Environmental and spatial mapping have been trends in recent years, finding utmost importance in disaster management, land use research, and even in environmental research and oceanography. Thus, the Teaching and Learning Resource Center (TLRC) of UP Visayas found it fit to conduct a webinar aptly named, “What’s the GIS: An Introductory Webinar on Geographic Information System,” on January 22, 2022. It sought to give an overview of GIS and how to utilize it in research and other work using software application.
The preparations for this webinar started late 2021, with TLRC tapping Mr. Alan Dino Moscoso, a University Research Associate of the School of Technology and Asst. Prof. Dominique Mediodia, a faculty member and a researcher from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology as resource speakers.
The webinar was primarily intended for students, faculty, and staff of the university. However, due to unforeseen registration from external researchers and other professionals from UP constituent universities and other higher educational institutions, LGUs, UP Alumni Association, and private sector, the TLRC opened its webinar for everyone. Sixty-three attendees from all over the Philippines were welcomed during the registration period.
Prof. Mediodia, who started off as the first speaker, emphasized the importance of GIS in research and gave an overview of different computer softwares that students, faculty, staff, and other professionals can use. He also gave different examples on the applications of GIS to modern technologies such as food delivery services and the like.
“Mapping is the key input of GIS but it is not the entire story,” Prof. Mediodia said as he emphasized the complexity of spatial mapping and analysis.
Mr. Moscoso on the other hand, gave a succinct demonstration and short workshop on utilizing ArcGIS, a GIS computer software, and introduced different ways of geospatial mapping to the audience. Short exercises prepared by Mr. Moscoso covered data capture, basic analysis, spatial operations and overlays, and advanced spatial analysis.
With the level of participation from the UP Visayas community and those from outside the CU, the TLRC recognized its role in the expansion of knowledge-based programs and sought to further its programs and services to cater not only those inside the university but those outside as well.
