Skip to main content

GIS in theory and practice

Dates 6-10 July 2026
Location Wageningen University Campus
ECTS 1.5

Scope:  Geospatial data have become more and more common across different research domains. Yet many researchers lack the theoretical expertise to effectively manage, analyse, and visualise geospatial data. This 5-day course provides an introduction to the theory of Geo-information Science (GISci) and the practise of Geo-information Systems (GIS) specifically tailored to beginners.

The course follows the geo-information cycle, guiding participants through data acquisition, storage, processing and visualisation. We begin by exploring data models used for geospatial representation of real-world phenomena. Then we cover coordinate reference systems, map projections, and the importance of metadata for ensuring data quality and reusability. Moving into geospatial analysis techniques, the course covers buffering, overlay, and join operations, alongside geostatistics and spatial prediction methods. 

A central component of the course is a group project. Participants will work in teams to apply their learning to their own research data. This hands-on approach ensures that theory is immediately put into practice. For this purpose, we will work with free and open-source software, primarily QGIS. 
 

Day 1

  • Foundations of GIScience

  • Intro to QGIS & Practical Session

  • ISRIC Data Showcase

Day 2

  • Intro to Data Management & Cartography

  • Practical Session Thematic Maps

  • Start Group Work

Day 3

  • Intro to Spatial Operations & Geostatistics

  • Practical Session

  • Group Work 

Day 4

  • GIS Applications

  • Group Work

  • Mapping Fika

Day 5

  • Finalize Group Work

  • Presentations & Discussion

  • Course Wrap Up

Target GroupThe course is aimed at PhD candidates, postdocs, and other Researchers that want to expand their toolsets by adding geospatial analyses
Group SizeMax. 30 participants
Course duration5 days
LecturersTBD
Prior knowledgeTraining in some research discipline. Basic knowledge of statistics.
Location

Wageningen University Campus, specific location to be announced. Please note that you have to bring your own laptop.

Accommodation is not included in the fee of the course, but there are several possibilities in Wageningen. For information on B&B's and hotels in Wageningen please visit proefwageningen.nl. Another option is Short Stay Wageningen. Furthermore Airbnb offers several rooms in the area. Finally, there is also a very active public Facebook group called “Wageningen Student Plaza”, where rooms are often offered for short-term sublets, but where one could also easily post a request for renting a room for a week in Wageningen. Finally, note that besides the restaurants in Wageningen, there are also options to have dinner at Wageningen Campus.

Jennifer Koch (GRS)
Email: jennifer.koch@wur.nl 

M. van Heist (PE&RC)
Email: miriam.vanheist@wur.nl

 

Fees 1
 FEE1
PE&RC / WIMEK / WASS / EPS / VLAG / WIAS PhDs and WU EngD candidates with an approved TSP€ 350,-
PE&RC postdocs and staff € 700,-
All other academic participants€ 740,-
Non academic participants€ 1090,-

1 The course fee includes a reader, coffee/tea, lunches and a course dinner. It does not include accommodation.

* Indicates required field