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DESCRIPTOR: This course will explore the potential of GIS
in landscape studies and planning by mapping (and assessing) different
ecosystem services (regulating/supporting, provisioning and cultural as defined
in the Millenium Ecosystem Services report:
https://millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.300.aspx.pdf in the Great
Helsinki Region
The objective of the course will be to maximize the use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) in the identification, mapping (and assessment) of Ecosystem Services. and to explore existing or new methods for the implementation of the proposed works.
INTRODUCTION: How can Ecosystem Services be classified and assessed? Which kind of operation would be needed to identify, map and assess Ecosystem Services? How can these operations be conducted using GIS? How much and how can we integrate “objective” and “subjective” information”? How can computers help us in processing the increasing amount of available data? Can they create new layers of integrated information? Which algorithms should drive the combination and generation of those new layers? How can ecological and landscape studies, computation and map algebra be interconnected?...
In the course MAR-E1046 "Basics of GIS", we will try to answer all those questions by working simultaneously in the basics of GIS, in the principles of map algebra (combination of geographic data and spatial layers) and in their application on the identification, mapping (and assessment) of Ecosystem Services in the Great Helsinki Region. The course will combine an introductory part exploring the conceptual and practical potential of geographic information (part1) with a methodological research on the existing methods for Ecosystem Services mapping and assessment (part2). All the acquired knowledge will be applied in the Great Helsinki Region (part3), where the students will be invited to use or define their own methodology and to maximize the potential use of GIS in the development of their work
General motto in education: There is no better way to learn something than teaching it to another person
Our motto in this course: There is no better way to learn something than teaching it to a computer...