About
Professor Gary Higgs serves as Professor in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science at the University of South Wales, where he directs the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Research Centre and co-directs the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD). His leadership extends to WISERD's Training and Capacity Building Programme and collaboration with the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), focusing on spatial analysis applications in socio-economic policy contexts.
His research expertise spans GIS applications in health geography, civil society analysis, and spatial inequalities in public service provision. Specializing in network-based accessibility models, he investigates healthcare access, emergency service distribution, environmental justice, and socio-economic patterns in Wales. His methodological innovations include participatory mapping for facility siting and multi-method spatial analytical approaches to address social vulnerability.
Recent publication trends (2023-2025) reveal intensified focus on real-time data integration for dynamic accessibility modeling, particularly in public transport and healthcare services. This work addresses rural-urban service disparities using multimodal transport approaches, with growing emphasis on policy-relevant applications of spatial analytics to mitigate social inequalities.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Impact Awards 2019 for research influence
- Fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society
Professor Higgs has secured major grants including WISERD Phase 1 (2008-2012), WISERD Civil Society (2014-2019), and the current WISERD Transitional Centre 'People, Places, and the Public Sphere' (2024-2027). These ESRC/HEFCW-funded projects examine spatial-temporal service variations, civic stratification, and collaborative governance across Welsh communities. His supervision spans MSc projects, PhD candidates (including KESS-funded research), and extensive external examining roles at multiple UK universities.
He leads the USW GIS Research Centre and WISERD's Data Lab initiative, developing community-led data collection systems for co-production projects. Current work focuses on fair work agendas, refugee rights, deliberative politics, and place-based economic innovations through the WISERD Transitional Centre framework.
