Further Information
Interactive GIS Course in Costa Rica - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

A Geographical Information System (GIS), captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that is linked to a location.

In the strictest sense, the term describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information. In a more generic sense, GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user created searches), analyze spatial information, edit data, maps, and present the results of all these operations. Geographic information science is the science underlying the geographic concepts, applications and systems, taught in degree and GIS Certificate programs at many universities.

Geographic information system technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, asset management, archaeology, environmental impact assessment, urban planning, cartography, criminology, geographic history, marketing, logistics, prospectivity mapping, and other purposes. For example, GIS might allow emergency planners to easily calculate emergency response times in the event of a natural disaster; or to find wetlands that need protection from pollution; or by a company to site a new business location to take advantage of a previously under-served market.

Skills Required

No previous GIS experience is necessary for the 1st part of the course. A previous basic GIS course and working knowledge of GPS systems and ESRI ArcGIS software is required if you intend to take part on the 2nd part of the course only.

About GVI Costa Rica

GVI have been established in Costa Rica since 2005, where we run a wide variety of long-term monitoring and conservation programmes, projects and studies. The work carried out by GVI Costa Rica takes a holistic approach to the conservation of the area, helping to monitor every ecosystem of this incredibly diverse area: forest, canal, coast and sea, as well as conducting community work. Volunteers learn a range of skills and survey techniques from research staff. Work from this programme has recently been presented at the International Sea Turtle Symposium and SCB Annual Conference. JuniperGIS has been developing its GIS course material for many years, with a focus on conservation and natural resource data and projects.