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In this newsletter, learn more about different aspects of the Digital Solutions Hub in our mini blog series – the Hubdates.

You will find Hubdates on:

As always you can find real-time DSH updates on Twitter, LinkedIn, and now, Bluesky.

The background is a yellow field with green trees and hay bails dotted around. There is a white university of manchester logo in the top left, and a white Digital Solutions Hub logo in the top right. In the centre, the title reads 'Hubdates, a mini blog series'. The title in the bottom left reads 'How will AI be used in the Digital Solutions Hub?'. A green arrow follow the edge of the image from the top left to the bottom right.

Hubdate #1 – How will AI be used in the Digital Solutions Hub?

  • In our first Hubdate, we explore how AI and large language models (LLMs) will allow users to easily search for data using ‘Google’ type searches.
  • The use of these technologies allows users to access valuable data that was previously hard to search for.

Read more about AI and LLMs.

The image is a banner for the article. It has the University of Manchester logo in the top left, and the Digital Solutions Hub logo in the top right. There is text in the top middle that reads 'Hubdates: a mini blog series'. Text that is big and bold at the bottom reads 'How will UPRNs and real-time data be used in the Digital Solutions Hub?'.

Hubdate #2 – How will UPRNs and real-time data be used in the Digital Solutions Hub?

  • Our second Hubdate goes into detail about what unique property reference numbers (UPRNs) are and how they can be used in the Hub.
  • It also discusses what real-time data will be available to access and highlights potential real-world uses for this feature.

Find out more about UPRNs and real-time data.

The background is green trees against a blue sky. In the top left corner is a white The University of Manchester logo. In the top right there is a white Digital Solutions Hub logo. In the top middle there is text that reads 'Hubdates: a mini blog series'. In the bottom left, there is text that reads 'What does 40+ petabytes of environmental data look like?'.

Hubdate #3 – What data will be on the Digital Solutions Hub? How much is 40 petabytes?

  • In our third Hubdate, we put into context how much 40 petabytes of data actually is and remind readers that this is the amount of NERC data that users will be able to access via the Hub.
  • We also list some of the other sources and types of data that will also be available for users to search for, map and analyse on the DSH. 

Explore what data will be available on the DSH.

Refer a Friend

We want to reach as many data-users as possible, so please forward this email to colleagues and friends asking them to sign up here, and they too can have early access to the Hub and hear about future events.

In this newsletter: 

  • The DSP team presented at the Office for National Statistics Northwest Connect Conference.
  • Prof. Dave Topping and Prof. Richard Kingston visited Met Office HQ.
  • Highlights from the Data Treasure Hunt.
  • Time for a spot of festive reading?
  • Hubdates – a mini blog series coming in January 2025.

As always you can find real-time DSH updates on Twitter and LinkedIn.

DSP team attended the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Northwest Connect Conference

  • In November, Professor Richard Kingston and Dr Nourhan Heysham, members of the Digital Solutions Programme team, attended the ONS Conference at Old Trafford, with Richard also chairing the day.
  • Richard demoed the Hub to a room full of civil servants from a range of government departments including the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, DESNZ and DSIT. 
  • There was great interest in the Hub from civil servants and some great connections were made throughout the day.

Find out more

We visited Met Office HQ in Exeter

  • Professor Dave Topping and Professor Richard Kingston visited the Met Office HQ in November.
  • They discussed the ongoing work of the Met Office looking at air pollution, and how this fits in with the applications of the Digital Solutions Hub. 
  • Did you know that Met Office data will also be available on the Hub? DSH users will be able to map climate and weather data, alongside other environmental, economic, social and health data. 

Catch up here.

Data Treasure Hunt at the ESRC Festival of Social Science

  • In October, the DSP team hosted a data treasure hunt to explore the types of data that will be hosted in the Digital Solutions Hub with families from the local community. 
  • The ESRC Festival of Social Science, held at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, extended across October and November to bring the brilliance of academia to the local community. 
  • Learn more about the other events at the Festival of Social Sciences 2024 on their website.

Explore the festival.

Fancy a bit of festive reading? 

  • Do you want a spot of reading for over the festive period? Why not catch up on our recent articles exploring the different functionalities and applications of the Hub?
  • You can choose from learning about floods and heat waves in relation to climate change and social vulnerability in the UK by reading about the Climate Just tool. 
  • Or, spend time reading about how the Hub will facilitate sustainable house building, helping to solve the current housing crisis in the UK. 

Explore our articles.

Coming to your feed in January 2025… 

  • From the New Year, we will be launching our Hubdates series of mini blogs to help you get to know the DSH in it’s launch year. 
  • We will be sharing details about how the hub is using AI and large language models to facilitate easy-searching and findable data sets. 
  • The Hubdates will also feature information about the UPRN service and real-time data that will be available to use on the Hub and how this will facilitate planning and evidence informed decision making.

Follow us on LinkedIn for Hubdates in 2025.

Refer a Friend

We want to reach as many data-users as possible, so please forward this email to colleagues and friends asking them to sign up here, and they too can have early access to the Hub and hear about future events.

In this newsletter: 

  • A new article by Professor Richard Kingston on how the Digital Solutions Hub can support sustainable housing developments in the UK. 
  • The DSH has teamed up with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for Digitober. 
  • Look back at highlights of the NERC Digital Gathering 2024, hosted at The University of Manchester.
  • On 23 October, join the Digital Solutions Programme team for a data treasure hunt for some half-term interactive fun.

As always you can find DSH updates on Twitter and LinkedIn.

New article | Harnessing Digital Solutions for Sustainable Housing Expansion: A GIS-Powered Approach

By Professor Richard Kingston, Director of the DSP

  • Britain’s current housing crisis and the long-term structural challenges of the housing market are set to be addressed by the government’s 1.5 million new homes target.
  • Policymakers must ensure that these new developments balance multiple factors – land suitability and environmental considerations, infrastructure and connectivity, and decarbonisation and climate adaptation.
  • The Digital Solutions Hub, a free online mapping toolkit launching in 2025, allows easy-to-access environmental, social, economic and health data to inform policymakers’ decisions, to ensure new houses provide long-term multi-faceted benefits.

Read the article.

The DSH joined Greater Manchester Combined Authority for Digitober

  • Every October, Digitober takes over social media and this year we got involved with Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s campaign.
  • In an interview, Professor Richard Kingston (Director of the DSP) discussed why Digitober is important, how the DSH is doing digital differently and teased aspects of the DSH ahead of next year’s launch.
  • We are delighted to be showcased as part of Greater Manchester’s digital pioneers, working to make NERC’s 40 petabytes of environmental data accessible, useable and able to produce real sustainable impact.

Catch up here.

The University of Manchester hosted the NERC Digital Gathering 2024 

  • Last month, The University of Manchester hosted NERC’s annual Digital Gathering. 
  • The Digital Gathering brings together the NERC research community to highlight the increasing role of digital technologies in environmental research and to spotlight outcomes from NERC funded research, and the on-going work of the EDS and NERC’s Data Centres.
  • This year’s conference featured keynotes from ESRI, Microsoft and NVIDIA, alongside a range of other presentations including a demo session on the DSH use-cases: ‘climate ready nation’ and ‘healthy nation’. Take a look at all of this year’s speakers and topics in the full programme. 

Look back at #DG24 highlights.

Event | Join the Digital Solutions Programme Team for an interactive data treasure hunt

  • The Digital Solutions Programme team will be at Salford Museum and Art Gallery on 23 October for the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences. Join them for a family-friendly, interactive data treasure hunt.
  • Each team (family/group) will follow a treasure hunt map that takes them through a journey to find the answer to a question we ask in our daily life, using data.
  • This activity is open to all, particularly families and young-people for a fun half-term activity. Don’t forget to register using the link below. Also, take a look at other events as part of the Festival, taking place until the 9 November. 

Register now. 

Refer a Friend

We want to reach as many data-users as possible, so please forward this email to colleagues and friends asking them to sign up here, and they too can have early access to the Hub and hear about future events.

In this newsletter:

  • A new article on Climate Just by Professor Sarah Lindley, Co-Investigator on the NERC DSP.
  • Register for NERC’s Digital Gathering 2024, taking place at The University of Manchester on 11-12th September.
  • Latest on the Digital Solutions Programme shared at ESRI 2024 User Conference in San Diego.
  • Dr Nourhan Heysham presented at AESOP 2024 about the Digital Solutions Hub.
  • Professor Richard Kingston comments on house building aspirations set out in the King’s Speech.

As always you can find DSH updates on Twitter and LinkedIn.

New article | Climate Just: Supporting equitable responses to climate change through social vulnerability maps

By Professor Sarah Lindley, Co-Investigator of the DSP

  • The updated Climate Just tool and wider resources enable policymakers to investigate geographical distributions of social vulnerability indicators (i.e. age, ill health) alongside maps for flooding or hot weather.
  • Policymakers can combine information from Climate Just with in-house data and local community insight, catalysing limited resource to develop more effective, targeted and equitable adaptation measures, as evidenced in this publication by the Resilient Cities Network. 
  • An updated version of Climate Just is available here. Climate Just will also be available on the Digital Solutions Hub.

Read the article.

Event | NERC’s Digital Gathering 2024

  • The NERC Digital Gathering 2024 will take place at The University of Manchester on 11-12th September.
  • The event will bring together the NERC research community to highlight the increasing role of digital technologies in environmental research, including the Digital Solutions Hub.
  • Abstract, posters and workshop idea submissions are open until Friday 16th August || Event registrations are open until Friday 23rd August.

Register and submit abstracts (now closed).