Course dates: July 24-28, 2023
Venue: Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: March 6, 2023 [Apply here]
Workshop information
Geospatial technologies and remote sensing offer a crucial location element to the monitoring of SDGs and their corresponding targets and indicators. The “power of where” allows for unbiased observation and analysis across borders, administrative boundaries, and nations. At the same time, geospatial information and technologies are particularly critical to strengthening urban and rural resilience, where economic, agricultural, and various social sectors all intersect. This is particularly reflected through the mission of SDG 11 – to "Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".
However, there is still a gap between the technology world and the world of environmental decision- and policy-makers. Despite the tremendous potential of geospatial technologies, there are still traditional fears among practitioners that prevent their uptake. Furthermore, geospatial technologies are constantly evolving, making it even more difficult for practitioners to get informed and stay updated about the potential application of technologies.
This course aims to address this gap by providing in-service education and professional training for decision-makers and practitioners to assist in making better informed data-driven decisions. On the other hand, it is important to get youth and future leaders engaged in the current practices of evidence-based decision-making and to foster the skills of adaptive learners.
The target group for this course includes academia, both students and faculty, professionals from national agencies and international organizations, and relevant NGO representatives. Within academia, priority will be given to graduate students in public policy and environmental management from the OSUN and CIVICA partner institutions.
This year’s course explores the use of geospatial technologies for building resilience of communities to disasters and climate change, including remote sensing, mobile apps, GPS, and drone use, among others. Theoretical presentations and best-use practices of geospatial technologies will be followed by practical sessions on their application.
The course is organized by Central European University (CEU) and the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The program also builds upon the professional network and expertise of the newly established OSUN’s GeoHub network.
About ISEPEI
The Introduction to Geospatial Technologies for Achieving SDGs – Building Resilience workshop continues the series of joint UN-CEU training events under the ISEPEI Project “Bridging ICTs and the Environment”. The ISEPEI Project aims to address the gap between geospatial industry and practitioners by providing in-service education and professional training for environmental decision-makers and practitioners, who are in a position to greatly benefit from this data revolution to better shape management strategies and to make more informed, data-driven decisions.
The “Bridging ICTs and the Environment” workshop series provides an opportunity for non-specialists to get updated on the latest advances in geospatial technologies and to see how these technologies can be applied in monitoring various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sattelite Imagery, Geographic Information Systems, mobile applications, and other technologies can be applied for achieving and monitoring multiple SDGs targets and indicators. Focusing on various SDGs, the series has been successfully conducted at CEU in cooperation with various UN agencies (UNEP, UNDP, UNOOSA, UNFPA, UNECE, UN FAO, etc.) and global key stakeholders in digital technologies (EU JRC, Airbus, Esri, Google, MAXAR, etc.) since 2014.
For more information about ISEPEI courses http://isepei.org/workshops.
Target group
- environmental and public policy professionals in relevant domains;
- students, faculty and researchers from the OSUN and CIVICA networks
Pre-requisites
- Proven professional and/or academic focus on resilience-related topics (disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, environmental studies, etc.) or geospatial technologies (GIS, remote sensing);
- Intermediate computer user skills.
Language requirements
The language of instruction is English; thus all applicants have to demonstrate a strong command of spoken and written English to be able to participate actively in discussions at seminars and workshops.
Workshop Directors
Viktor Lagutov, ISEPEI Project, Central European University (CEU)
Lorant Czaran, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
Kanat Sultanaliev, Tian Shan Policy Center, American University of Central Asia (AUCA)
Workshop Faculty
Alan Belward, European Commision's Joint Research Center (JRC)
Anupam Anand, Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank Group
Carolina Starr, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Ed Parsons, Google
Guenter Doerffel, Esri Global, Inc
Mariangela Cataldo, European Space Agency (ESA)
Masahiko Nagai, Yamaguchi University
Nelson Ribeiro, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Olaf Neussner, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
Where to apply?
For information on the workshop and application procedures, please visit: https://summeruniversity.ceu.edu/courses/geospatial-technologies-building-resilience
Should you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us at: isepei@ceu.edu
Additional Information
The workshop is co-funded by the Open Society University Network (OSUN).
In cooperation with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). This course is a part of the “Bridging ICTs and Environment” workshop series run by the ISEPEI project.