The Highly Celebrated Master of GIS Course Confirms UNOSAT’s Successful Training Methodology

30 April 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – The fifth edition of the UNOSAT master training on “Geo-Information in Disaster Situations” was successfully delivered by UNOSAT experts during an intensive 3 weeks period (13 to 30 April, 2015) at the Intentional Environment House in Geneva, Switzerland. The course was delivered as part of the Master in Disaster Management of the University of Copenhagen and attracted 18 disaster management professionals drawn from various international governmental and/or nongovernmental humanitarian organizations. All students passed the final evaluation.

The course was designed to enable participants to work with basic GIS tools and methodologies in preparation of disaster related maps in support of emergency response operations. Participants were also provided an opportunity to learn directly from operational experts at UN OCHA on the value of satellite technology and GIS solutions applied to the decision making process of disaster management and emergency response. Throughout the course participants received privileged insights from UNOSAT experts on the analysis process of real-case emergency mapping.

The 18 course participants in attendance brought with them diverse professional perspectives adding great value to the whole learning process. The course was highly rated in terms of applicability and relevance to professional disaster management and the feedback received by the participants was very positive: “I am very impressed that at the end of this course I am able to grasp the full skill set of how to use a GIS tool for map production”, said a course participant.

By the end of the training, the participants undertook a final exam featuring a real case scenario where they were able to perform an impact analysis and preliminary damage assessment in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and produce maps in support of the emergency response operation. The exam evaluation was conducted by experienced professionals who provided valuable insight in the final assessment of the participants work. The course gave right to 5 ECTS credits.

Photos: The students during a class exercise and together with UNOSAT training experts Khaled Mashfiq, Mauro Arcorace and Luigi Piemontese who delivered the training.