Geographical Information Systems, Cartography and Remote sensing

GIS brings life to geospatial data. It reveals geographical patterns and detects geographical processes. GIS is the spatial language of geography.

GIS is much more than mapping. It is about organizing, visualizing and analysing geospatial data. GIS is a powerful toolbox and database that allows users to manage, measure, monitor and model spaces and places. It supports decision making in ways that are impossible or too expensive without GIS.

With the development of internet and global navigation satellite systems GIS is “everywhere”. Although the concept itself is unknown to many, most of us have taken advantage of the technology and its applications in daily life. Thanks to GIS you can plan the fastest route from A to B or travel virtually on Google Earth.

Remote sensing data, including the increasingly popular imagery from drones, are invaluable sources of geospatial data in GIS. This allows for both spatial and temporal monitoring of processes, such as urban sprawl or the effects of climate change.

At the Department of Geography we apply GIS and remote sensing across the disciplines of Physical geography, Environment and Landscape Geography, Development Geography and Economic Geography, Regional development and Planning. We offer different courses where students learn GIS, cartography and remote sensing, both in theory and practice:

GEO110: Cartography and thematic maps

• The aim is to give theorethical, empirical and practial knowledge about cartography, including collection and presentation of geographical data and thematic maps

GEO215: Geographical Information Systems: Theory and practice

• This course is and introduction to GIS, remote sensing and spatial analyses.

GEO313: Field and Laboratory Methods in Physical Geography

• One part of this course introduces photogrammetry and aerial photo interpretation.