilkinson, M.; Akoumianaki, I. (2022) Moderating extremes in water availability in Scotland a review of the role of functioning wetlands, CREW report.
  • Cloy, J.M.; Lilly, A.; Hargreaves, P.R.; Gagkas, Z.; Dolan, S.; Baggaley, N.J.; Stutter, M.I.; Crooks, B.; Elrick, G.; McKenzie B.M. (2022) A state of knowledge overview of identified pathways of diffuse pollutants to the water environment, CREW Report.
  • Gagkas, Z. (2021) Scoping for developing an integrated digital data approach for land use statistics in Scotland, SEFARI Getaway.
  • Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Richards, S.; Halliday, S. (2021) Developing a probabilistic risk model to estimate phosphorus, nitrogen and microbial pollution to water from septic tanks., CREW Report, CRW2018_12, 39pp.
  • Stewart, G.B.; Glendell, M.; McMorran, R.; Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Ovando, P.; Roberts, M.; Maynard, C.; Williams, A.; Clay, G.; Reed, M.S. (2021) Uplandia: making better policy in complex upland systems., Defra and Natural England Report, 68pp.
  • Glendell, M.; Troldborg, M.; Vintent, A.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2020) Field level modelling of pesticide pollution risk in Jersey., James Hutton Limited Contract Report to Jersey Water, 45pp.
  • Poggio, L.; Gimona, A.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2018) 3D digital soil mapping for Scottish soils using remote sensing., Internal Report for RESAS.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Naha, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Schurch, N.; Johan Strömqvist, J.; Bartosova, A.; Macleod, K.; Glendell, M. (2024) Developing a national scale drought modelling and short to mediumterm forecasting framework for Scotland, EGU General Assembly 2024
  • Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Niemi, L.; Gibb, S.; Taggart, M.; Arakawa, N.; Anderson, C.; Pfleger, S. (2023) Decision support tool for sustainable prescribing, SAGES ANNUAL SCIENCE MEETING 2023, 16-17 May 2023, King’s College Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen,
  • Naha, S.; Macleod, K.; Gagkas, Z.; Glendell, M. (2023) Evaluating the performance of processbased models for drought simulation in Scotland, European Geosciences Union, 23-28 April, 2023, Vienna.
  • Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2022) Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital Developing a new risk and opportunities assessment framework, Scotland’s Plant Health Conference 2022, 1 June 2022, Dundee.
  • Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Nijnik, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S. (2022) Climate Change impacts on Natural Capital Value, 4th Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) Europe Conference, 10-14 October 2022, Heraklion.
  • Naha, S.; Macleod, K.; Gagkas, Z.; Glendell, M. (2022) Understanding the vulnerabilities of Scotland’s water resources to drought, British Hydrological Society 14th National Symposium, 12-14 September 2022, Lancaster University
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; McBride, A. (2022) Spatial disaggregation of a legacy soil map to support digital soil and land evaluation assessments in Scotland, 22nd World Congress of Soil Science, 31 July – 5 August, Glasgow
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N. (2022) Risk mapping to quantitatively assess the relative contribution of pathways of phosphorus (P) agricultural diffuse pollution, 22nd World Congress of Soil Science, 31 July – 5 August, Glasgow
  • Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Vinten, A.; Lilly, A.; Glendell, M. (2022) A spatial Bayesian Belief Network for assessing fieldlevel pesticide pollution risk in a small drinking water catchment , SETAC Copenhagen – SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Gagkas, Z.; Campbell, G.; Owen, J.; Davies, M. (2021) Analyses of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Reporting System (IRS) data in relation to wildfire incidents, Hutton Annual Research Symposium 2021, 2 December 2021, The James Hutton Institute.
  • Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Gimona, A.; Pohle, I.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2020) A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using bayesian belief networks., EGU General Assembly 2020 Online, 4-8 May 2020, EGU2020-8229. Abstract.
  • Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Pohle, I.; Gimona, A.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2019) Modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers – a decision support tool., SAGES’19 Conference ‘Global Climate Challenges for a Blue Green Economy: Scientific Evidence; its Relevance; Societal Solutions’ John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh, 27-28 November 2019. Book of Abstracts, p16.
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2019) Application of Digital Soil Mapping to hydropedology to improve soil hydrological models., 42nd TB Macaulay Lecture, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 2 October 2019. (Poster)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Stutter, M.I.; Baggaley, N. (2019) Development of framework for a RAG risk assessment on phosphorus application to land., The James Hutton ANNUAL Research Symposium 2019, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 7 November 2019. (Poster)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2019) Deriving a set of simple rules to classify soils for predicting hydrological response., Wageningen Soil Conference 2019, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 27-30 August 2019. (Abstract)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.J. (2018) Comparison of available water capacity predictions in Scotland from different PTFs implications for modelling., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. Poster.
  • Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.J.; Campbell, G.A.; Gagkas, Z. (2018) Comparison of digital and traditional soil mapping., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. (Poster)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N. (2018) Comparison of available water capacity predictions in Scotland from different PTFs: implications for modelling., British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference, Soils and Sustainable Development Goals, Lancaster University, 4-5 September 2018. (Poster)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2017) Improving the spatial resolution of soil hydrological classes in Scotland using digital soil mapping techniques., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Bonar Hall, Dundee, 22 November 2017. (Poster)
  • Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2017) Application of digital soil mapping to hydropedology to improve soil hydrological models., 40th TB Macaulay Lecture, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 4 October 2017. (Poster)