Programmes
BSc in Geographic Information and Earth Observation Science
Program Code
BSC GISLevel
undergraduateDuration
4 yearsOffered as
Generic
Program Description
Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the science underlining the acquisition, visualisation and analysis of spatial data. It is an important tool for management of geo-spatial information. Since the advent of computerized geographic information systems in the 1960s, as well as the subsequent development of software and computing power, maps have become a much more widespread means for managing, analysing and communicating geospatial information. The extensive demand for geographic information science skills has entailed a significant role for geography. Indeed, although geographic information science is a multi-disciplinary endeavour, geographical theories have produced the bulk of what now comprise the core knowledge areas of the field. This undergraduate level programme is designed to provide all basic level information in GIS and remote sensing and their potential applications in Earth and climate science research.
Geo-information technologies offer tools for data management through database systems, acquisition, processing and integration to understand the dynamic nature of environmental challenges across a spatio-temporal domain. This is because environmental challenges are multi-disciplinary and complex in nature. Dealing with these challenges involves huge volumes of data and also requires a systems approach to integrate several processes and data layers to understand and model their behaviour for decision making.
As a country, Malawi faces numerous challenges such as population growth, climate variability, disasters, environmental degradation and the need to explore adequate resources to sustain the growing population. These issues have a spatio-temporal dimension and geo-information technologies would provide some tools to help address some of the issues. The programme will develop skills of highly trained professionals who will manipulate and analyse spatial data for timely decision making.
Geo-information technologies offer tools for data management through database systems, acquisition, processing and integration to understand the dynamic nature of environmental challenges across a spatio-temporal domain. This is because environmental challenges are multi-disciplinary and complex in nature. Dealing with these challenges involves huge volumes of data and also requires a systems approach to integrate several processes and data layers to understand and model their behaviour for decision making.
As a country, Malawi faces numerous challenges such as population growth, climate variability, disasters, environmental degradation and the need to explore adequate resources to sustain the growing population. These issues have a spatio-temporal dimension and geo-information technologies would provide some tools to help address some of the issues. The programme will develop skills of highly trained professionals who will manipulate and analyse spatial data for timely decision making.