Geospatial technology such as Remote Sensing provides us with a continuous and constant source of information about the Earth, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a methodology for handling all of this geographic data. The marriage of the two disciplines has allowed us to carry out large scale analyses of the Earth’s surface and, at the same time, provide increasingly detailed knowledge on many planetary variables and improve our understanding of its functioning. These analyses are essential for decision-making on the sustainable management of natural resources, designing networks of protected areas, and addressing the threats of global change.

The course emphasizes the potential of data capture to a GIS from remotely sensed images that may be used as an interdisciplinary approach to spatial decision-making and problem solving. Geographical information systems, or GIS, focuses on improving existing technologies as well as developing new ones in order to collect, analyse, distribute, interpret, transform and visualise data about the surface of the earth and its geography. A good knowledge of informatics is required in order to succeed in programmes in geographical information systems. Specialised computer software is used to display detailed data about the earth’s surface.

The programme provides further education opportunity for GUC master degree holders to pursue a higher level of academic programme. The programme will also open doors of opportunity to postgraduates from other local and foreign universities who wish to pursue quality and affordable postgraduate education at GUC.