Training Course: GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES

Aberdeen (UK),  23rd - 28th  July 2007

Convenor: University of Aberdeen
organised in collaboration with GISIG and ICCOPS

		www.abdn.ac.uk/cmczm
	www.gisig.it		www.iccops.it

Set within the environmental context of the North East coastline of Scotland, this 6-day training course will introduce participants to the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related geospatial technologies to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

Drawing upon a combination of local academic, commercial and government expertise as well as local stakeholder knowledge, this training course will focus on the use of the geospatial technologies to undertake a practical GIS-based coastal project.
Based upon the concept of the 'data into information pathway' participants will be exposed to a wide range of topics including: environmental data sources, metadata, field and mobile data collection, databases, data models, spatial data analysis (including buffering, overlay, and conflict mapping), modelling, visualisation, and access to and communication of information using the Internet. More specifically the project will consider 'a real world' problem such as offshore windfarm siting in Aberdeen Bay.

Methods of course delivery will include a combination of: lectures, tutorials, hands-on practical sessions, group work, field visits, and a fieldtrip to examine the coastal landscape of the proposed study area.
Input to the training course will be provided by the University of Aberdeen and a number of local organisations, invited speakers, as well as local knowledge provided by stakeholders designed to provide contextual setting on: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and ICZM, environmental policy and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), environmental indicators, renewable energies, environmental monitoring and mapping, GIS and the related technologies e.g. remote sensing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), benthic monitoring and mapping, aquaculture and fisheries, spatial analysis, and the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and visualisation tools with the aid of a 'state of the art' Virtual Landscape Theatre.
Consideration will also be given to Public Participation GIS, ICZM capacity building in the context of training and education. The training workshop will conclude with a series of project presentations by the training course participants, together with a panel-based discussion session.