Students are enabled to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the fiel of natural resource management.

Students treat complex ecological / forestry issues while working on projects using modern spatial data infrastructures, methods and tools of geo-informatics. They collect and process data for decision support systems and apply modern presentation methods.

Students are enabled to apply different spatial working methods and statistical techniques with the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the field of natural resource management. They are able to solve spatial and planning problems in practice-relevant case studies by performing complex geospatial and database management questions and spatial analysis tasks implementing sophisticated GIS tools and methods  in particular environmental management topics. On the basis of an individually selected research question, the relevant geospatial data are collected, managed, analysed and intermediate results are integrated into simple decision support and monitoring systems.

This module introduces the fundamental methods and techniques of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on the basis of open source GIS systems and provides an overview of application opportunities of GIS in forestry. The following subjects will be covered in detail: GIS technologies, digital cartography and maps, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) principles and applications, coordinate reference systems (CRS). Students will learn about selected software products, use typical GIS tools and will carry out a collection, analysis and visualization of geospatial data of particular forest ecosystems or other ecosystems in a joint GIS project.