Fathom - Machine learning in terrain data | ONLINE COURSE

Meet the speakers

• Dr Chris Lucas

Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Fathom

Chris develops and implements machine learning solutions to enhance Fathom’s flood and climate modeling capabilities, bridging the gap between numerical scientific methods and modern AI approaches. Day to day he works with our domain experts to find innovative ways to utilize machine learning to improve our modeling and data.

Chris completed his PhD in high energy physics at the Compound Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at CERN before transitioning into software engineering and machine learning. His career has spanned medical diagnosis using Bayesian inference, vehicle condition assessment with computer vision modeling, patient support systems using large language models – and much more, always focusing on creating real-world impact through machine learning applications.

At Fathom, Chris is making the most of the opportunity to advance scientific progress through machine learning while addressing crucial real-world challenges in flood modelling. Working with world leaders in flood and climate modelling is a huge motivation for him, as it provides an opportunity to share and combine complementary backgrounds and experiences to be greater than the sum of our parts.

• Dr Laurence Hawker

Dr Laurence Hawker is an expert in digital elevation models, hydrodynamic models, remote sensing and flood risk. He received a PhD in geography from the University of Bristol, UK in 2019, before working as a research associate on a wide range of projects at the same institution. He is currently a senior research associate in the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, where he is lead on the FuturePop project. Dr Hawker has been widely cited (>1,300 citations on Google Scholar), with an h-index of 13. His work primarily focused on global flood models and on creating and evaluating digital elevation models. Dr Hawker was the co-lead in creating FABDEM, a global terrain map generated by removing surface artifacts from the Copernicus digital elevation model. He was also a key contributor to FathomDEM. Dr Hawker is an active member of key DEM-focused initiatives, including the Digital Elevation Model Intercomparison eXperiment (DEMIX), and is currently guest authoring a book chapter on DEM preparation for the latest edition of Geomorphometry. His work frequently applies DEMs to flood risk analysis and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) challenges.

• Peter Slater

Account manager - Engineering, Fathom

Peter is part of Fathom’s engineering team. His role involves working closely with engineering and architecture consultancies around the globe to improve their understanding of how flooding interacts with the natural and built environment.

Peter’s particular focus is in the digital space, defining how Fathom’s data can best be integrated into different platforms and digital twins. This is where his experience lies; Peter has worked at a number of large engineering consultancies across the UK marrying his education as a civil and structural engineer with his interest in digital and technology.