Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Expertise
Benjamin Williamson’s research includes marine and terrestrial sensing, with a focus on environmental science. His research interests include sensor fusion, remote sensing above and under water, computer vision and machine learning, with applications from measuring the environmental and ecological effects of marine renewable energy devices to marine plastic litter. He has a background in smart grids (link), prior to hydroacoustics and developing subsea multi-sensor platforms to track the interactions of fish, seabirds and marine mammals with marine energy devices. He is Lead Scientist for the ‘Energy’ Research Theme at the ERI based out of the Centre for Energy and the Environment (CfEE) and Chair of UHI Energy Innovation.
His PhD was in robotics and developed hybrid-ROV/AUVs for near-shore habitat mapping of kelp beds using multibeam sonar and video (link). He has a keen interest in developing novel sensor platforms to investigate biophysical interactions in the marine environment, such as using UAVs (link) to investigate behavioural associations of top predators with fine-scale hydrodynamic surface features at tidal energy sites.
Current projects include PELAgIO investigating ecosystem effects of offshore wind (press release), PREDICT improving understanding of fish migration patterns and providing a vision for next-generation monitoring techniques (press release) and IFLOW investigating effects of floating offshore wind on fish and marine mammals. More widely, current projects include island energy systems (ROBINSON), sustainable aviation (SATE), wave energy for off-grid communities (INGINE), and two KTPs supporting knowledge and technology transfer with industry.
Previous projects range from using drones to map surface currents and seabirds at marine energy sites (V-SCORES) to mapping floating plastic litter (TISPLALI), and from marine renewable energy resource assessment (Gibraltar) to validating reliable environmental monitoring for ocean energy (OERA Pathway Program) or hydrogen utilisation and green energy (HUGE).
Accepting PhD/MRes students and internship / placement students.
Academic Qualifications
2017 IET Chartered Engineer (CEng)
2013 PhD Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath
2011 Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET)
2007 MSc (Distinction) Mechatronics, University of Bath
2006 BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bath
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Diet of the European Shag Gulosus aristotelis during the non-breeding season at a roost within a tidal channel
Isaksson, N., Fraser, S., Houghton, J. D. R., Williamson, B. J., Wilson, J. & Masden, E. A., 21 Feb 2024, In: Bird Study. 71, 1, p. 1-5Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Integrated survey methodologies provide process-driven framework for marine renewable energy environmental impact assessment
Chapman, J., Williamson, B. J., Couto, A., Zampollo, A., Davies, I. M. & Scott, B. E., 3 May 2024, In: Marine Environmental Research. 106532.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Intercomparison of surface velocimetry techniques for drone-based marine current characterization
Fairley, I., King, N., Mcilvenny, J., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Williamson, B. J., Masters, I. & Reeve, D. E., 26 Feb 2024, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 299, 108682.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Methods for highlighting ecological monitoring needs in data-sparse regions a case study of impact assessment for multi-component infrastructure installations
Mitchell, L. J., Williamson, B. J. & Masden, E. A., 1 Mar 2024, In: Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 105, 107433.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Potential environmental impacts of floating solar photovoltaic systems
Benjamins, S., Williamson, B., Billing, S-L., Yuan, Z., Collu, M., Fox, C., Hobbs, L., Masden, E. A., Cottier-Cook, E. J. & Wilson, B., 1 Jul 2024, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews . 199, 14 p., 114463.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus)110 Downloads (Pure) -
Spatiotemporal variations in reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) residency at a remote meso-scale habitat and its importance in future spatial planning
Harris, J. L., Hosegood, P., Embling, C. B., Williamson, B. J. & Stevens, G. M. W., 1 Feb 2024, In: Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 34, 2, e4089.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
A paradigm for understanding whole ecosystem effects of offshore wind farms in shelf seas
Isaksson, N., Scott, B. E., Hunt, G., Benninghaus, E., Decclerk, M., Gormley, K., Harris, C., Sjöstrand, S., Trifonova, N., Waggitt, J., Wihsgott, J., Williams, C., Zampollo, A. & Williamson, B., 12 Dec 2023, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. fsad194.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Press/Media
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Salamander Wind Farm Deploys Environmental Monitoring Campaign
22/08/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Salamander windfarm deploys innovative environmental monitoring campaign
22/08/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Salamander wind farm deploys environmental monitoring campaign
21/08/24
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Salamander Windfarm Deploys Innovative Environmental Monitoring Campaign
20/08/24
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Salamander Windfarm Deploys Innovative Environmental Monitoring Campaign
20/08/24
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Findings in Environmental Impact Reported from University of Highlands & Islands (Potential Environmental Impacts of Floating Solar Photovoltaic Systems)
Steven Benjamins, Elizabeth Masden, Suzannah-Lynn Billing, Laura Hobbs & Benjamin Williamson
3/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research