Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Profile

General Information

I am an engineering geomorphologist with research interests that encompass a range of themes within the fields of geological hazards and engineering geology. These include landslides and slope instability and the application of terrain evaluation techniques, remote sensing and GIS for  natural hazard assessment. I have a particular interest in geomorphometry and application digital photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning to digital surface model creation and the study of surface landform morphology and change.

Research Interests

Current research projects include landslide hazard assessment in Kyrgyzstan and China using remote sensing and GIS, numerical modelling of natural hazards including coastal floods and lava flows, economic impacts of landslides in the UK and geotechnical characterisation and landslide distyribution of the Hampshire Basin. I have a number of active research students working on MSc and PhD level research projects in geomorphology, terrain evaluation and remote sensing.

Recent Publications

More recent publications

Research publications

Whitworth, M., Khampilang, N., Koor, N., Rust, D., Teeuw, R. (2010) Application of high resolution satellite imagery and Geographical Information System techniques to regional landslide hazard evaluation in Kyrgyzstan, central Asia. In Williams, A., Pinches, G., Chin, C., McMorron, T. and Masset. C. Geological Active. Proceedings of the Eleventh IAEG Congress. Auckland, New Zealand. 5-10 September 2010.

Whitworth, M. (2010) Geomorphological assessment of complex landslide systems using field reconnaissance and high resolution remote sensing. In Mike J Smith, M. J., Paron, P. and Griffiths, J. S. (Eds) Geomorphological Mapping: a professional handbook of techniques and applications. Elsevier.

Whitworth, M., Giles, D. P. and Murphy, W. (2005) Airborne remote sensing for landslide hazard assessment: a case study on the Jurassic escarpment slopes of Worcestershire, United Kingdom. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 38(3), 285–300.

Rowlands, K.A., Jones, L.D. and Whitworth, M. (2003) Landslide laser scanning: A new look at an old problem. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 36(2), 155–157.

Whitworth, M., Murphy, W., Giles, D. and Petley, D. (2000) Historical constraints on slope movement age: a case study at Broadway, UK. Geographical Journal, 166(2), 139–155.    

Postgraduate research and study

If you are interested in applied geomorphology and remote sensing and wish to study at postgraduate level, the School offers four masters courses, research masters (MPhil) training and PhD research degrees. Please contact me at the address above.