In September 2018, UNOSAT delivered successful training course on Geographic Information System (GIS) Capacity Development for Territorial Planning and Monitoring. This face-to-face training was held at UNOSAT premises in Geneva, Switzerland, where trainees were hosted on campus and provided with theory and hands-on activities. The objective of the course was to strengthen the capacity of participants in the use of geospatial information technology to support strategic territorial planning and monitoring at a national level.

The increased availability of commercial satellite data together with the growth of GIS applications for planners and territorial managers is creating a new wave of user requirements, moving away from the previous vision of “guaranteeing access for all to space based resources” and moving closer to “actual use of GIS solutions, satellite data and applications to meet practical needs”. To respond to requests from member states wishing to develop capacities within their country to better benefit from satellite data and build integrated GIS solutions, UNOSAT develops standard and tailor made capacity building initiatives to strengthen central and local governments’ capacities in the use of geospatial technology for strategic territorial planning.

Similarly to other intensive courses developed at UNOSAT, this training included both lectures and practical lab exercises, to provide participants with concepts and GIS methodologies to perform the type of satellite based analysis most suitable for territorial planning and monitoring. With a general focus on GIS applications and satellite derived mapping, the course includes components focusing on collecting information and GIS data from web sources, performing GIS analysis and creating maps and other aspects derived from the concrete experience matured at UNOSAT over 10 years of operational work. Hands-on experience with field data collection tools like GPS, PDA and light unmanned vehicles (drones) are also part of the course.