(Stein) Runar Bergheim manages research and development at Asplan Viak’s Digital services division. Asplan Viak is one of the leading consultancy houses in Norway. The company has added value to societal development in Norway and abroad since the foundation of its precursor Asplan in 1958.
Mr Bergheim studied landscape management, spatial planning and GIS at Sogn & Fjordane University College and later went on to work for Sogn & Fjordane County Council as a GIS consultant. Here he took an interest in the application of GIS within spatial planning.
In 2001 he co-founded Asplan Viak Internet (AVINET) to bring web map solutions to the Norwegian market and as a vessel for applied research and development within GIS. From 2002 Mr Bergheim was managing director of AVINET before he in 2008 directed his energy towards large scale projects for NORPLAN in the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. In 2020, Asplan Viak Internet was made part of Asplan Viak as the division for Digital services.
During the span of his career, Mr Bergheim has undertaken more than two hundred assignments in twenty countries. His key areas of expertise are design, supervision and management of information technology projects with four professional focal points: planning, land management, cultural heritage and e-learning. His strength is to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical mindsets. Mr Bergheim is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and events. He has also been a guest lecturer in GIS at Sogn & Fjordane University College as well as at the University of Tromsø.
On a Personal Note
Those who know him refer to him only as Runar.
Having grown up by a fjord in Western Norway, Runar feels unwell when he is removed from nature – particularly when far away from mountains.
Runar has a passion for photography that stands in no reasonable relation to his achievements. To this end, he likes to travel the world and has a carbon footprint to match his massive shoe size.
His reading of choice is humour, (science) fiction, history as well as classical and medieval travel accounts. He believes there is an ample supply to be depressed about in the world without seeking out more from reading.
Runar likes listening to classical music, opera, bluegrass, Celtic and 1920s big band music. He plays the tin whistle, the flute, the button accordion and occasionally the piano – though the sound produced strongly suggests he ought to pay close attention to his day job.