I am a geographer with particular interests in applied climatology, urban ecosystems, and urban climate adaptation planning. Much of my research is focussed within urban environments, and seeks to understand the interactions of climate with ecosystems and human societies in order to strengthen climate resilience and create healthy livable cities. My research and teaching focuses upon cities across the UK, Europe, Africa and China.
I am Associate Director of the Ecology and Environment Research Centre and Director of the Urban Environments Group.
PhD in Geography and Planning - The University of Manchester
'Climate change interactions with tourism and the landscape'
MSc in Applied Meteorology & Climatology (Distinction) - University of Birmingham
BSc in Geography - The University of Birmingham
Research Associate in Geography at University of Manchester - School of Environment and Development
Associate Director of Ecology & Environment Research Centre
Geography - a subject combining both social and natural sciences - is an essential subject that enables a better understanding of today's complex global challenges including climate change and disaster resilience, rapid urbanisation, degraded ecosystems, and social justice.
First year (Level 4)
Second year (Level 5)
Third year (Level 6)
MSc Geographical Information Systems (Distance Learning UNIGIS Programme)
In progress
Completed
Prospective
I welcome applications from prospective students to study within the following topic areas: urban green infrastructure, urban ecosystems, applied climatology, urban climate and adaptation.
My research addresses global challenges persistent in urban environments such as rapid urbanisation, degraded ecosystems, climate change, and social justice, through three interlinked themes: applied climatology, urban ecosystems, and urban climate & adaptation . My research emphasises interdisciplinary approaches, usually incorporating application of geographical information systems (GIS), and seeks to promote impactful research that influences policy and practice.
My funded projects include:
NERC: Motivating climate resilient action through Lego Serious Play
NERC: Assessing the contribution of domestic gardens to urban ecosystem services
NERC/ESRC/AHRC: Green Infrastructure and Health & Wellbeing Inflences on an Ageing Population
F. Baker, CL. Smith, G. Cavan (2018). A combined approach to classifying land surface cover of urban domestic gardens using citizen science data and high resolution image analysis. Remote Sensing. 10(4),
F. Kong, W. Yan, G. Zheng, H. Yin, G. Cavan, et al. W. Zhan, N. Zhang, L. Cheng. (2016). Retrieval of three-dimensional tree canopy and shade using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data to analyze the cooling effect of vegetation. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 217, pp.22-34.
J. Aylen, K. Albertson, G. Cavan (2014). The impact of weather and climate on tourist demand: the case of Chester Zoo. Climatic Change. 127(2), pp.183-197.
G. Cavan, S. Lindley, F. Jalayer, K. Yeshitela, S. Pauleit, et al. F. Renner, S. Gill, P. Capuano, A. Nebebe, T. Woldegerima, D. Kibassa, R. Shemdoe. (2014). Urban morphological determinants of temperature regulating ecosystem services in two African cities. Ecological Indicators. 42, pp.43-57.
F. Kong, H. Yin, C. Wang, G. Cavan, P. James (2014). A satellite image-based analysis of factors contributing to the green-space cool island intensity on a city scale. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 13(4), pp.846-853.
M. Dennis, A. Barker, J. Anderson, JC. Ashton, G. Cavan, et al. PA. Cook, D. French, A. Gilchrist, P. James, C. Phillipson, K. Tzoulas, CP. Wheater, A. Wossink, S. Lindley. (2023). Integrating knowledge on green infrastructure, health and well-being in ageing populations: Principles for research and practice. Ambio. 52(1), pp.107-125.
F. Baker, CL. Smith, G. Cavan (2018). A combined approach to classifying land surface cover of urban domestic gardens using citizen science data and high resolution image analysis. Remote Sensing. 10(4),
R. Reynolds, G. Cavan, M. Cresswell (2017). The local response of El Niño events and changing disease distribution in Tanzania. Weather. 72(7), pp.206-215.
F. Kong, C. Sun, F. Liu, H. Yin, F. Jiang, et al. Y. Pu, G. Cavan, C. Skelhorn, A. Middel, I. Dronova. (2016). Energy saving potential of fragmented green spaces due to their temperature regulating ecosystem services in the summer. Applied Energy. 183, pp.1428-1440.
P. O Hare, G. Cavan, WL. Filho (2016). Introduction to the special issue on adaptive flood risk management. Natural Hazards. 82, pp.145-148.
F. Kong, W. Yan, G. Zheng, H. Yin, G. Cavan, et al. W. Zhan, N. Zhang, L. Cheng. (2016). Retrieval of three-dimensional tree canopy and shade using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data to analyze the cooling effect of vegetation. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 217, pp.22-34.
J. Aylen, K. Albertson, G. Cavan (2014). The impact of weather and climate on tourist demand: the case of Chester Zoo. Climatic Change. 127(2), pp.183-197.
F. Jalayer, R. De Risi, F. De Paola, M. Giugni, G. Manfredi, et al. P. Gasparini, ME. Topa, N. Yonas, K. Yeshitela, A. Nebebe, G. Cavan, S. Lindley, A. Printz, F. Renner. (2014). Probabilistic GIS-based method for delineation of urban flooding risk hotspots. Natural Hazards. 73(2), pp.975-1001.
G. Cavan, S. Lindley, F. Jalayer, K. Yeshitela, S. Pauleit, et al. F. Renner, S. Gill, P. Capuano, A. Nebebe, T. Woldegerima, D. Kibassa, R. Shemdoe. (2014). Urban morphological determinants of temperature regulating ecosystem services in two African cities. Ecological Indicators. 42, pp.43-57.
F. Kong, H. Yin, C. Wang, G. Cavan, P. James (2014). A satellite image-based analysis of factors contributing to the green-space cool island intensity on a city scale. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 13(4), pp.846-853.
G. Cavan, R. Kingston (2012). Development of a climate change risk and vulnerability assessment tool for urban areas. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment. 3(3), pp.253-269.
A. Kazmierczak, G. Cavan (2011). Surface water flooding risk to urban communities: Analysis of vulnerability, hazard and exposure. LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING. 103(2), pp.185-197.
G. Cavan, R. Kingston, S. Lindley, A. Kazmierczak, J. Carter, et al. Y. Gong, J. Handley. (2010). Climate change and urban areas: Development of a climate change risk and vulnerability assessment tool. COBRA 2010 - Construction, Building and Real Estate Research Conference of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
A. Kazmierczak, G. Cavan, J. Carter, J. Handley, S. Guy (2010). Deep green or white hot? The future of Oxford Road Corridor in Manchester, UK. COBRA 2010 - Construction, Building and Real Estate Research Conference of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
K. Albertson, J. Aylen, G. Cavan, J. McMorrow (2010). Climate change and the future occurrence of moorland wildfires in the Peak District of the UK. Climate Research. 45(1), pp.105-118.
K. Albertson, J. Aylen, G. Cavan, J. McMorrow (2009). Forecasting the outbreak of moorland wildfires in the English Peak District. J Environ Manage. 90(8), pp.2642-2651.
D. McEvoy, G. Cavan, J. Handley, J. McMorrow, S. Lindley (2008). Changes to climate and visitor behaviour: Implications for vulnerable landscapes in the north west region of England. JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. 16(1), pp.101-121.
G. Cavan, JF. Handley, J. Aylen, K. Albertson, J. McMorrow, et al. S. Lindley, D. McEvoy. (2006). Climate change and the visitor economy in the uplands. International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management. 2(3), pp.170-173.
JE. Thornes, G. Cavan, L. Chapman (2005). XRWIS: the use of geomatics to predict winter road surface temperatures in Poland. Meteorological Applications. 12(1), pp.83-90.
G. Cavan, F. Baker, K. Tzoulas, CL. Smith (2023). Correction to: Manchester: The Role of Urban Domestic Gardens in Climate Adaptation and Resilience. In: Urban Climate Science for Planning Healthy Cities. Springer International Publishing, pp.C1-C1.
C. Smith, G. Cavan, S. Lindley (2015). Urban climatic map studies in UK: Greater Manchester. In: The Urban Climatic Map: A Methodology for Sustainable Urban Planning. pp.261-273.
G. Cavan, T. Butlin, S. Gill, R. Kingston, S. Lindley (2015). Web-GIS Tools for Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Cities. In: Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp.2161-2191.
G. Cavan, T. Butlin, S. Gill, R. Kingston, S. Lindley (2015). Web-gis tools for climate change adaptation planning in cities. In: Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation. pp.2161-2191.
J. McMorrow, S. Lindley, J. Aylen, G. Cavan, K. Albertson, et al. D. Boys. (2009). Moorland wildfire risk, visitors and climate change: Patterns, prevention and policy. In: Drivers of Environmental Change in Uplands. pp.404-431.
A. Bonn, T. Allott, K. Hubacek, J. Stewart (2008). Drivers of Environmental Change in Uplands. A. Bonn. In: Drivers of Environmental Change in Uplands. Abingdon UK: Routledge, pp.404-431.
G. Cavan, C. Fletcher, F. Baker, K. Tzoulas, C. Smith (2022). “I converted an old wheelie bin into a water butt”: Citizen’s motivations & barriers to implementing action to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban gardens. Leipzig, Germany, 28/11/2022.
G. Cavan (2020). The contribution of gardens to urban ecosystem services in Manchester. Manchester, 11/2/2020.
G. Cavan, S. Lindley, M. Dennis (2020). Exploring the needs, provision & value of green infrastructure for older people with the GHIA online tools. Manchester, 7/1/2020.
P. Preston, G. Cavan, R. Dunk, G. Smith (2019). A new approach for the city-scale assessment of brownfield land and impact upon climate resilience. Manchester, UK, 1/7/2019.
G. Cavan, C. Fletcher, F. Baker, K. Tzoulas, C. Smith (2019). Co-production of knowledge on urban gardens to aid urban planning and encourage citizens to implement local scale adaptation solutions. Lisbon, 28/5/2019.
R. Dunk, G. Cavan, J. Mork (2019). Evaluation of climate literacy training: Taking action to improve urban resilience. Lisbon, 28/5/2019.
G. Cavan, F. Baker, C. Smith (2018). Using volunteered geographic information to characterize garden composition for modelling climate regulation potential. New York, USA, 8/8/2018.
G. Cavan, A. Kazmierczak, A. Connelly, S. Lindley (2017). Multi-dimensional social vulnerability and flood disadvantage assessment to support socially just flood risk management. Durham, UK, 3/9/2017.
C. Hamshire, G. Cavan, FA. Fatoye (2017). An exploration of the benefits of an urban park for promoting health and well-being. Cape Town, 2/7/2017.
G. Cavan (2017). What’s in your back yard? Using citizen science to understand the contribution of gardens to urban ecosystem services. Orvieto, Italy, 4/4/2017.
G. Cavan (2015). Enhancing adaptation to climate change in urban environments through brownfield land. Toulouse, France,
G. Cavan (2014). The Manchester case for green infrastructure. Paris, France,
G. Cavan, C. Smith, S. Lindley (2012). Approaches to urban climatic maps: application of a risk-based framework. Dublin, Ireland, 6/8/2012.
Academic Editor for PLOS Climate
Academic Editor for Journal of Maps
Current grants:
NERC: Motivating climate resilient action through Lego Serious Play
Completed grants:
NERC: Assessing the contribution of domestic gardens to urban ecosystem services
NERC/ESRC/AHRC: Green Infrastructure and Health & Wellbeing Inflences on an Ageing Population
MGS: Spatial temperature patterns of Manchester's Urban Heat Island
Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping in Wales (Flooding and Heat), 2016. Funded by the Welsh Government.
Mapping Flood Disadvantage in Scotland, 2015-16. Funded by the Scottish Government.
Climate change and urban vulnerability in Africa (CLUVA). Funded by EU Seventh Framework Programme on Environment.
EcoCities: A blueprint for adaptation in Greater Manchester, UK. A joint initiative between University of Manchester, Bruntwood Estates Ltd and the Oglesby Charitable Trust.
Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Ecotowns (GRaBS). Funded by the European INTERREG IVC Programme.
Design for future climate: The Wyre Forest Schools Programme, Worcestershire. Funded by the Technology Strategy Board.
Manchester A Certain Future Green Infrastructure Executive Group Member
I am an Associate Editor (Science: GIS and Climate) for the Journal of Maps