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2026-2027 / GEOG0069-1

Research and development in geoinformation

Duration

30h Th, 30h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in geography: geomatics, professional focus in geodata expert4 crédits 

Lecturer

Roland Billen, Jean-Paul Kasprzyk

Coordinator

Roland Billen

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The Research and Development in Geoinformation course aims to familiarise students with current research topics in Geographic Information Science and with advanced methods and tools used in the field. It is organised around two complementary modules.

Research Seminars This module provides students with an introduction to recent research in Geographic Information Science. Researchers from the Unit, as well as invited researchers and academics, present their work, methodologies, and the scientific questions they address.

Students are also expected to explore recent scientific literature and prepare their own seminar on a current research topic, drawing in particular on work published in leading international conferences and journals in the field. This activity follows a flipped-classroom approach and forms an integral part of the course assessment.

Advanced Techniques This module aims to develop practical skills in advanced techniques relevant to current developments in geoinformation. It combines training resources, demonstrations, and practical exercises, enabling students to progressively and independently develop proficiency in specialised methods and tools.

The topics covered may evolve in line with developments in the field and ongoing research activities. They may include, for example, geographic data integration and transformation (using tools such as FME), as well as the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning methods to the processing of imagery, geographic data, and point clouds.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of this course unit, students will be able to:

  • identify and analyse current research topics and developments in Geographic Information Science, drawing on the scientific literature in the field;
  • synthesise and present a research topic in a structured manner, highlighting its objectives, the methods used, and the main results;
  • understand, implement, and evaluate advanced methods and tools used in geoinformation;
  • independently develop proficiency in new methods or technologies using training resources, documentation, and practical exercises.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Students must have skills in Geographic Information Systems, spatial data infrastructure and programming, as well as skills in the acquisition and processing of geospatial data

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Flipped Classroom - Research Seminar In consultation with the instructor, students select a current research topic in Geographic Information Science, drawing in particular on work presented at a recognised international conference or published in recent scientific literature.

They explore the topic independently using relevant scientific publications and prepare a seminar for the other students. This activity aims to develop their ability to understand, synthesise, and communicate recent research, as well as to critically assess the methods and results presented.

Guided Self-Directed Learning - Advanced Techniques Students complete a series of modules focusing on advanced methods and tools in geoinformation. These modules are based on learning resources provided to the students (videos, documentation, examples, datasets, etc.) and practical exercises to be completed independently.

Through these exercises, students directly apply the methods covered and develop their ability to learn and use new tools and techniques. Completion of the learning activities is demonstrated through the submission of the exercises, outputs, and results required for the different modules.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Further information:

Course delivered in-person and in a blended format

Further details:

- Seminars delivered in-person or in a blended format

- In-person learning modules or self-directed distance learning modules

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

- PDF course support on eCampus.

- videos
- Updated bibliographic list on eCampus.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Additional Information Assessment covers the two main components of the course:

  • Research Seminar (50% of the final grade): each student gives an oral presentation on a current research topic in Geographic Information Science, explored in depth on the basis of recent scientific literature. The seminar is presented in person. It may be organised either during the examination period or before the examination period, in agreement with the students. Detailed instructions and assessment criteria will be provided during the course.

  • Advanced Techniques - Continuous Assessment (50% of the final grade): assessment is based on the completion of the different self-directed learning modules and the submission of the required exercises, answers, outputs, and results. Assessment takes into account both the successful completion of the proposed activities and the students' understanding and implementation of the methods and tools covered.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Unité de Géomatique Université de Liège, Agora, 19 Allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège (bâtiment B5a) Secrétariat : Téléphone : 04/366.57.42

Teachers:


Roland Billen - rbillen@uliege.be

Jean-Paul Kasprzyk - jp.kasprzyk@uliege.be

Thomas Dethinne - tdethinne@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs