IS Applications & Satellite Earth Observation

Module AZA-105 of this FAO-GFCM training program addresses the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation (EO) data to prepare, process, interpret, and integrate oceanographic spatial layers in support of environmental suitability analysis and AZA planning. The material covers spatial data fundamentals (raster, vector, scale, CRS), data management in QGIS/ArcGIS, access to open marine data portals (Copernicus Marine Service, GEBCO, EMODnet), processing of oceanographic parameters (SST, chlorophyll-a, TSM/turbidity, currents, and wave dynamics), standardization of suitability classes, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) to produce robust, defensible spatial evidence.

• 1. Operate GIS software (QGIS/ArcGIS) to manage raster and vector datasets
• 2. Access open-source oceanographic and marine spatial data portals, including Copernicus Marine Service, GEBCO and EMODnet
• 3. Process key satellite-derived or EO-supported parameters: Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Total Suspended Matter (TSM)/turbidity, ocean currents and wave dynamics
• 4. Integrate processed layers into an AZA-oriented spatial workflow, while documenting projection, resolution, time period, units, quality flags and metadata