Projects
The Department of Geography and Geology hosts a group of research projects with varying topics and themes. Many of the projects utilise geospatial data and methods in their research efforts. Examples of ongoing research and development projects with geospatial focus or input are:
The GeoICT4e project (2020–2024) aims for improved management and teaching capacities in the impact-driven and socially innovative geospatial and ICT education in Tanzania, leading to graduates’ better employment. The central vehicle for education transformation is students’ multicompetence learning (MCL) process, which happens via co-creative challenge campaigns organized in close cooperation with the innovation ecosystem actors and problem owners.
The GreenPlace project (2019–2024) investigates urban green infrastructures and the preferences of citizens regarding these places by taking advantage of the possibilities of three dimensional (3D) virtual landscapes to facilitate mapping place-based perceived knowledge through Public Participation GIS (PPGIS). It applies modern 3D mapping technologies, such as digital photogrammetry and laser scanning.
The HERCULES project (2020–2023) studies how health and climate change are related. Data on climatic, environmental, and socio-economic parameters are analysed together with cohort health data to make conclusions about their connections and to analyse the spatial variability of climate-induced health risk.
The Resilience Academy (2018–2021) aims to equip young people in Tanzania with the tools, knowledge, and skills to address the world’s most pressing urban challenges and ensure resilient urban development. Resilience Academy is one of pillars of the Tanzania Urban Resilience Program funded by the World Bank, FCDO and The Government of Tanzania. It hosts Climate Risk Database to access digital geospatial climate risk data, builds e-learning materials to enhance student’s urban resilience skills growth, supports industrial training of students to learn hands-on skills, and calls for students and research partners to innovate new resilience solutions for rapidly developing cities.
The RewarD project (2019–2023) focuses on the murtoos, subglacial landforms that are new to science. The project utilises high-resolution LiDAR DEMs with the standardized MDOW (multidirectional/hill-shaded) and slope visualization derivatives as a primary geomorphological mapping tool. The LiDAR data is supported by sedimentological data, ground penetrating radar profiles and other geospatial data sets.
URKO (2020–2022) is a multidisciplinary project that explores the human past in the Uralic language speaker area. Data about the human linguistic, genetic and cultural diversity are processed in geospatial format to allow their spatio-temporal investigation. The project is also building a data service that is browsable through a map interface.