International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation

ITC-is part of the Open Science network. ITC is actively involved in several GEO flagships and initiatives as participants in regional events, as members of the sub-groups or as co-chairs. Our mission is institutional strengthening in and with partners in the Majority World.

Being part of the global GEO network assures the sharing of knowledge and provides opportunities for collaboration and co-creation of tools, training/education materials and innovative technologies. We apply earth observation data and geoinformation science in four profiling themes which are closely aligned with GEO’s priorities: GEO AI, Resource Security, Urban Futures and Disaster Resilience.

ITC supports GEO through a secondment to the GEO secretary on Capacity Development and Impact design. ITC staff members are actively involved in several GEO flagships and initiatives as participants in regional events, as members of the sub-groups or as co-chairs. Our Open Science officer coordinated the development of GEO’s Open Science/ Knowledge Statement. Beginning 2024, our online learning platform GEOVERSITY will be launched and accessible to the GEO community to share online tools, materials and training modules to the broader GEO community. Connection to and collaboration with GEO’s Knowledge Hub is foreseen.

Being part of the global GEO network assures the sharing of knowledge and provides opportunities for collaboration and co-creation of tools, training/education materials and innovative technologies. In the context of ITC’s activities in geospatial technologies, remote sensing, planning & governance four profiling themes have been defined, which are closely aligned with GEO’s priorities. GeoAI Combines innovations in geospatial technologies with the rapid growth of methods in AI and big data, with the aim to responsibly translate complex and contextual data in useful information GeoHealth Understand the drivers behind spatial patterns in health and disease via a dynamic approach, and develop context-specific response strategies Resource security Aims at fair and sustainable use of our natural environment, and security and planning of environmental resources such as food, water, biodiversity, minerals, energy, and land, and their equitable availability for societies Disaster Resilience Integrating hazard assessment and disaster risk management into strategic planning and sustainable development.

ITC actively supports the GEO impact-oriented approach to strengthening the capacities of the GEO community to acquire, share, store, maintain and fully utilize Earth observation data and information in the decision-making process. The GEO Capacity Development Working Group provides support to the different working groups of the GEO Flagships, Initiatives and Regional GEO’s to develop strategies and operational guidelines to support the CD activities. Seminar series on best Capacity Development practices enhances the capacities of the GEO community to achieve sustainable impact. ITC currently supports Geo by developing a strategy to enhance the societal impact of the regional GEO’s, national networks, cluster activities, knowledge packages and GWP flagships and initiatives.

Our mission is capacity development, where we apply, share and facilitate the effective use of geo-information and earth observation knowledge and tools for tackling global wicked problems. Our purpose is to enable our many partners around the world to track and trace the impact – and the shifting causes and frontiers – of today’s global challenges. We are here to identify and understand vulnerability, and to use geospatial solutions for converting it into resilience, thereby contributing to the establishment of sustainable living environments anchored in an inclusive society. We realize this in close collaboration with the GEO community. As of 2018, ITC supports a secondment to the GEO secretary on Capacity Development and Impact design. ITC staff members are actively involved in this GEO network and provide support to several GEO flagships and initiatives as participant in regional events, as members of the sub-groups or as co-chair. Our Open Science officer coordinated the development of GEO’s Open Science/ Knowledge Statement.

Our vision is of a world in which researchers, educators and students collaborate across disciplinary and geographic divides with governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutes, businesses and local populations to surmount today’s complex global challenges and to contribute to sustainable, fair, digital societies. As such we are shaping individuals (fostering ownership and talent), connections (outside in & inside out), and society (a quest full of challenges). Being part of the global GEO network assures access to worldwide knowledge and provides opportunities for collaboration and co-creation of tools, training/education materials and innovative technologies. In the context of ITC’s activities in geospatial technologies, remote sensing, planning & governance four profiling themes have been defined. GeoAI Combines innovations in geospatial technologies with the rapid growth of methods in AI and big data, with the aim to responsibly translate complex and contextual data in useful information GeoHealth Understand the drivers behind spatial patterns in health and disease via a dynamic approach, and develop context-specific response strategies Resource security Aims at fair and sustainable use of our natural environment, and security and planning of environmental resources such as food, water, biodiversity, minerals, energy, and land, and their equitable availability for societies Disaster Resilience Integrating hazard assessment and disaster risk management into strategic planning and sustainable development

ITC actively supports the GEO impact-oriented approach on strengthening the capacities of the GEO community to acquire, share, store, maintain and fully utilize Earth observation data and information in the decision-making process. The GEO Capacity Development Working Group provides support to the different working groups of the GEO Flagships, Initiatives and Regional GEO’s to develop strategies and operational guidelines to support the CD activities. Seminar series on best Capacity Development practices enhances the capacities of the GEO community to achieve sustainable impact. ITC currently supports Geo by developing a strategy to enhance the societal impact of the regional GEO’s, national networks, cluster activities, knowledge packages and GWP flagships and initiatives.