Dr Michael Sinclair

  • Lecturer in Urban Analytics (Urban Studies & Social Policy)

Biography

Dr Michael Sinclair is a Lecturer in Urban Analytics at the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy and the Urban Big Data Centre, University of Glasgow. 

He is the Convenor of the MSc in Urban Analytics and Co-Lead of the Socio-Environmental Action research cluster.

Research interests

Michael's research sits at the intersection of the growing availability of novel data sources and their application to social and environmental challenges for societal benefit. He is particularly interested in advancing knowledge on the potential, challenges, and ethics of user-generated data and the methods used to analyse them. A key focus of his work is leveraging these new data sources to understand human-nature interactions at scale.

With a background in Human Geography and Environmental Science, Michael leads two major research projects that explore the use of mobile phone app data and social media to examine the use and value of natural and cultural spaces on a large scale. These projects are funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018
Number of items: 16.

2024

Verduzco-Torres, J. Rafael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1324-1714 and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2024) Exploring Accessibility to Urban Green Spaces: A Novel Approach using Spatial Interaction Models and Mobile App Data. Mobile Tartu 2024: International Conference & PhD School, Tartu, Estonia, 11-14 Jun 2024.

Brander, L. M. et al. (2024) Economic values for ecosystem services: a global synthesis and way forward. Ecosystem Services, 66, 101606. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2024.101606)

2023

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Sermpezi, Rania, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Mitchell, Rich ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-7155 and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2023) Estimating Greenspace Visitation Using Digital Footprints Data: A Collaboration with Glasgow City Council to Aid in Open Space Policy and Operations [poster]. In: 12th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2023), Leeds, UK, 14-19 Sept 2023, (Accepted for Publication)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Maadi, Saeed, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Hong, Jinhyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637, Ghermandi, Andrea and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2023) Assessing the socio-demographic representativeness of mobile phone application data. Applied Geography, 158, 102997. (doi: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.102997)

Ghermandi, A. et al. (2023) Social media data for environmental sustainability: A critical review of opportunities, threats, and ethical use. One Earth, 6(3), pp. 236-250. (doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.008)

2022

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea, Signorello, Giovanni, Giuffrida, Laura and De Salvo, Maria (2022) Valuing recreation in Italy’s protected areas using spatial big data. Ecological Economics, 200, 107526. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107526)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Maadi, Saeed, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Hong, Jinyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637 and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2022) Understanding the Socio-demographic Representation of Tamoco Mobile Phone App Data in Glasgow City Region. In: GISRUK 2022, Liverpool, UK, 05-08 Apr 2022, (doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6411683)

Ghermandi, Andrea, Depietri, Yaella and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2022) In the AI of the beholder: A comparative analysis of computer vision-assisted characterizations of human-nature interactions in urban green spaces. Landscape and Urban Planning, 217, 104261. (doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104261)

2021

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949, Maadi, Saeed and Hong, Jinhyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637 (2021) Understanding the Use of Greenspace Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Using Mobile Phone App Data. In: GIScience 2021, 27-30 Sep 2021, (doi: 10.25436/E2D59P)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Vishnu Sagar, M.K., Knudsen, Camilla, Sabu, Joseph and Ghermandi, Andrea (2021) Economic appraisal of ecosystem services and restoration scenarios in a tropical coastal Ramsar wetland in India. Ecosystem Services, 47, 101236. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101236)

2020

Ghermandi, Andrea, Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Fichtman, Edna and Gish, Moshe (2020) Novel insights on intensity and typology of direct human-nature interactions in protected areas through passive crowdsourcing. Global Environmental Change, 65, 102189. (doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102189)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Mayer, Marius, Woltering, Manuel and Ghermandi, Andrea (2020) Valuing nature-based recreation using a crowdsourced travel cost method: a comparison to onsite survey data and value transfer. Ecosystem Services, 45, 101165. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101165)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Mayer, Marius, Woltering, Manuel and Ghermandi, Andrea (2020) Using social media to estimate visitor provenance and patterns of recreation in Germany's national parks. Journal of Environmental Management, 263, 110418. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110418) (PMID:32883482)

2019

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea, Moses, Sheela A. and Joseph, Sabu (2019) Recreation and environmental quality of tropical wetlands: a social media based spatial analysis. Tourism Management, 71, pp. 179-186. (doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.018)

Ghermandi, Andrea and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2019) Passive crowdsourcing of social media in environmental research: a systematic map. Global Environmental Change, 55, pp. 36-47. (doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.02.003)

2018

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea and Sheela, Albert M. (2018) A crowdsourced valuation of recreational ecosystem services using social media data: An application to a tropical wetland in India. Science of the Total Environment, 642, pp. 356-365. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.056) (PMID:29906727)

This list was generated on Tue Jul 8 11:32:53 2025 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Conference or Workshop Item | Conference Proceedings
Number of items: 16.

Articles

Brander, L. M. et al. (2024) Economic values for ecosystem services: a global synthesis and way forward. Ecosystem Services, 66, 101606. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2024.101606)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Maadi, Saeed, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Hong, Jinhyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637, Ghermandi, Andrea and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2023) Assessing the socio-demographic representativeness of mobile phone application data. Applied Geography, 158, 102997. (doi: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.102997)

Ghermandi, A. et al. (2023) Social media data for environmental sustainability: A critical review of opportunities, threats, and ethical use. One Earth, 6(3), pp. 236-250. (doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.008)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea, Signorello, Giovanni, Giuffrida, Laura and De Salvo, Maria (2022) Valuing recreation in Italy’s protected areas using spatial big data. Ecological Economics, 200, 107526. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107526)

Ghermandi, Andrea, Depietri, Yaella and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2022) In the AI of the beholder: A comparative analysis of computer vision-assisted characterizations of human-nature interactions in urban green spaces. Landscape and Urban Planning, 217, 104261. (doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104261)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Vishnu Sagar, M.K., Knudsen, Camilla, Sabu, Joseph and Ghermandi, Andrea (2021) Economic appraisal of ecosystem services and restoration scenarios in a tropical coastal Ramsar wetland in India. Ecosystem Services, 47, 101236. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101236)

Ghermandi, Andrea, Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Fichtman, Edna and Gish, Moshe (2020) Novel insights on intensity and typology of direct human-nature interactions in protected areas through passive crowdsourcing. Global Environmental Change, 65, 102189. (doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102189)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Mayer, Marius, Woltering, Manuel and Ghermandi, Andrea (2020) Valuing nature-based recreation using a crowdsourced travel cost method: a comparison to onsite survey data and value transfer. Ecosystem Services, 45, 101165. (doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101165)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Mayer, Marius, Woltering, Manuel and Ghermandi, Andrea (2020) Using social media to estimate visitor provenance and patterns of recreation in Germany's national parks. Journal of Environmental Management, 263, 110418. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110418) (PMID:32883482)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea, Moses, Sheela A. and Joseph, Sabu (2019) Recreation and environmental quality of tropical wetlands: a social media based spatial analysis. Tourism Management, 71, pp. 179-186. (doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.018)

Ghermandi, Andrea and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2019) Passive crowdsourcing of social media in environmental research: a systematic map. Global Environmental Change, 55, pp. 36-47. (doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.02.003)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Ghermandi, Andrea and Sheela, Albert M. (2018) A crowdsourced valuation of recreational ecosystem services using social media data: An application to a tropical wetland in India. Science of the Total Environment, 642, pp. 356-365. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.056) (PMID:29906727)

Conference or Workshop Item

Verduzco-Torres, J. Rafael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1324-1714 and Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528 (2024) Exploring Accessibility to Urban Green Spaces: A Novel Approach using Spatial Interaction Models and Mobile App Data. Mobile Tartu 2024: International Conference & PhD School, Tartu, Estonia, 11-14 Jun 2024.

Conference Proceedings

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Sermpezi, Rania, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Mitchell, Rich ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3827-7155 and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2023) Estimating Greenspace Visitation Using Digital Footprints Data: A Collaboration with Glasgow City Council to Aid in Open Space Policy and Operations [poster]. In: 12th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2023), Leeds, UK, 14-19 Sept 2023, (Accepted for Publication)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Maadi, Saeed, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Hong, Jinyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637 and Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949 (2022) Understanding the Socio-demographic Representation of Tamoco Mobile Phone App Data in Glasgow City Region. In: GISRUK 2022, Liverpool, UK, 05-08 Apr 2022, (doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6411683)

Sinclair, Michael ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-2528, Zhao, Qunshan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-9457, Bailey, Nick ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1618-5949, Maadi, Saeed and Hong, Jinhyun ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-2637 (2021) Understanding the Use of Greenspace Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Using Mobile Phone App Data. In: GIScience 2021, 27-30 Sep 2021, (doi: 10.25436/E2D59P)

This list was generated on Tue Jul 8 11:32:53 2025 BST.

Grants

2023-2025. PI. R&D Science and Analysis Programme - Capturing Engagement Numbers. UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport, £50,000 (total project funded for £1,000,000).

2023-2025. PI. Developing and exploring methods to understand human-nature interactions in urban areas using new forms of big data. Economic and Social Research Council (ES/W012979/1), £270,000.

2022-2023. PI. Designing an interactive Greenspace dashboard for stakeholders using mobile phone app data. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council IAA Research Associate funding, £19,940.

2021. PI. ESRC SDAI proposal development. College of Social Scienes Research Fund for support of grant applications, £4950.

Supervision

2024- , Mr Haonan Lyu, 2nd supervisor

Teaching

  • Principles and Applications of GIS (contributor)
  • Big Data and Urban Analytics (contributor)
  • Urban Anlytics Group Project (contributor)
  • Transport Studies (contributor)
  • Social & Public Policy 2B Policy, Politics & Power (contributor)

Research datasets

Jump to: 2025
Number of items: 2.

2025

Tamoco, and Sinclair, M. (2025) Tamoco Open Spaces. [Data Collection]

Urban Big Data Centre, and Sinclair, M. (2025) Mobility Metrics for Glasgow City Region. [Data Collection]

This list was generated on Tue Jul 8 03:11:58 2025 BST.

Additional information

Early Career Board Member - Journal of Ecosystem Health and Sustainability


Dr Michael Sinclair on Twitter