David Alexander

Senior Geospatial Specialist

David leads the research at Landscape Observatory and is a geospatial specialist. He has worked in research and data roles at the Peak District National Park for many years, developing innovative approaches to understanding and monitoring landscape change.

Background

David helped develop the work that became the foundation for Landscape Observatory, initially through pioneering research in the Peak District National Park. His work has focused on using data and technology to better understand how landscapes are changing and how this evidence can support more effective management and decision-making.

David led the Peak District’s pioneering collaboration with Cranfield University and The Alan Turing Institute to develop AI approaches for mapping land cover from high-resolution aerial photography. The work demonstrated how AI and machine learning could dramatically accelerate landscape mapping, providing detailed, repeatable evidence at a scale that would previously have been impractical.

Through Landscape Observatory, David is now leading the development of advanced geospatial and AI approaches to generate high-resolution environmental intelligence across England’s Protected Landscapes. His work focuses on turning complex spatial data into practical evidence that can help practitioners understand landscape change, monitor environmental condition and make better decisions for the future.

Publications

Van der Plas, T.L., Alexander, D.G. and Pocock, M.J., 2025. Monitoring protected areas by integrating machine learning, remote sensing and citizen science. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 6 (2), p.e70040.

Van der Plas, T.L., Geikie, S.T., Alexander, D.G. and Simms, D.M., 2023. Multi-stage semantic segmentation quantifies fragmentation of small habitats at a landscape scale. Remote Sensing, 15 (22), p.5277.