Participants are initiated in satellite and GIS of the “hydro-informatics” science needed to be in the front line of the modern understanding of the complex spatio-temporal synergy between landscape and water
The “World of Water” is a 3D, temporally integrated spatial complexity interacting deeply with societal issues. Despite the spatial domain of water being understood centuries ago, the realization was only possible after developing GIS and remote sensing techniques. Today, petabytes of water-related spatial data are placed online every single day. You may not know, but what you need might be already available and alive even in areas of data scarcity right now.
This course is an eye-opener, giving you access to that information. You learn it in an integrated manner by exposure to both tools using educational techniques developed after 75 years of international education in the subject.
The course has two parts, and water is the common factor. In the first part, the GIS week, participants operate spatial data to produce custom-made outputs serving both as inputs to hydro-models and as tools in decision-making. The second part, the EO week, deals with the access, acquisition and evaluation of the water-related data and products from satellite imagery needed in temporal evolution studies. In this way, participants are exposed to the whole picture of temporal and spatial analysis required in the Water Sector.
For whom is the course relevant
The course is designed for professionals (engineers and researchers) active in the water/environmental sector, especially those involved in the planning and management of water systems and numerical modelling. The course aims at adding a robust spatial dimension to your research and/or project skills.
Career perspectives
This course is essential for any professional in the Water Sector interested in promoting her/himself to the hydro informatics science by combining spatial data management and water-related remote sensing products. The imparted knowledge is foundational to integrate professionals in any interinstitutional endeavor in the water sector and society.
course content and structure
The course focuses on analysing digital spatial data, preparing for numerical modelling, presentation of modelling results and support to the decision-making process in the water sector. The main topics covered in the course include (not limited to) the following:
NOTE: All the examples in the different topics refer to water-related study cases
What will be achieved
You will be given the skills to promote yourself to a new level of professional able to acquire (retrieve), organize, analyze, operate and produce spatial and temporal information for your area of expertise, supporting research, development projects and societal solutions for urban and rural areas.
You will operate tools for converting spatial and temporal data into information (products) of value for decision-making in the Water Sector.
Why this course
Hot issues of today and in the long term are reflected in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) defined by the United Nations. They advocate solutions for poverty, hunger, health, education, equality, sanitation, clean energy, economic growth, innovation, community sustainability, responsible consumption, climate care, justice and nature protection. WATER is central in all of them. Consequently, the water sector is listed among the sciences having the most relevant impact on society.
This course opens the door for those professionals in the water sector who are deeply interested in getting involved in these solutions. It is done by giving the tools and training to access both temporal and spatial information free of charge that is constantly being upgraded by the most relevant Earth Sciences and Cartographic organizations in the world and spatial agencies such as ESA and NASA.
The course is generic for the Water Sector and introduces the enormous potential of data acquisition and management of worldwide and local natural resources related to water.
The course has been assembled and upgraded since 2010 by the two most prestigious international education institutes in the Netherlands for water, GIS and Earth Observation: IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and ITC Faculty Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. Senior staff of both institutes will be lecturing in the course.
The renovated version of the course will be carried out at the new ITC building on the Campus of the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands. The inaugural will be in April 2023. Apart from the knowledge, you will have the opportunity to interact with professionals in a multicultural environment in the only unique Dutch University Campus in the Netherlands.
Hardware and software requirements
VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Students must bring their own laptops. In case of total impossibility of bringing your own laptop, please inform us via the email provided in the application system. We will try to get one for you, but there is no guarantee on this.
- Only the Windows operating system is supported by the IT department.
- Students bringing IOS Mac systems should be able to make the provided software (see above) compatible by themselves as no support will be given.
Admission requirements
Academic level, background and English skills
Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a discipline related to water and/or natural resources. For this course, it is enough a good and fluent listening and understanding command of the English language. This is under the entire responsibility of the applicant and, although advisable, it is not required a proof of a proficiency English test normally required to access international courses.
That will allow the application to proceed. It should preferably be combined with working experience in a relevant field. Basic knowledge of GIS and RS is desirable but not compulsory. Participants must know how to operate Microsoft-related software and file management on a PC.
Visa issues
The procedure of getting the short visit VISA in time is strictly personal. Be aware that this procedure can take several weeks, so it is essential you do this on time. We can only support you with documentation for your VISA request after you have paid or granted the OKP/MSP scholarship. We strongly suggest that you organize the timing in order to get the VISA at least 2 months before the beginning of the Course.
For OKP/MSP holders, the costs of the VISA will be reimbursed by your OKP or MSP fellowship.
Certification
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a Certificate which will include the name of the course.
Along with your Certificate, you will receive a Course Record providing the name and, if applicable, all the subjects studied as part of the course. It states: the course code, subject, beginning and end dates and location.
The certificate will be given to the student during the closing ceremony on the last day of the course. To receive the certificate, the student must be present at least 90% of the time. The Course record the Certificate are the only official documents provided by the UT. No other requests will be attended.