Kevin Walsh

Name: Kevin Walsh

Position: PhD candidate

Supervisor/s: Aaron Lim & Larissa Macedo Cruz de Oliveira

Office: Research Office, Ground Floor, Department of Geography

Email Address: kevin.walsh@ucc.ie

Bio

I hold a BSc in Geology from University College Cork (2013) and completed a Masters by Research (2023) for which I was awarded the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship by the Irish Research Council. My project focused on spatial planning for offshore wind farm infrastructure, which ignited an interest in marine sciences and steered me towards a career in marine and coastal research. My current research focuses on mapping coastal exposure to climate hazards around Ireland and developing drone-based methods for coastal monitoring.

Research

Currently, as part of the DETECT project, my research focusses on leveraging digital environmental technology for coastal zone management. The initial objective of the project centred on the development of a Coastal Exposure Index (CEI) for the Irish coastline, identifying areas potentially exposed to impacts from sea-level rise, increased storm activity, and flooding. This was published in Natural Hazards in September 2026.

From this, sites were selected for detailed, repeat surveying using novel multi-spectral drone mapping techniques. As well as assessing seasonal change and responses to storms events, we aim to create 3D models of these, enabling detailed modelling of future climate change impacts.

My previous research project was titled “Optimising Submarine Cables Routes from Offshore Wind Farms”. This study presents a comprehensive approach to optimising submarine power cable routes, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of site selection and ensuring the long-term reliability of offshore energy infrastructure.

I also worked as a Research Assistant within the AMS-FLOW Project, lead by a research team at ATU Sligo. This large-scale research project is evaluating the suitability of the Irish seabed for anchor and mooring systems for floating offshore wind turbines. My role involved the processing of INFOMAR sub-bottom profiles to map sediment thickness and buried seabed features.

Publications

Walsh, K., Holloway, P., Lim, A., 2026. Optimising submarine cable routes from offshore wind farms. J. Ocean Eng. Mar. Energy 12, 971–993. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40722-026-00472-7

Walsh, K., De Oliveira, L.M.C., Keenahan, J., Lim, A., 2026. A coastal exposure index for Ireland: relative hazard exposure and the protective role of coastal habitats. Nat Hazards 122, 627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-026-08361-w