TSPC News

AUCA hosts Geospatial workshop

May 10, 2024

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On May 6 and 7, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) hosted Pavel Kiparisov, a Ph.D. candidate at the Central European University (CEU), for an enlightening workshop on geospatial sciences. Organized as part of OSUN's GeoHub project, the workshop, titled "Mapping for Policy Change: A Beginner's Guide to ArcGIS”" was well attended by both AUCA and TSI faculty and students.

The first day of the workshop was dedicated to the basics of geographic information systems (GIS). Participants learned important concepts such as differentiating raster and vector data, geoprocessing tools, and integrating Excel datasets with shapefiles for dynamic visualization. Participants also gained valuable insights on finding reliable data for their tasks, complemented by hands-on demonstrations.

In addition to providing participants with technical knowledge, the workshop emphasized the key role of GIS in influencing global action through compelling case studies, enriching the theoretical framework with real-world relevance.

On the second day, participants switched to hands-on learning by completing practical tasks using various ArcGIS tools. By performing tasks such as clipping, merging, cropping and masking, attendees applied the skills they learned to real-world scenarios, strengthening their understanding and competence in geospatial analysis and visualization. Participants received individual assistance with their class tasks.

The workshop was done within the TSPC’s ongoing project GeoHub.  GeoHub is an open platform project aimed at developing the capacity of OSUN (Open Society University Network) members to use the latest geospatial methods and technologies in research and teaching disciplines. The project is implemented in partnership by Tian Shan Policy Center at American University of Central Asia, Central European University and Bard College.

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