GIS in theory and practice

NOTE: this course was originally planned for 6-10 July 2026, but had to be rescheduled

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.   

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.