Our wonderful team are our greatest asset. Not only experts in transport, engineering and placemaking but also committed to delivering better places for people through high-level-service client experiences.
We’re very proud to continue to celebrate the faces behind the fast-growing international consultancy that we are today in our monthly feature ‘PJA People’.
Next up in our series is GIS Manager, Brian Norman, based in our Reading office:
Tell us what you do at PJA
As the GIS Manager at PJA, I am lucky to work with every discipline and office across the organisation. With a vast range of GIS needs and users across PJA, I help to ensure everyone has the appropriate tools, software, training and most importantly suitable data to help inform their project needs. We prepare spatially referenced site forms for data capture which can be as simple as georeferenced images to customised intelligent forms with pre-configured pick lists to ensure the process is as efficient as possible. We support every aspect of planning and development which may include constraints plans, land use, land ownership, transport assessments in support of our Transport, Placemaking and Engineering departments.
What’s your career path so far?
Having started my career as a trainee cartographer, I quickly learned to appreciate the importance of using the media of a map to tell a story. Simple things like colour schemes, symbology, labels and scale can make a big difference in the story you are trying to tell. I worked for global consultancies for over 20 years using GIS to support the Environment Agency with flood risk assessments and National Highways, utilising LiDAR and imagery captured from mobile mapping devices to update the Strategic Road Network. I’m now utilising my knowledge and experience of data management and GIS in support of public transport schemes, cycling improvements, planning developments both in the UK and overseas, all with the ambition of creating better places to live and work.
Over my career, it has been fantastic to witness the increase in value of spatial data and the development of technology and skills to help manage, interpret and understand the uses of spatial information for pretty much every project on the planet. The establishment of the Geospatial Commission in 2018 has been a key driver in the promotion of location data and it is becoming evident that central government investment and the work they are doing is making data more accessible, usable and reliable, helping us to respond to the world’s major challenges.
With digital ways of working developing at a significant pace, as geospatial professionals, we find ourselves in exciting times, moving from traditional, static reports and plans to interactive web maps, incorporating dashboards to provide summary information and storymaps to link narrative directly to the geography. We take pride in developing new solutions and taking our clients on the digital journey so that everyone can benefit from the additional insights that this can bring.
What do you enjoy when you’re not working?
While I’m not working, I spend a lot of time ferrying my daughters to various sports training or cricket matches, keeping on top of our garden and allotment. I do manage to play golf occasionally and love a music concert.
Are you a dog or cat person?
My mornings usually start with one of our 4 Bengal cats jumping on the bed for their breakfast, they all very entertaining and enjoy following us on the school run.
What are you currently reading or listening to?
I’m currently listening to Beatles albums having discovered so many songs I didn’t know existed.
Claim to fame?
My claim to fame is owning two pairs of Bear Grylls hiking boots, I feel fitter just putting them on!
Brian Norman, GIS Manager
Brian is a senior data consultant with over 20 years’ experience in the capture, analysis and integration of spatial data within transport, water and environmental projects having worked for global engineering consultancies.
He has a successful track record as a technical manager with experience in the successful leadership and delivery of national data capture projects for public sector organisations, championing the use of location-based data to support the effective management of assets.
He has developed and led high performing teams, implemented efficient technical workflows and quality assurance procedures to maximise access to GIS systems and data, utilising new technology to analyse and share quality data across teams and organisations, improving collaboration and enabling more effective planning and decision making.
Get in touch with Brian: [email protected]
Find out more about our GIS services here
Read more in our PJA People series here
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