William Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in Geospatial Science and programme convenor for several MSc degree programmes in the following subject areas: surveying, mapping, GIS and cartography.

William received a BSc(Hons) from the University of Glasgow in Geographic Information and Mapping Sciences in 2008. He then joined, at the time, one of the largest independent offshore surveying companies in the UK as a Surveyor. William remained in the private sector for 8 years, working on a variety of projects throughout Europe, the Arctic, Middle East, Africa and Americas for Oil, Gas and Renewable energy clients. William operated in several surveying and supervisory roles (e.g. Party Chief) on projects such as the world's largest tidal energy plant MyGen (UK) in 2016; Meerwind Windfarm (Germany) in 2013 and Anholt Windfarm (Denmark) in 2012.

William joined the University of Glasgow in 2016 with a Learning, Teaching and Scholarship position. He has several research interests in geospatial surveying (data quality, laser scanning and digital twins), and pedagogical research (embedding geospatial within the curriculum; lifelong and work-based learning). He received a PgCert (2018) and then MEd (2023) in Academic Practice from the University of Glasgow.

William is active with external professional and accreditation bodies both in the UK and internationally - particularly the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) - where he helps research, develop and implement: geospatial learning & teaching best practice in Higher Education; technical surveying competencies for practicing professionals and public policy for national institutions. He is the current Chair of CICES Scotland.

List by: Type | Date

Learning & Teaching Awards

Student-Staff Partnership (Learning and Teaching Development Fund), University of Glasgow: £1500. Peer Assessment: Maximising Student Benefit. Student Partner: Morris Pamplin. February - July 2018.

Conference Travel Awards

Awards from School of Geographical and Earth Sciences Conference Fund, University of Glasgow and external body (CICES) total: £1400. Attend and present at FIG: Fédération Internationale des Géomètres (International Federation of Surveyors) Working Week 2019. Hanoi, Vietnam.

Staff Mobility Awards

Erasmus+ Staff Training: £1200. Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania. 2019. 

William is currently Programme Convenor for the geospatial suite of PGT programmes and Work Placement options.

Postgraduate Taught

Geomatics / Geospatial Science

• Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (GEOG5017)
• Principles of Land Survey (GEOG5020)
• Engineering Survey (GEOG5007)
• Hydrographic Survey (GEOG5014)
• Applied Hydrographic Survey (GEOG5098)
• Applied Land Surveying (GEOG5099)
• Work Placement (GEOG5097P)
• MSc Project (5040P)

Undergraduate

Geography

• Geographical Techniques (GEOG4015) (GIS, Statistics)

• Research Skills (GEOG4025) (Advanced Geographical Techniques - GNSS, Levelling) 

School of Engineering - Civil Engineering

• Geology & Surveying for Civil Engineers (ENG2080)

External Examiner Roles

2022-2026 - Technological University Dublin (Geospatial Surveying)

2022-2026 - University of East London (Surveying & Mapping Sciences)

Memberships

Member of Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES)

Fellow of Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET is a University of Glasgow development programme aligned to Advance HE's UKPSF)

External Professional / Industry Positions

Regional Chair - CICES

Geospatial Engineering Higher Education Representative - CICES (EPD&M Committee)

Review Examiner - Examiner for Academic and Professional applications to CICES

Co-Chair of Working Group 2.2 - 'Innovative Learning and Teaching', Commission 2, International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)

Internal (University of Glasgow)

College Cognate - James Watt School of Engineering - 2024-Current

Senate - Elected Member - 2019-2022; 2022-Current

Appeals Committee - College of Science and Engineering - 2018-Current

GES School Executive - Elected Member - 2022-2024