Staff Profile

II began my academic journey with a degree in Geodesy from TU Dresden and later pursued a PhD at Newcastle University in 2001, focusing on the use of neural networks for satellite image mapping. I completed my PH in 2005 and following a year as a research assistant, I transitioned to a teaching associate role, where my focus shifted from neural networks to teaching and scholarship in education.

Since 2026, I have served as the Degree Programme Director for the Geospatial undergraduate degree courses, including Geospatial Surveying and Mapping and Geographic Information Science. My teaching emphasizes digital learning, fostering industry relationships, developing digital skills, and enhancing student engagement through immersive experiences such as field courses.

In September 2024, I took on additional roles as Deputy DPD for Civil Engineering and Leader for Student Experience in Civil and Geospatial Engineering.

I am also proud to serve currently as the Co-Chair of FIG (International Federation of Surveyors) Working Group 6.4 on Engineering Surveying Outreach, contributing to the global conversation on geospatial engineering.

My professional interests continue to centre around innovative teaching, practical industry connections, and inspiring the next generation of geospatial and civil engineering professionals.

As the Degree Programme Director for Geospatial Engineering and Deputy Degree Programme Director for Civil Engineering, I am deeply committed to enhancing the learning experience and academic journey of our students. My passion for teaching is reflected in my active involvement in module leadership, curriculum design, and my role as Student Experience Officer for Civil and Geospatial Engineering.

I supervise a range of diverse dissertation topics, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), urban green space identification, heritage BIM, and machine learning for satellite mapping. These projects allow me to mentor students in cutting-edge areas of research, helping them develop critical skills for their future careers.

Beyond the classroom, I actively engage with schools to inspire the next generation of engineers. I regularly organize outreach visits to institutions such as Whitley Bay High School and Kings Priory School, delivering talks on GIS and the exciting career opportunities in engineering.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in fostering curiosity, equipping students with practical skills, and connecting their studies to real-world challenges, ensuring they graduate as confident, industry-ready professionals.

I am currently the module leader for the following Undergraduate Teaching

CEG2711 - Engineering Surveying

CEG2723 - Digital Data Acquisition  

CEG3708 - Spatial Data Engineering and BIM

CEG3718 - BIM and City Modelling

as well as supporting

CEG2726 - 3D Reality Capture

CEG3702 - Advanced Survey fieldcourse

Research and Scholarship work:

My current focus lies in enhancing the teaching and learning experience for students at Newcastle University, particularly in Civil and Geospatial Engineering. This includes analysing and improving students' digital skills to ensure they are industry-ready upon graduation. A key part of my work involves integrating real-world experiences—such as field courses, site visits, and industry placements—into our curriculum, helping students see the relevance of their studies to professional practice.

To strengthen the connection between academia and industry, I have led numerous initiatives, including organizing GENIE (Geospatial Engineering in Newcastle Industry Engagement). This annual event hosts 20–25 companies that engage directly with students, offering placements and graduate opportunities while providing valuable insights into the industry. My work on fostering industry-academic collaboration and the importance of fieldcourses for engineering was presented at the 3 Rivers Conference 2024.

I am also an active member of the SAgE Faculty Steering Group, contributing to the development of a Faculty-Level Professionalism Module designed to prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce. Through these efforts, I am committed to improving the student experience, ensuring our graduates are equipped with both the technical skills and professional competencies needed to thrive in their careers.

• Articles

  • Spatar C, Penna N, Mills H, Kutija V, Cooke M. A robust approach for mapping group marks to individual marks using peer assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 2015, 40(3), 371-389.
  • Bramald T, Mills H, Mills J, Edwards S. Recruitment, retention and progression of Geomatics undergraduates at Newcastle University. Austrian Journal for Surveying and Geoinformation 2009, 97(1).
  • Mills H, Cutler MEJ, Fairbairn D. Artificial neural networks for mapping regional-scale upland vegetation from high spatial resolution imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2006, 27(11), 2177-2195.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Mills H. Use of mobile devices for e-learning in Geomatics. In: ISPRS WG VI/1, WG VI/2 and WG VI/3: ISPRS Workshop of Commission VI 1-3, Advances in Web-Based Education Services. 2015, Berlin, Germany: International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences - ISPRS Archives, v 40, n 6W1, p 5-8, May 27, 2015.
  • Mills H. Mobile Devices for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. In: 14th European Conference on e-Learning ECEL 2015. 2015, Hatfield, UK: ACPI, UK.
  • Mehner H, Fairbairn D, Csaplovics E, Cutler ME. Transferability of Artificial Neural Networks for Mapping Land Cover of Regional Areas With High Spatial Resolution Imagery. In: XXth ISPRS Congress: Geo-Imagery Bridging Continents. 2004, Istanbul, Turkey: ISPRS.
  • Mehner H, Fairbairn D, Cutler M. Issues concerning the transferability of neural networks. In: Annual Conference of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society. 2003, Nottingham, UK: RSPSoc.