UCL CASA

Dr Ollie Ballinger has contributed to the British Library’s latest exhibition, 'Secret Maps'. It includes his work with investigative journalism organisation Bellingcat on “dark ships", which disable their public tracking systems to hide their identity and activity.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/new...

Satellite Data Reveals How the U.S. Navy Is Deployed Near Venezuela

CASA research in @nytimes.com: Ollie Ballinger built software to track naval vessels via open-source satellite data, revealing patterns in Caribbean maritime activity.

Read the full story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...

The Album: Place and Space - Music directly inspired by the themes explored in the book Cities in the Metaverse. Mark your calendars: 📅 December 1st: Available on all streaming platforms. Read the academic book. Stream the album via @casaucl.bsky.social #metaverse #music #digital

CASA's new ESRC-funded project asks how 15-minute city principles can be adapted for sustainable travel in regional European towns and areas.

ENHANCE employs accessibility indicators, travel behaviour analysis and scenario modelling to support better regional planning.
www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/res...

CASA's Dr Max Nathan, Professor of Economic Geography, served as academic adviser on TfL and the Department for Transport's Elizabeth Line post-opening evaluation study.

Led by Arup, the study assessed the line's impact on transport, employment and housing.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/new...

UCL Geography Alumna Publishes Groundbreaking Research on Microplastic Pollution in UK Woodland Soil UCL Geography MSc alumna Faye Weaver has published new research on microplastic pollution in UK urban woodland soils, revealing widespread contamination and its conservation implications.

From dissertation to publication 🌿

@ucl.ac.uk Geography alumna Faye Weaver reveals widespread microplastic pollution in UK woodland soils, even in Epping Forest. A huge step for understanding plastic’s hidden reach. 🌍

#UCLGeography #Microplastics #Conservation #Research

Improving Indicators of Urban Cycle Network Quality: a Case Study of London Boroughs Increasing levels of cycling is a key part of the transport strategies of many global cities with the potential for significant health and sustainability benefits. Many urban cycle networks are how…

Which London boroughs are the best for cycling? We’ve been working on developing new open data indicators of cycle network quality-
citygeographics.org/2025/11/07/d...

The Lie of the Land: Who Controls the Map? | British Library Technologist Ed Parsons, Dr Ollie Ballinger and Dr Pragya Agarwal join cultural geographer Mike Duggan in this panel conversation to explore how maps and c

This Friday (7pm) hear about our very own Ollie Ballinger’s work on #secretmaps at @britishlibrary.bsky.social: "how maps and cartography are being used to reveal what those in power would rather keep hidden.” Sign-up: events.bl.uk/events/onlin...

Very happy for my @casaucl.bsky.social colleague and co-author Mateo - congrats!

For prospective Masters students interested in cities and computing, mapping and visualisation, digital connectivity and data analysis, here’s your chance to learn more about our stellar programmes at UCL CASA in London

The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis Virtual Postgraduate Open Day Join our virtual open day to discover how you can pivot your career into AI, data science and urban technology, using spatial data to shape the future of cities.

Ready for a change in direction, want to step up your #gis and #giscience 'game', or interested in #AI, #datascience, #IoT and the #urban? Sign up to hear more about our four Masters programmes at a virtual postgraduate open data on 30 October from 1-2pm: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...

Interested in cities, places, connectivity, & planning? Applications are open for fully-funded UCL ESRC doctoral studentships through the UBEL partnership. The deadline is 10 November. See further details & eligibility criteria at ubel-dtp.ac.uk/postdoctoral... Contact bartlett.phd-ecidi@ucl.ac.uk

ESRC Studentships Main Competition - UBEL DTP ESRC Studentships Main Competition The UBEL DTP’s fully funded ESRC studentships cover full payment of tuition fees per year and an annual maintenance stipend. What’s on offer UBEL DTP studentships co...

🚨 📚 Heads up! Applications are open for fully-funded UCL PhD studentships via UBEL.

Please get in touch if you’re working on topics in economic geography, urban policy or urban economics.

Deadline: 10 November!

More info: ubel-dtp.ac.uk/esrc-student...

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

🚨 Part-time opportunity for PhD students 🚨

CASA is offering a range of teaching opportunities for postgraduate research students to assist on its Master's level courses as Postgraduate Teaching Assistants.

Find out more about the role and apply by 17th October: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

AI in Planning & Design 3rd Annual Prof Tony Hall Memorial Lecture, 2025 The 3rd Prof. Tony Hall Memorial Lecture is presented by Professor Michael Batty on AI in Planning & Design

CASA's Prof Michael Batty will deliver the keynote, titled "Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Planning and Design", for the 3rd Annual Prof Tony Hall Memorial Lecture at Anglia Ruskin University.

🗓️ 17:30, 04 Nov
📍 ARU School of Engineering & the Built Environment
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-in-plan...

CASA Seminar Series 2025-26 This academic seminar series explores a broad range of topics such as data science, urban planning and urban networks and their impact on the dynamic of cities.

The CASA Seminar Series kicks off tomorrow, with @stuartdunn.bsky.social discussing how humans have used tools and tech – from ancient maps to digital platforms – to shape and navigate space.

Wed 01 Oct, 13:00–14:00
📍 In person at CASA, no booking needed

Join us: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...

Unfolded Walks Explore the work of young people from Bangabandhu Primary School, Bethnal Green and see the city through their eyes. A collaboration with UCL researchers and the Young V&A.

Join us on Thursday 25 September for Unfolded Walks. In this new collaboration between UCL researchers and the Young V&A, explore the work of young people from Bangabandhu Primary School, Bethnal Green and see the city through their eyes.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...

A review article in Nature Cities Journal, co-authored by CASA's Professor Jon Reades, examines how textual data can transform urban research, bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative approaches.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/new...

Congratulations to CASA's Chairman Professor Michael Batty, who has been elected a foreign member of the Indian National Science Academy, in honour of his pioneering contributions to the world of science. His Fellowship will take effect in January 2026.

A crowd of Lime bikes, and a few Forest bikes, on a street in London WC1, stretching as far as the eye can see

Absolute swarm of Lime bikes outside our office today #TubeStrike

cc @londoncentric.media, @londonermag.bsky.social

TIME: The 3D Printed Clock is now available and for free on @printables.bsky.social - a new 'Hour Bell' addon is incoming... printables.com/model/137508... via @casaucl.bsky.social as part of our summer projects from the CE Lab @thebartlettucl.bsky.social

Group photograph of Louise Kempton, Yuna Lee, Rainer Kattel, Mark Tewdwr-Jones

Congratulations to my student Yuna Lee on the successful defence of her PhD thesis on Strategic Foresight and Policy Making in the US and UK yesterday @casaucl.bsky.social. Thanks to examiners Louise Kempton & Rainer Kattel, and Mike Batty for being part of the supervisory team

Bartlett Student and Alumnus Win Second Prize in Vertical Farm Architecture Competition CASA student Pei-Chi (Peggy) Tsai and Bartlett architecture graduate Chao-Chun Kung, with colleagues Nel Alexander Dau and Margarita Idt, were awarded for their project VerticLA: The Green Ascent.

Congrats to CASA student Pei-Chi (Peggy) Tsai on winning second place in a vertical farm architecture competition, with @thebartlettucl.bsky.social alumnus Chao-Chun Kung and teammates.

Their project, VerticLA, reimagines these spaces for intergenerational wellbeing.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/new...

Launching tonight: Connected Environments MSc's degree show, Sense, Deploy, Communicate

Join us for the opening night this evening from 6pm, or visit the show until 03 August.

1st Floor Galleries
UCL East Marshgate

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...

📍𝐑-𝐌𝐚𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐔𝐌 2025, 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧!

We were thrilled to present the R-Map Model at the 19𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐔𝐌 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 hosted by the @casaucl.bsky.social – a global center in advanced spatial analysis!

Source: The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, UCL. Photographer: Richard Stonehouse

An article by CASA's Max Nathan @maxnathan.bsky.social (with Henry Overman, Capucine Riom and Maria Sanchez-Vidal) in CentrePiece finds that the BBC's move to Salford boosted local creative industries – but wider impacts were more limited than expected.

Read more: cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/PUBLICA...

CASA lecturer Valerio Signorelli is co-organising a hybrid symposium with the University of Melbourne on 21 July, exploring how extended reality technologies and immersive storytelling can help architecture and urbanism respond to the climate crisis.

More info: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/pixels-to-...

Sense, Deploy, Communicate: Connected Environments MSc Show
18 July-03 August
1st Floor Galleries, UCL East Marshgate
Opening night: 17 July, 18:00-20:00

Join us later this month to enjoy Connected Environments MSc students' graduating projects at their final show.

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...

The Bartlett staff promotions announced for 2024–25 UCL confirms new Senior Academic, Research and Teaching appointments, effective 01 October 2025.

Warm congratulations to CASA's Chen Zhong on being promoted to Professor of Urban Analytics in UCL's annual Senior Academic, Research & Teaching promotions list.

Promotions take effect 01 October 2025 and recognise our staff's exceptional contributions to UCL.
www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/new...

🚨 Heads up! If you're working on skilled migration and innovation, submit your papers to our GeoInno 2026 sessions in Budapest, 28-30 January 👇

Closing date or papers or extended abstracts: 14 July 2025.

www.geoinno2026.com/session/s8-g...

##EconSky 📉📈 #geosky