Course content

The negative consequences of climate change are by many conceived as something abstract that have consequences for someone else being far away. With Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and other visual methodologies, climate change effects become real and easier to relate to one owns life. The course provides an introduction to GIS and other visual tools and techniques relevant for climate change studies. Course participants will get hands-on experiences on how to apply GIS and other visual methodologies to assess vulnerability to environmental hazards such as flood, landslides and storms as well as an increased understanding on how local communities may strengthen its resilience. Further, the course will demonstrate how GIS may be used to facilitate a transition of the society to renewable energy resources. This will include mapping of solar energy potential, and to identify park locations for on-shore wind mills where the visibility from the general public are minimized.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The participants will understand how reality is represented in a Geographical Information System (GIS) and the problems related to representing non-tangible features in a GIS. Pragmatic participants will nevertheless recognize the power of GIS in assessing exposure and vulnerability to negative climate change effects, and in facilitating a transition of the society to renewable energy resources by visualizations that make possibly futures more concrete.
Skills: The course provides the participants hands-on experience on how to apply GIS to identify elements at risk and to assess exposure and vulnerability to climate change induced hazards (such as flooding). Further, participants will develop skills on how to communicating risk using maps and how to increase local engagement through participatory mapping methodologies.
General competence: The course provides relevant competence for participants who will work with GIS in private companies or public sectors with climate change issues.

Learning methods and activities

14 hours lectures, 16 hours practical work (exercises and project). It is expected that compulsories and examinations must be completed in English. Exceptions must be clarified with the lecturer responsible for the course.
Teaching will only be given if a sufficient number of students register for the course and if the department has sufficient teaching resources. See www.ntnu.no/geografi/studentinformasjon for the most recent information on the courses not offered. Information will be made available no later than 10 January in the spring semester and 10 August in the autumn semester.

Compulsory assignments

• Introduction to assignment

Recommended previous knowledge

GEOG2007 Effects of Climate Change, GEOG2009 Vector Based GIS or equivalent.

Required previous knowledge

Completed minimum 45 credits.

Credit reductions