Stories

Can an expert geologist deduce where the green sand in Emma's bag came from? (EP. 5)

New episode! In this series, Assistant Professor Arjan Dijkstra tries to guess where sand samples came from just by looking at a graph…

Monitoring urban forests using deep learning

Urban forests can help to mitigate many of the problems that cities are facing. A study investigated how deep neural networks (DNNs) c…

The Research Revolution No One Taught You About

In this video, we'll introduce you to a 'living lab' where scientists and citizens come together to explore big questions around food,…

Drones in Air Quality Mapping: Unlocking New Horizons

A new study examined the role of drones in monitoring air quality. In this story, we'll explain how they work and some of their advant…

Dadrass Javan, F. 5 min

Satellites as Detectives

A recent study proposed a powerful method to detect unorganised, small-scale mining using freely available satellite data and open-sou…

Can an expert geologist deduce where the white sand in Sophie's bag came from? (EP. 4)

New episode! In this series, Assistant Professor Arjan Dijkstra tries to guess where sand samples came from just by looking at a graph…

Dijkstra, A.H. 6:53

13 Map Use Environments and how to make them work for sustainable cartography

In this new instalment of our series based on Mapping for a Sustainable World, we look at different map use environments and considera…

Drones, the Perfect Survival Ally. Ep.4: Signalling for Help

In this new episode of our Drones for Survival series, you'll learn about different techniques for topographic mapping and how they ca…

Nyktas, P. 6:28

Enhancing Forest Management and Economic Assessment with Remote Sensing

In this article, you'll learn about recent developments in active remote sensing and how it can help us assess the different functions…

Schlund, M. 4 min

Can an expert geologist deduce where the black sand in Liam's backpack came from? (EP. 3)

New episode! In this series, Assistant Professor Arjan Dijkstra tries to guess where sand samples came from just by looking at a graph…

Dijkstra, A.H. 5:35

Exploring Well-being in the Netherlands

In this study, a group of ITC master's students explored well-being as a condition influenced by the spaces around us. 

Citizen Science in the Treetops

In a tropical forest, scientists use cameras to track patterns in the canopy. Drawing on citizen scientists to process the data, they …

Wesselink - Schram, K.W. 6 min

12 challenges in protecting displaced people from flood risk

Recent research sought to identify the main challenges in reducing the risk and impact of floodings on displaced people. 

Seven common map types for sustainable cartography

Cartography provides information to help understand trends and monitor progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) …

Can an expert geologist deduce where the red sand in Tom's backpack came from? (EP. 2)

New episode! In this series, Assistant Professor Arjan Dijkstra tries to guess where sand samples came from just by looking at a graph…

Dijkstra, A.H. 7:41

Heat or Eat? What to do when energy poverty strikes?

Researchers take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the kinds of choices people make in the context of energy poverty. 

Drones, the Perfect Survival Ally. Ep.3: Sourcing Different Types of Wood

In this new episode of our drones series, we focus on how drones can help you source different types of wood - an essential resource o…

Nyktas, P. 6:57

5 Considerations for eDNA in Spatial Ecology

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a useful technique in spatial ecology. In this article, we'll explore five considerations researchers shou…

Siegenthaler, A. 5 min

The EquiCity Game: Promoting fair decision-making in urban planning

Learn how researchers built a simulation platform to tackle the complex challenge of multiple stakeholders in urban building projects.…

What does ethics have to do with geodata technology?

The increasing availability and processability of large datasets are transforming the field of research ethics. In the case of geoscie…

How do volcanoes trigger tsunamis?

Volcanic eruptions often have far-reaching consequences, both in their impact and geographical extent. A deeper understanding of the complex processes that cause such events can enable more accurate hazard forecasting while improving preparedness and mitigation strategies.
Complex and dangerous
Volcanic activity can also trigger multiple hazards.
…

Why managing land reform problems works better than trying to solve them

In land administration reform, policymakers tend to pursue definitive solutions to the issues they face. Such solutions rarely work due to the complicated nature of the field. Approaching land reform as a wicked problem may be more effective.
Land administration reforms are an inherently complex affair. Making the transition from traditional syste…

Drones, the Perfect Survival Ally. Ep.2: Building a Shelter

Stranded on a desert island? You've got a lot to handle: finding food, sourcing fresh water, making a shelter, building a fire and signalling for help.
Doesn't sound like a one-person job, does it? You'd be better off with a friend - one that's actively helping.
In this video series, we'll show you how a drone is the ideal survival ally for these …

Neinavaz, E. 6:50

Is this the farm of tomorrow?

At Citizen Farm Herenboeren Usseler Es, farmers are exploring how data can help them adapt to climate change challenges, such as unpredictable weather and longer growing seasons. Researchers from the University of Twente are helping by providing them with more precise data for better-informed farming decisions.
The goal is to enhance local food pr…

UT Stories Editorial Team 5 min

The science of farmers' choices: Lessons on food security from agent-based models & Clarkson's Farm

With climate change and population growth putting immense pressure on food systems, ensuring sustainable food security is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Yet, government regulations designed to reshape farming practices often fail—not because they’re ill-intended, but because they clash with farmers' realities.
If you’ve watched Clarks…

How urban green can keep tropical cities cool

Urban green spaces are considered a nature-based solution to help cities adapt to climate change. A recent study investigates the specifics of this phenomenon in a tropical city to gain a deeper understanding of urban green spaces’ cooling dynamics and support effective greening policies.
Worldwide, there is growing awareness and scientific eviden…

A novel spatiotemporal approach to COVID-19 surveillance

A recent Master’s thesis explored a new way to understand the spread and possible control of COVID-19 better by combining wastewater measurements and other epidemiological indicators.
Past research in wastewater-based epidemiology has shown that collecting and analysing wastewater can improve the surveillance of diseases such as norovirus, poliovi…

Can geologists guess where you've been on holiday from the sand in your backpack? (Ep.1)

Does it fascinate you that sand from different places looks and feels different? The answer lies in its mineral composition and its journey through time.
Assistant Professor Arjan Dijkstra knows all about it. In fact, rumors say he can tell where sand comes from—without ever seeing it. That’s exactly what we’re putting to the test!
To do that, we’…

Dijkstra, A.H. 5:46

GeoVodcast #1: Spatial Inequalities in Deprived Urban Areas

Welcome to the first episode of the Geoversity Video Podcast! In this episode, host Brad Hillas speaks with Professor Monika Kuffer from the Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation at the University of Twente about her work in urban planning, geospatial data, and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor…

Kuffer, M. 34:21

Podcast: Spatial Inequalites in Deprived Urban Areas

Welcome to the second episode of the Geoversity Podcast!
In this episode, host Brad Hillas speaks with Professor Monika Kuffer from the Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation at the University of Twente about her work in urban planning, geospatial data, and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor Kuff…

Kuffer, M. 2 min

Promoting sustainability with efficient land management

Land is an extremely important resource globally. Land administration and management are therefore crucial in meeting many of the requirements of the United Nations 2030 sustainability agenda as outlined in the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
However, in many of the world's countries, land administration tends to be fraught with issues and b…

How remote sensing helps us investigate extreme heat's effect on crop productivity

Agricultural yield is influenced by a multitude of natural factors including temperature, water availability, sunlight, and soil quality.
In view of ongoing global warming, there's an urgent need for knowledge and understanding of the specific impact of heat extremes on crop productivity.
Agriculture all over the world is increasingly challenged b…

How do glaciers behave in a warming climate?

Glacier monitoring in alpine regions is crucial for understanding how glaciers respond to climate change, how they impact water resources and ecosystems, and their role in natural hazards.
A recent study tested a novel monitoring approach using a low-cost camera system.
Traditional glacier monitoring methods like satellite imaging provide broad co…

Climate Change: The uphill battle for species conservation

Join Panagiotis Nyktas, a passionate landscape ecologist, as he discusses the impact of climate change on fragile ecosystems.
Learn about the challenges faced by endemic species in Crete’s mountainous regions that represent larger global trends and the urgent need for holistic models to better understand and predict ecosystem dynamics.
Panagiotis …

Nyktas, P. 5:20

Where is geospatial health now - and where is it going?

In November 2023, the ITC Faculty at the University of Twente hosted the 16th symposium of the global network of public health and earth scientists dedicated to the development of geospatial health (GnosisGIS).
Geospatial health is an interdisciplinary field that integrates geographic information and spatial analysis with health research to study …

Greenland’s unique underground potential for energy transitions and climate insights

Greenland is a widely discussed part of the world today, attracting attention from multiple perspectives. What exactly is it that makes the largest island on our planet (pop. 56,000) so popular?
A large part of Greenland's current prominence can be explained by the role it plays (or could play) in two highly topical areas.
Firstly, the ground cont…

How does geological remote sensing make mineral exploration and mining more effective?

Mineral exploration and mining require precisely defined target areas to avoid unnecessary environmental damage and wasting money and resources. Here, geological remote sensing plays a vital role.
If this topic interests you, the Geoversity beginners' course in Geological Remote Sensing for Mining & Exploration is not to be missed.
So what does ge…

Urban AI and Ways of Knowing

AI is the talk of the hour. With systems like ChatGPT and Midjourney becoming more popular and seemingly sophisticated, we are also increasingly confronted with many ethical questions that those technologies engender.
In May 2024, OpenAI's "Sky" chatbot made headlines for sounding similar to actor Scarlett Johansson’s voice. Sky was taken offline …

Boro, U. 8 min

Fire hazard in informal settlements: should I stay or should I go?

All over the world, more people are moving to urban areas - an ongoing process that drives the need for housing. However, many cities in the Global South lack the capacity to accommodate the influx of newcomers.
As a result, many people end up in informal settlements, often expansions of urban land adjoining wildland. When these urban lands meet w…

A new way to map small-scale irrigation areas

Identifying and mapping irrigation areas is critical for effective water resource management and food security. A recent study propose…

How a geo-information app helps vegetable farmers to optimise inputs and boost productivity

12 decisions when designing maps for the Sustainable Development Goals

How NASA ARSET can get you started with satellite data

Satellite data can be overwhelming, and figuring out which data to use for a specific job can be difficult. It can be even more difficult to download and effectively use the data once you have found it.
This was reason enough for NASA to create a training program called the Applied Remote Sensing Training Program, or ARSET. 
Remote sensing is coll…

How to design better public spaces for everyone

Deteriorated, unsafe, or simply underwhelming public spaces—how can we turn them into vibrant, community-centred areas? Public participation is the key to bridging the gap between the needs of individual residents and the actions of policymakers.
In this video, Sergio Alvarado Vasquez introduces AMACHAN, a cutting-edge digital tool that incorporat…

Alvarado Vazquez, S. 6:55

Obstacles to sustainable urbanisation in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, rapid urbanisation has led to largely unplanned conversion of agricultural land to urban use. It's a process that has res…

Cities are Cloned in the Virtual World to Transform Urban Planning

Digital twin cities paving the way for urban decisions with a lasting impact
There is a way to test and analyse different scenarios before breaking ground. This is possible thanks to digital twins. A digital twin city is a replica of its physical counterpart. Updated from real-time data and using simulation, AI, and pattern recognition, the digita…

UT Stories Editorial Team 4 min

Drones, the Perfect Survival Ally. Ep.1: Sourcing Food

Stranded on a desert island? You've got a lot to handle: finding food, sourcing fresh water, making a shelter, building a fire and signalling for help.
Doesn't sound like a one-person job, does it? You'd be better off with a friend - one that's actively helping.
In this video series, we'll show you how a drone is the ideal survival ally for these …

Ellsäßer, F.J. 6:13

Travelling back in time to understand the present and predict the future of our forests using remote sensing

Forests play a vital role in mitigating global warming and preventing biodiversity loss. They cover a third of the Earth, and about 45% are in the tropical zone. Most of our forests are natural, while only a small proportion of forests come from plantations.
Although the rate of deforestation has decreased in the last decade, the percentage of pla…

Huesca Martinez, M. 7 min

Geospatial data and the Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the year 2030. The SDGs agenda encompasses 17 goals aimed at addressing various global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
At the time, the UN proclaimed that making better use of data was an imp…

Where Dinosaurs lived: how geolocation supports palaeontological research

Dinosaurs are undoubtedly the most famous of all extinct creatures that have lived on our planet – a fame only matched by their popularity.
However, identifying these iconic animals and reconstructing their environment is an intricate puzzle.
First, we do not know how many pieces the fossil set is made of, and second, the pieces are scattered thro…

Da Silva Mano, A. 7 min

What are agent-based models?

Schwarz, N. 6 min

Four popular sources of labelled data for machine learning

In remote sensing, machine learning models are powerful instruments for classifying land cover and land use, identifying vegetation cover, determining soil types, detecting changes in the landscape, and more.
However, these models need to be fed labelled data as training material for optimum performance. This data type allows machine learning mode…

Paris, C. 5 min

Enhancing Agricultural Monitoring with AI and satellite data: A Collaborative Training on Crop Type Mapping

I had the pleasure of being invited to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Bangkok to deliver a Tailor-Made Training (TMT) program: a truly rewarding and enriching training experience.
This training focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques for crop type mapping, leveraging the rich t…

Paris, C. 6 min

Symbols on maps and graphs and why choosing them carefully matters

Lots of presentation, design, and publishing software allows you to quickly draw things like charts and maps. When you create a symbol with that software, say a pin on a map or a line on a data chart, you're typically given some default design, and then the option to change things like thickness and colour. Often people choose things they like, ma…

Raposo, P. 4 min

Digital twins can make mapping easier and more accurate

A digital twin is a digital replica of a particular physical object, environment and/or event. In the field of geoinformation, the con…

Oude Elberink, S.J. 5 min

How geodata-based insurance can help smallholder farmers cope with weather risks

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's highlands face weather-related risks, particularly drought. To help them cope, ITC initiated GIACIS …

Impact and lessons learned from the GIACIS project

In another article, we described the VICI product and what made it unique. Read about it here: How geodata-based insurance can help smallholder farmers cope with weather risks. 
In this article, we'll discuss some of the impact and lessons learned from the project. 
Introduction
GIACIS has been successfully implemented in Ethiopia and there are ef…

How scientists evaluate the accuracy of land cover maps

Earth Observation (EO) Scientists often create maps that classify an image as a certain class.
Some want to map forest cover to understand if deforestation is increasing over time. Others map the location of natural disasters (e.g. floods, landslides) to help decision-makers prioritize where to send aid.
Whatever the end product is, EO scientists …

UAVs for Geophysical Survey

The growing popularity of UAVs and ongoing advancements in UAV-compatible technologies have greatly influenced geophysics. This articl…

Dadrass Javan, F. 5 min

The role of water- and health-related local community knowledge and perceptions in decision-making

The role of water- and health-related local community knowledge and perceptions in decision-making
Health-related knowledge and perceptions are important determinants of health behaviours and behaviour change. What someone knows, thinks or feels will motivate or hinder their intention or hesitancy to implement a certain behaviour, i.e. the applica…

Anthonj, C. 7 min

Ethics and disaster management

Disaster management is a complex construct of sensible precautionary measures, effective action and responsible follow-up. As many dif…

Improving land administration services in Ghana

Land administration and the provision of land services in Ghana are hampered by obstacles such as legal pluralism, data redundancies, and out-of-date information.
Researchers conducted a study to develop a framework for enhanced coordination among land agencies to facilitate cadastral data interoperability and sustainable land management.
Land is …

Keeping things cool with digital twins

Digital twin (DT) technlogy has proven to be powerful in addressing the Urban Heat Island effect and promoting climate-resilient citie…

Koeva, M.N. 7 min

Why schools should have WASH – and teach it too

The COVID-19 pandemic confirmed how crucial access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services is for controlling infec…

How camera traps benefit Javan leopards

All over the world, large carnivores face diminishing prey populations. This is a serious concern, especially in the case of apex pred…

Using UAV Technology to Fight Palm Tree Pests and Diseases

Farming date palm trees is of utmost importance in many arid countries and covers more than 1 million hectares globally, producing 9.5 million metric tons of dates annually.
The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) and Bayoud diseases, along with other pests and pathogens, pose serious threats to the palm tree population, with significant economic impacts and lo…

Alsadik, B. 6 min

Are we running out of raw materials for the energy transition?

Europe faces various choices and challenges in terms of mining and the availability of raw materials. The 2023 European Critical Raw M…

Dijkstra, A.H. 7 min

What is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature?

Pereira Marghidan, C. 5 min

Insights from Food Security Data: The critical role of trade

How do you think your country ranks in terms of food security? And we don't just mean the quantity, as this video will teach you.
We hit the street to present people from around the world with their country’s ranking on the Global Food Security Index and dove into the meaning of these rankings with expert insight from Professor Andy Nelson.
In thi…

What is magic of institutionalising planning support systems?

We don't understand why a particular Planning Support System (PSS) is seemingly successful.
We don't understand because the literature shows that many, if not most, do not institutionalise. Even though many of them are powerful instruments to help people prepare development scenarios, participate in planning processes, or evaluate and account for …

Boerboom, L.G.J. 4 min

Colour composites unraveled

The article "Why do you not see what I see?" raised eyebrows and triggered some discussion. It is, therefore, time for a follow-up and…

Bakx, J.P.G. 6 min

Searching for Rare Earth Elements from space and how minerals made in the lab play a key role

If you are looking for a powerful magnet, you probably leave the hardware store with something called a neodymium magnet.
Neodymium is a chemical element with exceptional magnetic properties. It belongs to a group of elements collectively known as the rare earth elements, so your magnet may also be called a rare earth magnet.
If you are a manufact…

Dijkstra, A.H. 5 min

FELA and the art of sustainable land administration

What is the social and mental health impact of flooding on older adults?

What is the social and mental health impact of flooding on older adults?
Humans are living longer and longer. In 2020, the number of people aged 60 and above exceeded the number of children under five. The large number of older adults will bring new challenges to the health system.
Our climate is changing, making the frequency and intensity of ext…

Song, C. 4 min

Beyond "I make maps": how to make your research understood (and why you should!)

If you're in Geosciences and have ever tried explaining your research to a non-technical audience, you've probably defaulted to saying, "I make maps." But there are many reasons to move beyond this simplified explanation.
Whether you're aiming to publish academic papers or make a practical impact in a world full of challenges, it's essential that …

What is geospatial auditing of public funds?

Location data is crucial for assessing whether taxpayers’ money improves the lives of citizens. In this article, we’ll explain why and…

Between climate planning and implementation: Closing the gap with a new database

Mitigating emissions and adapting to climate change is challenging. There's often a gap between what science recommends and what gets implemented in our regions and cities.
Our new Integrated database on adaptation and mitigation measures in Europe aims to help close this gap. It provides a collection of practical measures and tools to help make c…

Martínez Görbig, G. 5 min

Mapping Rainforest Water Use: A UAV-Based Approach to Evapotranspiration

Tropical rainforests play a key role in regulating the Earth's climate, and a big part of this is through evapotranspiration (ET), which is how water moves from the ground through plants and back into the air.
Measuring ET can be challenging because most methods - such as eddy covariance or sap flux - are expensive or require a lot of work. These …

García, H. 4 min

What green do you need? How residents of less well-off urban areas see their environment

Schwarz, N. 6 min

Misled by maps: How data visualisation shapes our stories

Do you think visuals don't lie? Think again! In today's visually driven world, maps, charts, and graphs dictate how we interpret stories—often without us realizing it.
Data visualization expert Barend Köbben is here to break it all down. We hit the streets to see how people interpret visuals, and Barend explains why you might be getting tricked by…

Köbben, B.J. 9:52

Predicting floods in real time

Fastflood.org is a real-time simulation platform that achieves about 97% accuracy in predicting floods while being about 1,500 times as fast. It provides an instant flood forecast for the selected area.
Highly accessible 
During the development phase, the researchers noticed that many people were very impressed. However, usability was an issue, as…

How deep learning and remote sensing can combine to promote 3D city modelling for digital twins

Urban research is very interested in automatically reconstructing the structure and the roofs of buildings. Understanding these struct…

Making maptables more usable for collaborative planning

In collaborative spatial planning, maptables are increasingly popular. However, software applications specifically designed for maptab…

Water and health insecurity among urban homeless communities

We often associate unsafe access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) with the Global South. However, in the Global North there are…

Anthonj, C. 7 min

Open spaces and why mapping them is crucial

Wherever people live and work near each other, it's important to have open spaces. Therefore we need to be sure that the share of open…

Water, health and decisions: the impact of extreme weather

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 states that every person on earth should have access to water and sanitation, whereas SDG #3 stipulates good health and well-being for all at all ages. Both goals are clearly interrelated, as positive WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) conditions can promote human health.
However, di…

The Remote Sensing Data Labelling Challenge

Remote sensing involves analysing vast amounts of Earth Observation (EO) data, typically acquired from satellite data, aircraft or Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Machine learning models can be trained to assist here, by automatically classifying land use and land cover, identifying vegetation cover, determining soil types, detecting changes in t…

Paris, C. 7 min

The power of impact-based weather forecasting

     
Imagine you get this message:
"Tomorrow afternoon, there will be heavy wind gusts of 100 km/hour".
Now, imagine instead that you get this message: 
"Due to strong winds expected tomorrow afternoon, there is an 80% chance of trees falling in neighbourhood A, which may cause travel disruptions from road X to Y. Expect delays in travel time up …

A Day in the Life Of: PhD students collecting data for creating a soil-plant digital twin

Fieldwork. No matter how well-prepared you come and how well-defined your step-by-step procedures are, there will always be some challenges. In this ‘Day in the life of’ we follow three PhD students in their pursuit to collect data for the creation of a soil-plant digital twin.
What is a soil-plant digital twin? How do they cope with the wild circ…

Spatial autocorrelation and its importance in Earth observation

Spatial autocorrelation is a key statistical concept in Earth observation research. Remarkably, its importance tends to be overlooked.…

Why you can't just introduce your favourite animals anywhere!

Our planet's biodiversity and ecosystems are under threat. Climate change puts pressiure on many species as their living environments become unsuitable. In this video, Dr. Ir. Thomas Groen explains how Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) provides crucial insights for species survival and habitat suitability.
SDM aids in conservation policy-making…

Coping with the most underestimated natural hazard

Earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides – these may be the first things that come to mind when thinking about natural hazards. What’s often underestimated is extreme heat – referred to as a ‘silent killer’. This becomes clear when interviewing passersby on the street in Ghent, Belgium.
Join us as PhD researcher Carolina Pereira Marghidan sheds light o…

New routes to affordable land administration

According to estimates, 70% of the world’s population cannot access a legal land administration system. This often makes it hard to determine which land belongs to whom. It also causes problems in vital areas such as productive farming, urban planning, and sustainable development. That’s why the UN incorporated the formal registration of property …

Soil-plant digital twins and how to model them

Imagine being able to predict how our vegetation responds to environmental changes like droughts or heavy rains. It could help us take steps to prevent crop failure and loss of productivity – more pressing than ever, given the impact of climate change on food security and our ecosystems.
With soil-plant digital twins, researchers aim to achieve ju…

The evolution of geological remote sensing in mining and mineral exploration

Geological remote sensing is an extremely effective tool for defining target areas for exploration and mining. In this article, we wil…

Drought peril insurance for smallholder farmers

ITC researchers, in association with a number of specialized partners, created a dedicated insurance solution for smallholder farmers …

State-of-the-art modelling may help anticipate landslides

There’s artificial intelligence, and then there’s Dr. Luigi Lombardo’s ‘fancy models’ that aim to save lives: voice recognition techniques that are applied to landslide modelling for Early Warning Systems. Discover his fascinating journey of leveraging AI to mitigate the risks of landslides and safeguard lives. Learn about the inspiration behind h…

What robotic sight is needed for

Explore the cutting-edge world of autonomous technology with Dr Ville Lehtola as he delves into the practical challenges of achieving …

Why we should read maps critically

With today’s easily accessible technology, practically anyone can make their own maps. However, since maps are more than neutral visua…

Why do you not see what I see?

In any project using images acquired by satellite sensors or from UAVs, you will frequently display images to look at. Before even div…

Podcast interview: How are digital technologies implemented in water governance in Lima, Peru?

In this first episode of Geoversity podcast, I talk to Dr Fenna Hoefsloot about her PhD research, which was entitled Knowledge Infrastructures for Just Urban Futures - A Case of Water Governance in Lima, Peru. 

Unlocking Earth's Superhot Energy for green and sustainable power generation

Deep superhot rocks hold immense promise as an inexhaustible baseload source of electricity, as demonstrated by their successful utilization in countries like Iceland. But not every nation has active volcanos in its territory. With growing global interest in sustainable energy solutions and new high-tech drilling methods, unlocking the power of su…

Mapping the Future: 6 Aspects of New Exploration Technologies for Critical Minerals Discovery

Ever wondered why critical materials are the talk of the town? Imagine a world where clean energy reigns supreme, powered by electric cars and renewable technologies. Behind the scenes, critical materials like lithium, copper and cobalt play a vital role in making this vision a reality.
But how do we find these essential minerals? And how much can…

Unveiling hydrothermal minerals at the Rodalquilar gold-alunite deposit with hyperspectral imaging

At ITC, we use hyperspectral imaging to detect, map and study hydrothermal systems. These systems are of prime importance because of their association with ore deposits, geothermal resources and the earliest life forms on Earth.
Mapping the alunite-gold deposit in Southeast Spain
We have mapped and linked the hydrothermal alteration minerals (form…

Cobalt: the chemical element that connects Vincent van Gogh, the energy transition, and mineral exploration using remote sensing

This story is about the colour blue. Like the blue of the skies in Van Gogh’s paintings. But it is also about a critical raw material,…

An army of egg-sized sensors to hatch a sustainable movement in Paramaribo

The concept of "adopting an egg-like sensor" isn't something that you hear every day. However, some residents of Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, are now proudly calling themselves "egg parents". This refers to their involvement in the project Green Paramaribo - developed by Tropenbos Suriname and the ITC Faculty
In this story, we will discove…

Gated communities and how they affect life quality

Gated communities are becoming more common, and they can really change how people live. The quality of life in a place depends on things like how safe it is, how nice the environment is, and what services are available. Gated communities can improve these things by creating nice, safe spaces with good services, especially in places that didn't hav…

Creativity in Urban Planning

Our urge to look for creative and innovative solutions for societal and urban problems is at its height. Creativity is often talked about in terms of innovation, design thinking, radical changes, or alternative solutions. But definitions and theoretical reflections on creativity as a concept are mostly lacking. Frameworks are adopted from other fi…

Supporting forest drought monitoring by developing ground-based sites

Measuring forest water content 
Paul Vermunt’s mission is to advance the study of forest resilience to droughts. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Water Resources in the ITC, Paul measures the dynamics of the water content in the forest with spatiotemporal tools. This, he believes,  "can support decision-makers and researchers on f…

Improving road and traffic monitoring using drones and AI

Improving road and traffic monitoring using drones and AI
Resilient roads keep our society and economy going, but taking care of them is getting tougher because of climate change, old infrastructure, and more traffic. Fixing them up costs a lot, especially since many are already past their prime. Monitoring how they're doing is super important to …

Can we measure river discharge from space?

Geospatial technologies may help tackle chronic food insecurity

In Ethiopia, the majority of people in the country rely on traditional agricultural practices for their livelihood. There is a pressing need to move towards more technologically-supported practises. The Ethiopian Education Network to Support Agricultural Transformation (EENSAT) project aims to achieve just that.

Using UAV-based thermal imagery to inspect and improve the energy efficiency of buildings

The need to improve energy efficiency in buildings 
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings has become a priority in recent years. In the European Union, buildings account for 40% of the energy consumption, with 65% in the residential sector dedicated to heating in 2021.
Utilizing innovative technologies, new constructions are designed with e…

UAVs are revolutionising disaster resilience

In February 2023, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit southern and central Turkey, as well as northern and western Syria. It caused extensive damage across an area of about 350,000 square kilometres. The confirmed death toll was 59,259, with 50,783 in Turkey and 8,476 in Syria. Approximately 14 million people were affected, and aroun…

Innovations for land rights mapping

Land rights mapping, or cadastral mapping, is key to addressing Sustainable Development Goals number 1 set by the United Nations. Of this first goal, target 1.4 refers to equal rights and access to economic resources. This also can be referred to as ‘land tenure for all’.
Global estimates indicate that around 70% of the world has not been mapped i…

The Energy Transition Explained

Introduction
The energy transition that we are currently facing is by no means the first of its kind. It all began when humans mastered fire. The next energy transition came about with the domestication of animals that could transport things and do work that humans used to do. Then we went on to use combustion engines (1705) and nuclear energy (19…

What is dynamic landslide susceptibility?

Why is a dynamic approach to landslide susceptibility important?
Landslide susceptibility is basically the probability of a landslide occurring. Obviously, the probability of a landslide occurring on a steep slope is much greater than on flat ground. That's something we can commonly perceive. However, by viewing this phenomenon as a dynamic proces…

How can digital twins help the world?

How can digital twins help us to build sustainable cities?

Building a city digital twin: needs and challenges

Digital twins (DTs) can be used to manage a city’s infrastructures (e.g. roads, transportation and public services, smarter energy grids and water networks). They can also support city planners in making informed decisions, and provide up-to-date data for simulations and resource allocation. 
However, city digital twins are highly complex models. …

3 examples of successful city digital twin applications

Preventing privacy disasters

Whenever disasters occur, it’s important that humanitarian aid gets underway as quickly as possible. With this in mind, geodata is being used on an increasingly large scale for humanitarian DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management). 
Privacy issues
Geodata is indispensable in determining when, where and by whom aid is needed, before, during, a…

Explainable AI in Natural Hazard Monitoring

The only thing that separates miracles from science is explainability. For thousands of years, almost all people believed in magic and miracles until a time in history when scientific understandings were mature and accessible enough for at least some people to understand the science behind it. In artificial intelligence (AI), we are still in the e…

How do UAVs help precision agriculture?

In this article, we discuss some of the benefits of using UAVs in agriculture, and how the technology has evolved

Establishing land rights by documenting land relations

What is overshoot day and why does it matter?

What is overshoot day? 
Earth Overshoot Day marks the annual date when humanity has exhausted the supply of natural resources that Earth can regenerate within a year. It's an important date every year, as it represents the moment when we start using “borrowed” resources - that is, surpassing the ability of the planet to balance itself sustainably.…

Mapping from high-resolution images and height data

Where do our maps come from?
Most of the maps we use in daily life are based on information captured in Earth Observation data, such as aerial photographs or satellite images. Elements that you find in those images include buildings, roads, water bodies, and trees. The more detailed the maps, the higher the resolution of the images should be. And,…

How can explainable AI contribute to natural hazard prediction?

What is explainable AI? 
Explainable AI is a very recent development in artificial intelligence. It deals with tools typically belonging to the family of AI, such as deep learning, that become so complex that they cannot be easily interpreted. Explainable AI is a post-processing tool that is put to work after a machine learning model, typically a …

How climate change is affecting food security in arid regions

Due to climate change, rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation patterns are exacerbating the intensity and duration of drought…

Five sensors that are used on smart agriculture UAVs

We've discussed in another article some of the ways that UAVs can be used in smart agriculture. In this article, we'll talk about some of the different data collection sensors that can go on UAVs. 
1. Optical RGB. RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) sensors are the easy-access way – both financially and functionally – of getting high-resolution images. As …

Six ways that drones can make farming smarter

As the planet's population grows, so does the demand for food. “Smart agriculture” is a modern, more productive approach to meeting th…

SAR Tomography: How to reveal the diverse world beneath the forest canopy

This article introduces the Synthetic Aperture Radar tomography as a technique for providing a three dimensional view of forests struc…

Using drones to map forests and plantations

When mapping forests and plantations, scientists find many advantages in the use of drone technology. Learn about some of those advant…

Five benefits of mangrove forests

Asia, Africa, the Americas - the mangrove species can be found in tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide. These trees, with their characteristic visible roots and low branches, are protected with pride by those who live around them. But what makes mangroves so special? In this article we are going to describe five main benefits of mangrove fore…

García, H. 3 min

What is eDNA?

What is Spatial Finance?

The development of artificial intelligence is contributing to the field of geo-information science, with algorithms being developed to automatically scan and interpret this visual information. With the data from satellites and the insights from algorithms, we are able to access real-time observation of large-scale changes occurring on our planet. …

What is hidden hunger?

Hidden hunger is a popular term to refer to micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrient deficiencies are a form of malnutrition caused by the insufficient uptake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This phenomenon is common in developing regions with cereal-based diets, but also increasing in developed countries, where individuals are opting for l…

What is food security?

Food security is sometimes mistaken for food safety. Whilst there is some overlap, the two are quite different. So, let’s start with a definition. 
Can we provide sufficient food to everyone at all times? 
Is that food affordable and accessible? 
Is it utilizable? In other words, does it meet people’s cultural and dietary preferences? 
Is it safe,…

How water pollution affects shrimp farms

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. It is home to mangrove trees, which absorb more CO2 than any other ecosystem. Mangroves are home to other species, such as fish, insects and shrimps. 
The abundance of shrimp makes the Mekong Delta a key region for shrimp farming. This is one of Vietnam’s biggest in…

García, H. 3 min

A New Solution for Digitizing Survey Plans

In another article entititled From Paper to Pixel: The Challenge and Vision of Survey Plan Digitization we gave the background on the vision for transforming land administration records – which historically can exist on everything from cloth to paper to foil – into digital formats. In this article, we describe the solution traditionally used by or…

Dealing with the challenges of modern urbanization

Over the last few decades, increasing numbers of people have moved to urban areas. This trend is far from new. In 1990, 43% (2.3 billion) of the world’s population lived in urban areas; by 2015 this had grown to 54% (4 billion). And it continues to increase. The United Nations predicts that, by 2050, the share of urban population will reach 66%.
A…

Five new concepts of what cities should be

In another article, we described some of the challenges of modern urbanization. Urbanization is a phenomenon that often leads to prosperity, productivity and a better quality of life for many. It also often brings with it urban sprawl, environmental degradation, poor living conditions and severe problems of accessibility. Addressing such challenge…

How GIS technology can help to keep growing cities sustainable

Continued and increasing urbanization worldwide makes it ever more complicated to keep urban development sustainable. This is a serious task for urban planners and managers. To this end, modern GIS (Geographic Information System) technology has a lot to offer in terms of solution support. A GIS is an information system that integrates, stores, edi…

How to count travelers without tracking them between locations

As urbanization and the use of public transportation increases, it’s essential that city planners understand the movements of travellers. But protecting travellers’ privacy is also important.
The research
In our research, we looked at the difficulties of using wireless network access points or smart card check-ins for the counting and monitoring a…

From Paper to Pixel: The Challenge and Vision of Survey Plan Digitization

The Setting 
For much of humankind’s history, land has been an elementary resource to sustain human life.  It brings together resources like water, plants, wildlife, and places to grow crops and build homes, and other infrastructure.  Ownership of land or access to it have been common reasons for dispute, between people, between cities, between co…

Five minerals that can help to save the planet from the carbon crisis (and natural kryptonite is one of them)

How a soil-plant digital twin can help predict and monitor our ecosystems for sustainable developments

Since 2018, the Netherlands and many other parts of Europe have been faced with increasingly long drought periods. To understand how ecosystems respond to such climate extremes, soil and plants need to be studied in a coherent way as one system that reacts to these events. ITC researchers surmise that a digital twin of the soil-plant system would …

Getting everything in place with the Matrix of Functions

Urbanization can be a positive force for the development of countries, in both urban and rural areas. But there may be problems in terms of regional development if people and resources are not well distributed. A booming town will soon get in trouble if it lacks skilled people or certain types of facilities, buildings and infrastructure. Similarly…

Measuring the ways climate change can affect allergy season: methods and challenges

In another article, we discussed 3 Ways that climate change can affect pollen emissions. Here we describe the link to pollen allergies and how we can measure the disease burden.
It’s expected that climate change will lead to an increase in pollen and that this, in turn, will increase pollen allergies. This is for a number of reasons: an extended p…

Opportunities and Challenges in using machine learning to model pollen data

There are many types of pollen models simulating pollen emission and/or atmospheric transport of pollen to predict the amount of pollen at a given time at a given location. As pollen can be transported over larger areas, large-scale models that capture both local and transported pollen need to be developed. This requires large datasets. We need to…

Three ways that climate change can affect pollen emissions

Factors affecting pollen emissions 
During the year, various plant species produce pollen grains in their reproduction cycle. They are tiny particles that are carried by open air currents and thus become distributed. The time when pollen are emitted differs per country and species. In the Netherlands, the pollen emission season occurs from winter …

Producing 3D Models for city Digital Twins

What are digital twins?
Digital Twins are digital representations of physical reality. They can have many forms and scales, from compact models in Mechanical Engineering to complete digital city models. Digital twins are very useful for visualizing the current state of a city but can also be used to simulate future or past events. 
How do you crea…

How can machine learning bias affect GIS applications?

Machine learning can be helpful to society in a number of ways, but it is known to sometimes propagate unwelcome prejudice. This phenomenon is called machine learning bias, and many people are growing increasingly concerned about it. A well-known case involves facial recognition, which tends to identify people of certain colours better than others…

What is participatory mapping?

Participatory mapping is a significant complement to standard mapping and standard GIS. Its driving purpose is to map local people's own knowledge of their own situations, landscapes, or territory. Participatory mapping is intended to be inclusive, so it frequently involves categories of people who are disadvantaged or marginalised, whether by cla…

Three dimensions to measure the impact of soil nutrients on the nutritional values of crops

When farmers need to know the nutritional value of a crop, the usual way to find out is by taking hundreds of samples of the grains into a laboratory and analyzing them. This process is not only very expensive but inefficient; the analysis is carried out at the final crop growth stage, when it is already too late for correcting nutrient concentrat…

6 Benefits of Using Drones for Civil Infrastructure Inspections

How many elephants? Ask a satellite

Hillas, B. M. 5 min

How do satellites work?

Species distribution modelling

Remote Sensing to assess protein content in wheat - the secret to a perfect slice of bread

Embraced by fitness enthusiasts, proteins have claimed the spotlight in the field of health and nutrition during the last decade. Proteins are macronutrients, essential for the growth, maintenance and repair of tissues of the human body.  
We can all name foods with high amounts of protein, such as tofu, broccoli or chicken. However, it's not comm…

How do LiDAR and radar Work?

Have you ever wondered how LiDAR and radar are used to map and preserve natural resources like forests? These two technologies are key tools in the realm of geo-information science, and they have several applications in natural resource management. In this article, we will take a closer look at how LiDAR and radar work and how they're used to map …

Using hyperspectral remote sensing to predict droughts

Droughts are a global problem affecting farmer communities that depend on rainfall for their livelihood. They occur due to changing we…

Mapping Slums with UAVs

According to the UN definition, slums are areas characterized by people living in vulnerable conditions. They are areas of a city that are overpopulated, that have lack of access to water and decent sanitation, and/or with a very high building density. These areas are often informal, which means that they that there is no legal tenure to be living…

Climate Change as a Global Challenge

Climate change is one of the biggest global challenges  of our times. All around the world, we see examples of extreme weather events …