CAPÍTULO III: ALTERNATIVA METODOLÓGICA PARA LA SUPERACIÓN PROFESIONAL DE LOS DOCENTES
3.2 Presentación de la alternativa metodológica
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 6 june 2011 end date 24 june 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 3 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yes
Land surface properties related to hydrological processes are important for the quantitative modelling of the water balance over an area. The main processes driving the hydrological cycle are precipitation, runoff, evapotran- spiration and soil storage. Evapotranspiration and surface runoff are strongly influenced by the surface properties of soil and vegetation and by terrain topography so, in order to enable the closing of the water balance, quantita- tive information about soils and vegetation canopies has to be derived. This course is aimed at teaching quantitative retrieval methods applied to earth observation data from the visible to the thermal infrared domain. These methods are based on the use of radiative transfer models that simulate the relationships between surface properties and remote sensing data.
for whom Is the course relevant?
This course is targeted at water/natural resources and environmental engi- neers, biologists, hydrologists and biohydrologists.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of this course, participants will be able to: • understand remote sensing model inversion methods
• derive water cycle components from raw data of remote sensing images • perform time series and uncertainty analysis.
Courses
interdisCiPlinary
Interdisciplinary courses at ITC are short courses that cover more than one domain
large-scale Process modellIng and data assImIlatIon
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 27 june 2011 end date 15 july 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 3 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yesThis course will offer a set of methods and techniques to deal with large-scale process modelling and data assimilation, and subsequently this knowledge will be applied in different application domains.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is relevant for hydrometrologists, water/natural resources and environmental engineers, hydrologists and biohydrologists.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of this course, participants should be able to:
• apply state-of-the-art large-scale process models for a specific application domain
• fuse multisensor data on different levels using different techniques • use satellite data products via data assimilation in a specific application
domain
• use open-source tools to process spatial and temporal data products for food security, carbon cycle−vegetation dynamics, and drought and climate impacts.
learnIng Idl for buIldIng eXPert aPPlIcatIons In envI
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 24 october 2011 end date 3 december 2011 study mode and duration online - 6 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yes
Interactive Data Language (IDL) is a popular programming language among scientists and is widely used in medical imaging and remote sensing. IDL is optimized for fast calculations on multidimensional arrays and has a wide range of processing libraries and visualization tools. Dynamic visualizations and image processing applications with graphical user interfaces can be developed relatively easily within the IDL software development environment. This environment, the IDL Workbench, is based on the open-source Eclipse framework, making it a cross-platform solution.
The image processing package Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI) is written in IDL and adds its image processing functionality to IDL. At the same time, ENVI functionality can be easily customized or extended by adding IDL scripts as a plug-in. The combination of IDL and ENVI makes a powerful image processing tool in remote sensing.
This course gives an introduction to image processing with ENVI, then explains the basics of IDL, and finally, through training on real-life remote sensing problems, demonstrates how to extend ENVI functionality with custom-built user functions.
for whom Is the course relevant?
This course is aimed at PhD students and working professionals who wish to create their own ENVI functionality by applying IDL programming. Partici- pants must have experience with remote sensing and image processing. Familiarity with ENVI and programming experience with IDL or another programming language are recommended but not required.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of this course, participants should be able to: • work with the IDL command line, IDL Workbench and Online Help • write IDL scripts for use with ENVI band math and spectral math • use ENVI library routines to write ENVI plug-ins and batch programs • use ENVI widgets routines to build simple graphical user interfaces • continue programming with IDL-ENVI on their own.
The main objective is not to cover the complete IDL and ENVI knowledge fields but to equip participants to continue learning and creating their own ENVI image processing functionality.
PartIcIPatory gIs: PrIncIPles and aPPlIcatIons
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 6 june 2011 end date 24 june 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 3 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yesParticipatory GIS (PGIS) is an established practice in participatory spatial planning and management. It includes actual spatial information techniques, tools, products and outputs that are appropriate to a participatory approach and are for use by non-professionals. PGIS applies a variety of information acquisition, analysis and synthesis tools, according to their utility for specific local needs.
In the field of PGIS developments, there are some exciting research issues, made more complex and challenging by the inseparability of theory and practice in participatory research topics. This advanced course in PGIS focuses on the following issues:
• investigating the ontologies of spatial knowledge in cognitive maps, especially of local or indigenous spatial knowledge
• handling the complex ethical issues of participation in spatial planning • assessing institutional structures for PGIS in planning
• assessing the applicability of an array of new technologies such as mobile GIS and multimedia
• exploring the new research fields of e-participation and VGI (volunteered geographical information).
for whom Is the course relevant?
This course is relevant for people who have ambitions to incorporate PGIS concepts and practice into their research work or who wish to find out if PGIS can play a role in it.
what wIll be achIeved?
After completing this course, participants can:
• put geo-information issues into the context of participatory spatial plan- ning and management
• understand the concepts and importance of local and indigenous spatial knowledge and VGI
• analyse participatory spatial planning and community-based manage- ment, stakeholder interests (including problem and agenda setting) and (e-)governance
• perform participatory (local-level) spatial data acquisition using participa- tory rural appraisal tools, sketch mapping, participatory image interpreta- tion and digital tools such as GPS and mobile GIS
• describe how the role of PGIS suits both research objectives and participa- tory ethics.
PrIncIPles of geo-InformatIon scIence and earth
observatIon from a system PersPectIve
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 15 start date 25 september 2011 end date 25 november 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 9.5 weeks tuition fee euro 2500 nfP eligible yes
Over the past decade, the fields of earth observation and geo-information science have gradually moved away from the traditional mapping or “inven- tory” type of science to focus increasingly on understanding the processes that shape our environment, predicting their future effects, and providing improved information to support planning and policy making. A process- oriented approach to solving problems requires not only a sound basis of factual spatial data that can be used by scientists and/or decision makers but also a strong background in the field of application. Combined with expert knowledge, earth observation and geo-information science are essential tools to support decision making and the management of System Earth.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is especially relevant for professionals (scientists and practitio- ners) with an academic background who deal with geospatial data but who have only a limited knowledge of the principles of GIS and earth observation in their application field.
what wIll be achIeved?
Participants will be able to generate information from earth observation and GIS data to support the study and visualization of processes in System Earth and the related role of human beings. In addition to a providing a strong theoretical basis, the course will also develop practical skills in the capture and analysis of spatial data and the visualization of the resulting information.
ProgrammIng skIlls
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 3 october 2011 end date 25 november 2011 study mode and duration online - 8 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible noThe main objective of this course is to provide a working knowledge (under- standing and skills) of programming in Python. Python is a general-purpose open-source computer programming language used by thousands of develo- pers around the world in areas as diverse as spatial modelling, internet scripting, user interfaces, product customization, etc. With its no-frills syntax and insightful command structure, the language is generally regarded as probably the easiest general programming language to learn. It is also recognized as an extremely powerful language, with more and more industri- al-quality extension modules becoming available. Finally, it is one of the most suitable languages to use in hybrid contexts of databases, GIS, image proces- sing and web applications.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is relevant for anyone who wants to know how to program. The course demonstrates how to utilize programming in the geospatial domain and is therefore targeted at professionals from “geo” domains, such as GIS, remote sensing and geosciences.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion, participants should be able to: • decompose and structure a problem
• formulate algorithms that solve a given (sample) problem • implement these algorithms using Python.
scenarIo develoPment, sPatIal PlannIng suPPort systems
and collaboratIve decIsIon suPPort
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 10 start date 6 june 2011 end date 15 july 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 6 weeks tuition fee euro 1500 nfP eligible yes
The first part of this course addresses spatial scenario development through spatial planning support systems. Planning is the innovative part of the decision-making process, as it aims at initiating, developing and analysing the possible courses of action. Development of policies, plans, projects or interventions are among the very important decisions in resource manage- ment. Planning should consider a variety of complex social, ecological, economic and cultural processes, and this requires proper tools, methods and procedures that integrate major processes in a planning support system. The second part addresses collaborative analysis and decision making regarding scenarios. For improved decision making, the required information, tools, techniques, models and procedures have to be integrated in a user- friendly information processing system – a spatial decision support system. Such systems are linked to the new research and development in information technology, decision science and disciplinary fields, facilitating the modelling and integration of complex natural and socio-economic processes. In con- trast to other geo-information systems, spatial decision support systems provide insight into judgments of tradeoffs between various decision options, which vary between actors. More importantly, they assist in aggregating data and turning them into relevant information for the decision-making proces- ses.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is designed for professionals involved and interested in the application of GIS, remote sensing and decision science in collaborative planning, decision making and the management of scarce resources.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of parts 1 and 2, participants should be able to:
• explain the principles of planning and decision-making processes and the role of planning and (collaborative) decision support systems
• describe policy formulation, scenario development and analysis, and the collaborative choice process
• state the role of disciplinary models in the planning process
• use, assess and interpret multicriteria evaluation techniques in time and space to evaluate the impact of various scenarios from single and multiple stakeholder perspectives
• explain ways of handling uncertainty in planning and decision making.
Graduation ceremony in the auditorium of the ITC building
sPatIal change and sPatIal InteractIon modellIng
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 27 june 2011 end date 15 july 2011 study mode and duration full-time at itC - 3 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yesThis course covers important modelling foundations of urban and regional dynamics and their relation to GIS and remote sensing, in particular for spatial change and spatial interaction analysis.
Changes in locations and patterns of human activity in cities and their hinter- land can be characterized by sets of variables that determine the direction, extent and nature of these changes. Such change processes are highly complex because they are the result of the aggregate outcomes of a large number of individuals and organizations interacting with one another and with their environment. In peri-urban areas, urbanization results in both direct and indirect changes in the use of land. Understanding such processes is essential to achieving sustainable development.
Spatial growth (or spatial change) models can be used to better analyse, predict and simulate the likely functional patterns of urban and regional development. Spatial interaction models analyse flows of people and goods between locations, based on the size of (potential) economic activity. Such models are of relevance to the study of optimal service locations and people’s accessibility to economic opportunities, as well as the simulation and forecast of network flows, and can also be used to optimize and manage network throughput.
In this course, participants will learn about spatial interaction theory and models, spatial growth/change models, such as cellular automata and agent-based models, and the use of detection algorithms for multitemporal remote sensing images to model development, change and expansion in rapidly changing peri-urban regions. Network geography and space syntax are also discussed.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is designed for (urban) planners, geographers, transport planners and engineers.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• explain the theoretic and modelling foundations of urban and regional spatial growth analysis and spatial interaction
• describe the strengths and limitations of remote sensing and GIS in modelling spatial change and interaction
• describe the functional requirements for a set of advanced modelling tools for spatial growth, change and interaction modelling and analysis
• apply models for spatial growth, change and interaction, as well as space syntax.
sPatIal decIsIon suPPort systems
CertifiCation Certificate euroPean Credits 5 start date 17 october 2011 end date 9 december 2011 study mode and duration online - 8 weeks tuition fee euro 1000 nfP eligible yes
Increasingly, the generation of relevant information is the problem since (according to American political scientist, economist and psychologist Herbert Simon) a wealth of information creates poverty of attention. This course introduces participants to techniques for selecting and proces- sing data to generate meaningful and timely information to support the better management of resources. To improve decision making, the required infor- mation, tools, techniques, models and decision-making procedures can be integrated in a user-friendly information processing system called a spatial decision support system (SDSS). In contrast to other geo-information sy- stems, an SDSS provides insight into assessments of tradeoffs between the various options open to decision makers.
for whom Is the course relevant?
The course is intended for organizations, individual practitioners and spatial analysts with a professional or academic background who support spatial planning and decision-making processes. Although it is interesting for decision makers to establish a way of thinking for themselves, the course also goes into some practical detail. This course is also attractive to PhD students and researchers who want to work with SDSS.
what wIll be achIeved?
On completion of this course, participants should be able to:
• explain the principles of decision-making processes and decision support systems (e.g. phases and their required types of information)
• discuss the linkages between GIS and decision support systems
• integrate non-spatial and spatial multicriteria decision analysis techniques to combine various layers of information “criteria” of different quality, format and type to support the planning and decision-making process • classify and compare different multicriteria evaluation techniques • use spatial multicriteria evaluation techniques in proposing an appropriate
solution to a spatial problem
• assess and interpret the results of the (spatial) multicriteria evaluation process.