Experts acknowledge the importance of geo-spatial information and of the geo-services based on such information as crucial factor able to “facilitate economic activity and generate additional consumer welfare”. In fact, some studies show how the “Geo industry” is growing at a rate of 30% per year globally and that in the following years this figure might be an underestimation. Given the focus on geo-spatial Open Data as an essential component of Public Sector Information (PSI) in Europe, especially in the framework of European environmental strategies, the paper explores the connection between the policy recommendations and the need for new profiles able to provide and implement concrete solutions of technological but also of economic and social relevance. The use of geo-spatial technologies (and ever more increasingly Earth Observation technologies) is creating a so-called “pull-effect” for cross-disciplinary skills of the novel workforce in various sectors linked to the areas of sustainable territorial management (such as Agriculture, Environmental protection, Biodiversity but also Civil Protection, Tourism and Cultural heritage and landscapes). The author builds up upon the consideration that professional education represents an important factor of the “Institutional Capacity” (one of the pillars for accessing “Geospatial Readiness Index” of a country) in order to explore the role and the impact of geo-spatial information and geomatics in different sectors of higher education, with aim to provide an overview of main trends and of some first considerations.
Geo-spatial information and geomatics applications in higher education: an overview of main trends and recent changes
Cuca, Branka
2018-01-01
Abstract
Experts acknowledge the importance of geo-spatial information and of the geo-services based on such information as crucial factor able to “facilitate economic activity and generate additional consumer welfare”. In fact, some studies show how the “Geo industry” is growing at a rate of 30% per year globally and that in the following years this figure might be an underestimation. Given the focus on geo-spatial Open Data as an essential component of Public Sector Information (PSI) in Europe, especially in the framework of European environmental strategies, the paper explores the connection between the policy recommendations and the need for new profiles able to provide and implement concrete solutions of technological but also of economic and social relevance. The use of geo-spatial technologies (and ever more increasingly Earth Observation technologies) is creating a so-called “pull-effect” for cross-disciplinary skills of the novel workforce in various sectors linked to the areas of sustainable territorial management (such as Agriculture, Environmental protection, Biodiversity but also Civil Protection, Tourism and Cultural heritage and landscapes). The author builds up upon the consideration that professional education represents an important factor of the “Institutional Capacity” (one of the pillars for accessing “Geospatial Readiness Index” of a country) in order to explore the role and the impact of geo-spatial information and geomatics in different sectors of higher education, with aim to provide an overview of main trends and of some first considerations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.