GIScience GIScience and Remote Piloting Systems for Integrated Territorial and Natural Resource Management

The course units of the Second-level Short Specialisation Degree in GIScience and Remote Piloting Systems for Integrated Territorial and Natural Resource Management are organized in 7 specializations (1 in-person and 6 remote), and combine synchronous remote and in-person video-lessons, through a situational learning approach, alternating the lessons with practical examples and trials, visits and on-field activities.
Starting from the basics, the course provides specific competencies in GIScience, cartography, mobile-GIS, reference systems, GIS software and geographic data formats, territorial interpretation, technical/professional instruments, geodatabases and related IT languages, satellite and drone remote sensing, WebGIS, remote piloting systems, participatory GIS and geo-computer science.
The first part of the Master provides common knowledge required for a complete geographic background and for specific competencies. The course starts with human and physical geography and with cartography, and then ranges in the fields of territorial understanding. It expands on GIScience in the strict sense, followed by specialization-related topics, which provide specific competencies for the different professional profiles.

The Second-level Short Specialisation Degree in GIScience and Remote Piloting Systems for Integrated Territorial and Natural Resource Management is addressed to recent graduates, public and private officers and technicians, freelancers interested in acquiring an advanced education and scientific specialization, more and more requested by public institutions, private and non-profit organizations, which have to deal with the increased availability of geographic data and the rapid development of new geographic data management technologies (drones, WebGIS, mobile-GIS).

The Master forms the following GIScience professional profiles:

• Geographic Information Manager;
• Geographic Information Officer;
• Geographic Knowledge Enabler
• Geographic Information Specialist;
• GeoData Analyst.

The Second-level Short Specialisation Degree in GIScience and Remote Piloting Systems for Integrated Territorial and Natural Resource Management is divided into two main sections: 

• Common subjects: during the first part of the course (November-February), attendees will build the place/people/pixel background required to develop the necessary competencies. Through a reasoned journey that sets off from the general characteristics of the Earth’s surface, up to the specific modules in the GIScience field.
• Specialization subjects: the second part (March-July) will be dedicated to specialist topics, with the option of choosing between 7 specializations:
• Geo-information production and management (in-person): it forms professional figures expert in assessing and managing the existing territorial information and in planning the necessary actions to acquire new data, by defining the best technologies (and focusing on the role of remote piloting systems in particular), based on the organizational needs and the intervention.
• GIScience to manage environmental conflicts and participation in public decisions (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in managing inclusive decision-making processes and localized environmental conflicts, within a framework of a sustainable territorial population, as set forth by the Aarhus Convention and the related European and national environmental policies.
• Cartography and GIS for green infrastructures (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in designing green (and blue) infrastructures, within a framework of integrated European biodiversity conservation and climate change fighting policies.
• Geo-information and new technologies for sustainable agriculture (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in dealing with geo-information and the related technologies, to improve environmental farming performance and the diffusion of sustainable farming practices.
• Geo-technologies and geo-information in territorial planning (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in the use of new geographic information technologies and in managing and governing the territory.
• Design and management of territorial data infrastructures and GIS development to protect and manage the territory (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in designing and managing territorial data infrastructures, webgis, GIS development.
• GIScience and Geo-computer science (remote): it trains versatile professional figures, expert in geo-information and geo-computer science. It prepares GIScience professionals, with solid knowledge in Python programming, management and development of territory-related projects, spatial data management, and WebGIS system production.

The Master involves 5 different departments of the University of Padua:

• Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering – ICEA (coordinating department)
• Geosciences Department
• Historical, Geographical and Antiquity Sciences – DISSGEA
• Agronomy, Animals, Food, Natural Resources and Environment Department – DAFNAE

Territory and Agro-Forestry Systems Department – TESAF

The Master is especially active in contacts with institutions and companies, to define stage agreements. As of today, the Master has over 50 partnerships with institutions and companies working in the GIScience field. Furthermore, attendees can suggest stage partnerships with players they have already work with or will work in the future; the Master’s administrative office will assess the consistency and relevance of the activities, together with the attendee.
Every year, the GIScience Master’s Team expands its agreement and partnership base with new organizations and companies.
Attendees can develop their project works with one of the professors belonging to the five Master’s departments: DICEA, Geosciences, DISSGEA, DAFNAE, TESAF.
The Master will include practice and on-site labs, with use of Remote Piloting Systems.

If more than 20 students are enrolled,  2 prizes of €1,000.00 each will be awarded. Prizes will be awarded based on two criteria:
– attendance;
– evaluation of the final dissertation.

Other forms of facilitation: attendees will be provided with an ArcGIS license – student edition – for one year, with open access webgis platforms and with the open access platform to manage the drone results’ photogrammetry.

The Second-level Short Specialisation Degree in GIScience and Remotely Piloted Systems for Integrated Land and Natural Resources Management is organising 2 online Open Days.

The Open Days will be held through the ZOOM platform, on the following dates
– Thursday 20 July 2023 (from 5.30 p.m.)
– Thursday 14 September 2023 (from 5.30 p.m.).

These appointments are opportunities to meet and exchange information for anyone who would like to receive more details or would like to ask questions or clarify doubts. During the Open Days, there will be the opportunity to talk with the Director of the Master’s Degree Course, Prof. Massimo De Marchi, with the Vice-Director of the Master’s Degree Course and Head of Internships and Project Work, Prof. Salvatore Pappalardo, and with some of the lecturers of the Organising Committee.

To participate, it is necessary to register via the online form.

The GIScience and Remote Piloting System Master’s Team is especially active on the territory. Every year, it holds scientific and socio-cultural diffusion events, on GIScience and Remote Piloting System topics, with the purpose of spreading a culture of an open, shared and accessible culture of geographic information.
Our events are always free and include specific recurring moments: Estate GIS (June-September), Festival Drone for good (September); Notte della ricerca (September); Geo November (November); GIS Day (November); Notte della geografia (April).

The general ranking of merit for the academic year 2023/24 will be published on the Italian page of this Master according to the timing provided in the Call.