Basics
Explaining basic terms
Geodata
Geodata comprises of information about a specific geographical location. Geodata can be stored, visualized and analyzed with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This data is often collected by satellites, GPS devices or land survey tools, and serves as the base for governmental zoning and land-use planning. Thousands of high-quality geocoded datasets are provided for free by researchers, the government or the open-data community and wait to be discovered and used by you.
Satellites
Earth observation satellites orbit our planet constantly, during all hours and irrespective of the weather conditions to collect images that are sent back to receiving stations on earth. Every satellite fleet and every satellite have different features in terms of speed, coverage and sensor quality. This determines what we can see from space, how often we can see a given place or phenomenon and in how much detail we can see it (from several centimeters to multiple kms).
Remote sensing
Remote Sensing describes a set of techniques to retrieve information about the earth’s surface. Images can originate from satellites, drones or aircraft and a large amount of free and commercial imagery allows us to monitor the impact of humans on natural landscapes in retrospective or near real-time. Therefore, Remote Sensing is an effective instrument to study global environmental challenges, monitor ecosystems, map disasters, explore resources and many more.
Discover our trainings
MAPME tutorials can help you learn, step by step, how to use GIS in the context of development cooperation.
QGIS trainings in KfW
Our tutorials can help you learn, step by step, how to use GIS in the context of development cooperation.
In German only
Explore it on Youtube
QGIS trainings on Youtube
A short YouTube training series introducing QGIS, covering the basics, map styling and symbology, and the use of open data sources.
Training 1: Introduction to QGIS
Training 2: Semilogy and Symbology
Training 3: Open Data Sources
Explore it on Youtube
In-depth training on using Mapme.biodiversity for impact evaluation
This training material introduces researchers and doctoral students to spatial econometrics, using the impact of protected areas on deforestation as a guiding case study, while equipping them with the theoretical, methodological, and practical tools needed to evaluate a wide range of spatially explicit intervention.
In French only
Explore it on GitHub
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Discover our code repositories
MAPME repositories contain R codes that will allow you to generate interactive statistics and insights on different impact indicators separated by sectors.
mapme.biodiversity
The mapme.biodiversity package helps to analyse a number of biodiversity related indicators and biodiversity threats based on freely available geodata-sources such as the Global Forest Watch.
The package allows for the analysis of global biodiversity portfolios with a thousand or millions of AOIs which is normally only possible on dedicated platforms such as the Google Earth Engine.
mapme.pipelines
MAPME repositories contain R codes that will allow you to generate interactive statistics and insights on different impact indicators separated by sectors.
oda-portfolio
MAPME repositories contain R codes that will allow you to generate interactive statistics and insights on different impact indicators separated by sectors.
mapme.docker
MAPME repositories contain R codes that will allow you to generate interactive statistics and insights on different impact indicators separated by sectors.
Discover other resources
MAPME tools are designed for an easy start. We host different types of resources that can help you get in touch with the topic and deliver better results.
Project Location Model
The open Project Location Model is an open standard for collecting location information in development cooperation. It is based and extends the IATI reporting standards to be geo-compatible.
Guide to Earth Observation in Development Cooperation
A technical guide on using earth observation to measure different monitoring indicators in development cooperation.
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