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.

Journals

Prior to appointment

Books / chapters

  • Aitkenhead, M.; Hewison, R. (2022) Official Handbook of the International Soil Judging Contest, July 27-31, 2022, Printed material used for teaching, shared online.
  • Aitkenhead, M. (2022) Digital tools for assessing soil organic carbon at farm and regional scale, In: Rumpel, C. (ed.). Understanding and fostering soil carbon sequestration. Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science. Cambridge: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Chapter 14, pp 395-420
  • 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, 145-158
  • 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, pp. 89-110
  • 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.

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
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Robb, C.; Macfarlane, F.; Coull, M.; Miller, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D.; Tavana, M.; Matthews, K. (2024) Updating Peatland Condition Mapping: Building a new baseline for peatland conditions in Scotland, Online – Story Map
  • Matthews, K.; Blackstock, K.L.; Wardell-Johnson, D.H.; Miller, D.G.; Tavana, M.; Thomson, S.; Moxey, A.; Neilson, R.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.; Karley, A.; Loades, K.; Paterson, E.; Pakeman, R.; Hawes, C.; Stockan, J.; Stutter, M.; Addy, S.; Wilkinson, M.E.; Juarez-Bourke, A.; Waylen, K.A.; Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M.J.; Coull, M.C. (2023) Synthesis Report: Screening Enhanced Conditionality Measures, An output of RESAS commissioned project Supporting
    Scotland’s Land Use Transformations (JHI-C3-1),59pp, Published online
  • Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D.; Gandossi, G.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R. (2023) Farm Payments and Peatlands Analysis Phase 1 Report (2023 Revision), Published via Land Use Transformations website, 26pp, Online
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Hewison, R. L.; Aitkenhead, M. (2022) International Union of Soil Sciences World Congress 2022 Soil Judging Competition Stirling 26-31 July Summary of Soil Profiles, Article/data/site maps shared Google drive site with permissions access for participants and their supervisors/event organisers.
  • Matthews, K.; Waylen, K.; Blackstock, K.; Aitkenhead, M.; Castellazzi, M.; Miller, D. (2022) Briefing on Quantitative Story Telling for the Land Use Transformations Project (JHI-C3-1), Project Deliverable (D2), 11pp, Online.
  • Matthews, K.; Blackstock, K.; Miller, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D.; Gandossi, G.; Sutherland, L.; Juarez-Bourke, A.; Creaney, R.; Martinat, S.; Nicholson, H.; Gimona, A.; Castellazzi, M.; Wilkins, B.; Aitkenhead, M.; Coull, M.; Parker, T.; Rivington, M.; Udugbezi, E. (2022) State-of-Play Reference Document for Land Use Transformations Project (JHIC31), Project Milestone Report Milestone 10, Online, 21pp.
  • 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.
  • Aitkenhead, M. (2022) Kinkell Farm soil report, Report submitted to farm and research funder through Robert Crow in JHL.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; McKeen, M.; Sideris, K.; Rees, N.; Gurd, J.; Hague, A.; Artz, R. (2022) Accelerating Peatland Restoration in Northern Ireland, Submitted directly to Northern Ireland Environment Agency.
  • Miller, D.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Black, H.; Iannetta, P.; Irvine, K.; Lilly, A.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Nijnik, M.; Lopez, D.; Wardell-Johnson, D. (2022) Perth and Kinross Council Carbon Sequestration Study, Contract report to Perth and Kinross Council.
  • Aitkenhead, M.; Castellazzi, M.; McKeen, M.; Hare, M.; Artz, R.; Reed, M. (2021) Peatland restoration and potential emissions savings on agricultural land: an evidence assessment, ClimateXChange.
  • 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, The James Hutton Institute.
  • 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.

Conference papers

  • Khan, A.; Aitkenhead, M. (2023) Highresolution Digital Soil Mapping at Finzean Estate, Presentation at SAGES Annual Science Conference, 16 May 2023, University of Aberdeen
  • 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.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • 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.
  • Poggio, L.; Artz, R.R.E.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Aitkenhead, M.; Donnelly, D.; Gimona, A. (2017) Peat drainage conditions assessment in Scotland., European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017 (EGU 2017), Vienna, Austria, 23-28 April 2017. EGU2017-8059 (Poster).
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Donnelly, D.; Loades, K. (2016) PotatoSize poster., Interface 2016 Event, Moredun, 9 November 2016.
  • Rivington, M.: Byg, A.; Black, H.I.B.; Aitkenhead, M.; Novo, P.; Gimona, A. (2016) ALTER: Alternative Carbon Investments in Ecosystems for Poverty Alleviation. Below-ground versus above-ground opportunities for the restoration of ecosystem services., 39th Macaulay Lecture, Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 13 October 2016.
  • Stutter, M.I.; Aitkenhead, M.; Robertson, J.; Perez-Fernandez, E.; Dupuy, L.; Prashar, A. (2015) Sensing for food and environmental security., Centre of Innovation for Sensing, CENSIS Event, Glasgow, June 2015.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Baggs, L.; Towers, W.; Black, H.I.J. (2015) BSSS and IYS: The British Society of Soil Science in the International Year of Soils., Poster of EGU2015, Vienna, April 2015.
  • Baggaley, N.; Aitkenhead, M.; Poggio, L.; Gimona, A.; Lilly, A. (2014) Comparison of methods to estimate and map the carbon content of Scottish soils, 20th World Congress of Soil Science, Soils Embrace Life and Universe, Jeju, South Korea, 8-13 June 2014. (Poster).
  • Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J. (2013) Assessing carbon in Scottish soils using traditional and novel analytical approaches., Proceedings of a Conference on GlobalSoilMap, Orleans, France, 7-9 October 2013.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J. (2012) Posters for Ecological Science Group Review., The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, October 2012.
  • Smith, J.; Gottschalk, P.; Bellarby, J.; Chapman, S.J.; Lilly, A.; Towers, W.; Bell, J.; Coleman, K.; Nayak, D.; Richards, M.; Hillier, J.; Flynn, H.; Wattenbach, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Yeluripurti, J.; Farmer, J.; Milne, R.; Thomson, A.; Evans, C.; Whitmore, A.; Falloon, P.; Smith, P. (2010) Use of dynamic, process-based models of soil C and N turnover to explore tradeoffs between land use change for agricultural production and carbon sequestration., Abstract for Global Land Project Workshop – Representation of Ecosystem Services in the Modelling of Land Systems, Jurys Inn, Aberdeen, 19-20 March 2010.
  • Aalders, I.H.; Ode, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Hagerhall, C.; Andersson, L. (2008) Fixed or flexible land cover classification for the analysis of landscape functionality?, IP SENSOR Conference: Impact Assessment of Land Use Change – Multifunctional Land Use, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, 6-9 April 2008.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Lumsdon, P.; Miller, D.R. (2005) Remote sensing-based neural network mapping of tsunami damage in Aceh, Indonesia., RSPSoc, Portsmouth 2005.
  • Aspinall, R.J.; Aalders, I.H.; Aitkenhead, M.J. (2004) Comparison of land cover modelling methods., IGC UK, Glasgow, 2004.
  • McDonald, A.J.S.; Richards, M.L.A.; Standing, D.B.; Mustard, M.J.; Aitkenhead, M.J. (2003) Modelling the impact of heterogeneity in soil nutrients and precision in resource foraging on the persistence of subordinate plants., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2003.
  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Law, A.N.R.; Wright, G.W. (2003) Symolac: a system for modelling land cover., Chapman Conference on Ecosystem Interactions with Land Use Change, Sante Fe, New Mexico, 14-18 June 2003.