Changing for the Better the World with the help of GIS Technologies and Google Earth

Getting inspired by a later post of Google Earth Blog and the corresponding video (click on the image below), I've approached the importance of establishing a web platform / web-based bank of successful geospatial examples (best practices) on exploiting Geospatial Technologies towards Changing for the Better the World (GeoTCBW). Therefore, a new page will be created in GISBIOENVINET towards that goal, expecting the contribution from all of you by sending to my email (abmavridis@gmail.com) any new, or old successful example (best practice) that you know on exploiting Geospatial Technologies Towards Changing for the Better the World, and I will upload it on the page by adding your name. Please don't forget to have as title of the email the acronym GeoTCBW.

Maybe, this kind of collection could be inspirational for current and future, restless spirits of geospatial,  innovational advancements for earth's benefits. Even more, such accumulation of Geospatial Excellence could be supportive and helpful to national and international organizations to overcome burdens of current unsuccessful efforts, so as to provide a future of opportunities and successful accomplishments for Earth.

Dr. Avraam Mavridis

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS, a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. At present, there are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 33 countries. Information sheets on the UNESCO Global Geoparks by country are available, with detailed information on each site.

UNESCO’s work with geoparks began in 2001. In 2004, 17 European and 8 Chinese geoparks came together at UNESCO headquarters in Paris to form the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) where national geological heritage initiatives contribute to and benefit from their membership of a global network of exchange and cooperation.

On 17 November 2015, the 195 Member States of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label, the UNESCO Global Geoparks, during the 38th General Conference of the Organisation. This expresses governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner.

The Organization supports Member States’ efforts to establish UNESCO Global Geoparks all around the world, in close collaboration with the Global Geoparks Network.

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS, a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Their bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities is becoming increasingly popular. At present, there are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 33 countries. Information sheets on the UNESCO Global Geoparks by country are available, with detailed information on each site.

UNESCO’s work with geoparks began in 2001. In 2004, 17 European and 8 Chinese geoparks came together at UNESCO headquarters in Paris to form the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) where national geological heritage initiatives contribute to and benefit from their membership of a global network of exchange and cooperation.

On 17 November 2015, the 195 Member States of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label, the UNESCO Global Geoparks, during the 38th General Conference of the Organisation. This expresses governmental recognition of the importance of managing outstanding geological sites and landscapes in a holistic manner.

The Organization supports Member States’ efforts to establish UNESCO Global Geoparks all around the world, in close collaboration with the Global Geoparks Network.

GIS and Landscape Architecture

Combination of different scientific disciplines could provide an extra value of advanced accomplishments that could be difficult to be achieved without the contribution of some inspired and innovative individuals, either from a research institution, or from a university department, but this could be also achievable in the public sector too for the bennefits of citizens!
The Los Angeles County Enterprise GIS, one of the most ground-breaking and innovative county department that promotes the use of Geospatial Technologies to the public, has approached the combination of GIS with Landscape Architecture in an integrated and widely-distributed-to-the-public,  way.

The following message is coming from their portal :
 
" On  Tuesday, May 3^rd,  the Board of Supervisors received and filed the Park Needs Assessment Executive Summary and discussed the draft language for a proposed park funding measure.
This was a very GIS-intensive process, resulting in a large series of maps that profiled park needs across the County.  Each Study Area was profiled, and a report created that contains a base map, park metrics, map of where parks are most needed, amenity quantities and conditions, park need framework, project cost estimates, and submitted project reporting forms.

It is a ground-breaking method for engaging the community and communicating highly complex analyses in a straightforward and open manner.

The Board directed Department of Parks and Recreation Regional Park and Open Space District staff to return to the Board on Tuesday, June 21st for further discussion and possible vote on the potential park funding measure. In an effort to continue to get the word out and inform the public on the outcome of the Park Needs Assessment Report and the draft ballot language, we are partnering with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust to conduct 11 regional public meetings throughout the County this month that will cover these two items.
You will find the final park Needs Assessment Report at http://lacountyparkneeds.org/final-report/ "

Many congratulations!!!

I hope your pioneering work to be an example of excellence to other municipalities and counties all over the world!

With best wishes for new accomplishments,

Dr. Avraam Mavridis

Two scholarships for the MSc in Geoinformatics (for international students)

Look here, at the page of M.Sc. opportunities for two scholarships for the MSc in Geoinformatics (for international students) in the Institute for Geoinformatics (ifgi), University of Münster, Germany. 

Geospatial Technologies supporting the new sustainable development agenda of UN

On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda of UN.
Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.
A list of actions has been initiated by UN.

GisBioEnviNet will be a supporter of these activities by contributing with knowledge issues, best practices, innovative advancements and more, promoting the extra value derived through applications of Geospatial Technologies (GIS, Remote Sensing, UAVs, GPS, Smartphone Applications, etc.) and their analytics to the framework of activities of the Sustainable Development Goals of UN.

Earth Stewardship Initiative (ESI)

Earth Stewardship Initiative (ESI), a large-scale demonstration project linking environmental stewardship through applied ecological research to community-based planning and outreach in Baltimore. This multidisciplinary initiative seeks to increase research opportunities and the relevance of ecologists in urban planning and design, while supporting community interests.

Providing insight to future sustainable perspectives!