SDMM12008U Geo Information in Disaster Situations

Volume 2024/2025
Education
Content

The course is focused on providing insight into various tools available in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for situation mapping. Focus is given to understand the concept of GIS and its integration in disaster situations. A central part of the course is a case example, which involves collecting information and GIS data from web sources, as well as preparing, analyzing and creating situation maps for a disaster prone city. Hands-on experience with the field data collection tools like GPS and PDA will also be part of the course. The students will work with the case example throughout the course.

Learning Outcome

 

At the end of the course the students must be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the role of geo-information in the response phase of a disaster

 

Skills

  • Collect various disaster related information including GIS
  • Use basic GIS tools to prepare situation maps

 

Competences

  • Do a preliminary damage assessment after a disaster based on the available spatial information
  • Collect GIS information from web and prepare, analyse and produce maps for a disaster situation

Literature list is available in Absalon.

See admission/course registration requirements at www.mdma.ku.dk/​admission-and-application/​
Lectures and exercises using various relevant software - primarily ArcGIS
This course is offered by UNITAR/UNOSAT and the Geography Section, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (UCPH) on the basis of a joint agreement with School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen as part of the programme Master of Disaster Management.
All participants who successfully pass the course/exam will be awarded a UNOSAT/UNITAR course completion certificate.

The course takes place at the Geography Section (Science Campus), University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 16
  • Theory exercises
  • 30
  • Practical exercises
  • 30
  • Exam
  • 32
  • Total
  • 138
Oral
Collective
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

Joint oral feedback is given by a panel after the group presentation.

Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
Written assignment consists of 3-4 map deliverables with detailed legend and elements, in which the students demonstrate their GIS skills for situation mapping on a given case. Each group will submit a 5 page summary report, and will include the individual/group map deliverables.
Further, each group will do an oral presentation to a panel of experts, with reflections around issues regarding the mapping process. Map deliverables and oral presentation are done in a group with a clear stipulation identifying the contributions made by each group member.
Aid
All aids allowed

The use chatbots and/or  similar tools is not allowed in and for exams.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
Exam period

See the MDMa Exam Schedule

Re-exam

The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam. See dates in the MDMa Exam Schedule

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand the role of Geo information in the response phase of a disaster

 

Skills

  • Collect various disaster related information including GIS
  • Use basic GIS tools to prepare situation maps

 

Competences

  • Do a preliminary damage assessment after a disaster based on the available spatial information
  • Collect GIS information from web and prepare, analyse and produce maps for a disaster situation