Module Summary

The latest version of EuroGIS module was developed by UNIGIS at the University of Salzburg.

In this module a closer look at the European dimension of GIS is taken. The module aims to provide a broad overview of this specific topic and views the European GIS developments from different perspectives. Progressing through this module, a student learns about numerous highly interesting movements and projects and informative module material.

On completion of the module a student is expected to gain an in-depth understanding of the following aspects:

• There is a need for international information at various scales, which needs to be tackled. - And, who needs such transboundary data?
  
• What kind of challenges are associated with crossing borders in European data?
  
• The role and mechanism of INSPIRE and other important policy issues in the context of establishing Spatial Data Infrastructure on various levels.
  
• What kind of European datasets are available and what EU initiatives are in place to create necessary information, like GMES and Galileo.
  
• What problems are associated with locating and combining data in Europe, in terms of data catalogues and Portals, spatial reference systems, as well as metadata and standards.
  
• What technological developments are happening in Europe and the impact they have on the European GIS community.
  
• What is necessary to set up a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) in Europe?
  
• What problems and issues are faced in setting up a European SDI What has been done in order to build a European SDI

Module Syllabus

• Lesson 1: Intro: The European Dimension of GI
  A brief overview about the intentions of the EUROGIS module and what shall be treated when we talk about GI in Europe.
  
• Lesson 2: INSPIRE in a nutshell
  With the INSPIRE directive the development of European GI and of the national data policies are massively influenced. An insight into the directive and its impact is provided.
  
• Lesson 3: Organizations and Institutions
  European GI requires players acting with the data and their economic and political environments. Some of the key institutions and organisations are presented in this lesson.
  
• Lesson 4: Crossing Borders
  Many problems of our world do not care for national borders. The lesson gives examples of trans-border problems and how they are tackled in GIS.
  
• Lesson 5: Spatial Reference Systems
  European map products require exactly defined reference systems. A ‘big picture’ of European standards with respect to spatial reference systems is provided.
  
• Lesson 6: Remote Sensing
  Remote sensing has become an important source for geo data. The European viewpoints and related activities in the satellite remote sensing sector are helpful in understanding the need for
  ‘Single Information Spaces ’ in Europe.
  
• Lesson 7: The European satellite navigation system - Galileo
  The European satellite navigation system Galileo is a key element in the European space and GI development. The system and its capabilities as well as potential applications are described.
  
• Lesson 8: European Datasets
  What is European GI without European data? Some examples of important European datasets are presented, highlighting the current status and the way forward.
  
• Lesson 9: Searching through European data
  Data are useless if hidden somewhere, therefore search engines are of utmost importance. Here an overview of existing tools to search European data is given.
  
• Lesson 10: INSPIRE and SDI
  Supplementing the general description of INSPIRE in a previous lesson the relation to Spatial Data Infrastructures is treated.
  
• Lesson 11: Regional SDIs in Europe
  Below the European level there have been a few regional SDI developed, giving an idea of what can be expected from an upcoming European SDI.
  
• Lesson 12: European content projects
  In order to answer the need for European data, content projects have been established as starting points - some of them are presented in this lesson.
  
• Lesson 13: Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
  Main concepts of and activities within GMES, a key project with respect to geoinformation on the European level, are described together with the current status and developments.
  
• Lesson 14: Legal Issues and Policies
  The European integration leads also to challenges with respect to legal and political aspects of GI. Some important issues of these fields are assessed in this lesson.
  
• Lesson 15: Conclusions
  The final lesson provides a short wrap-up of the contents of the module and summarises the main concepts.

 

Module characteristics

• Student credit: 6 ECTS
• Target audience: Students overall conversant in GIS, with already good understanding of concepts and practice.
• Instructional language: English only.
• Development and presentation platform: Collection of relevant literature and connecting text in Blackboard. As a pedagogical help the aims and objective of each section will be stressed. Literature will presented in pdf-format.
• Exercises and assignments