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Geodesign is a framework that brings together design professionals, information technologies, geographical sciences and people of the place to address local problems through spatial planning. By involving people from all different disciplines, different levels of knowledge and familiarity with geospatial data or design tools are a reality that needs to be addressed. This module teaches students to identify the different stakeholders and to assess their level of knowledge. After this, it teaches the students what types of data, software and interactions can be applied to allow each stakeholder to partake in the planning process. The current paper summarizes the learning objectives, lesson content, learning activities and evaluation scheme for this module.

This module on Incident- & Crisis Management (ICM) is based on extensive experience in using the methods and technology provided by GIS to manage ‘real world’ Incident- and Crisis management situations. This has led to the understanding that applying the frameworks for GeoDesign and the Safety Chain clearly provide a solid base for application in specific situations concerning Incident- and crisis management. The way in which the frameworks can be applied not only helps in quicker insights into the requirements for recovering from severe incidents and crises, but also provides an excellent environmentfor planning and preparation for potential crises. This module teaches the students to understand the frameworks that are used in GeoDesign and the Safety Chain and how these can be used in crisis management and preparation. This paper summarizes the learning objectives, lesson content, learning activities and evaluation scheme for this module.

Spatial scientific research has increasingly become multidisciplinary. The need for different disciplines to share thematic knowledge and information has increased. However, not many Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) have succeeded in facilitating the needs of these multidisciplinary research communities. This article provides a methodological framework for the development of a user-centric SDI and applies it to the academic community that researches the history and heritage of urban and rural landscapes in the Netherlands. In addition, it demonstrates how the users’ objectives and Geospatial Information literacy can be determined, in order to inform the conceptual and technological architecture of a user-centric SDI. The architecture of the historical and heritage landscape SDI focuses on developing a user-centric dashboard, which is placed at the centre of the SDI, and developed as the result of a top-down analysis of the users. The framework and architecture presented function as an example for other third-generation SDIs, and form a reference point for the development of historical and heritage landscape SDIs in Europe.

Criminology is the scientific discipline that studies the phenomena of crime and delinquency. Criminology has links to other sciences like biology, sociology, psychology, policing and geography. As early as the beginning of the 19th century, criminologists became aware of spatial patterns in criminal behaviour. By mapping crime rates, these studies provided a series of important findings. The notion of place and space in crime was born. Between 1930 and 1970 issues of social ecology were studied, while between 1970 and 2007 environmental criminology became a prominent area of interest and research. Due to an increasing interest in issues like ‘spatial behaviour’ and ‘behaviour in space’ by geographers in the 1960s, many new concepts and ideas came to the attention of environmental criminologists. Initially, environmental criminology concentrated on the development of theories and models, but during the late 1980s and 1990s concepts from geographical information science were applied by both researchers and practitioners on a large scale. Over the last decade there has been an observable increase in the use of Geo-ICT, especially in practical settings like law enforcement and academic research on crime. However, this introduces problems and challenges for both researchers and practitioners. This chapter provides a brief description of the evolving and expanding application of geography and GIS in criminology and police practice and puts forward some solutions to overcome problems and challenges.

There is no doubt about the importance of Geo-ICT in risk and disaster management. Systems that make use of geo-information are used in all activities before, during and after the occurrence of a disaster. In this chapter we address the use of Geo-ICT before and during disasters. Special attention will be given to the use of geo-information, such as risk maps, topographical maps, etc. A brief analysis of current risk maps and of their limitations sets the stage for research that could overcome some of the present unsatisfactory aspects of risk maps. Access to and provision of spatial information is examined with respect to the needs of emergency response systems and the challenges in the use of geo-information for disaster management are discussed.

Location is a fundamental aspect of spatial planning. It is subject to, and the result of, planning activities. It is therefore not surprising that the first incentives for the development of tools for spatial data management and spatial analysis came from professionals who were engaged in spatial planning. This chapter describes the development and interaction between the evolvement of spatial planning and the rapid development of Geo-ICT in the past decades. This is illustrated with examples of Geo-ICT applications used for spatial planning over the years, from very basic land use models via more advanced models to integrated systems supporting discussion and decision making. Key issues as the growing importance of the communicative aspects of planning processes and the concept of planning as a participatory process are adressed. Through the revolutionary development of internet technology along with geospatial technology new future crossroads between Geo-ICT and spatial planning are foreseen. Although Geo-ICT and spatial planning appear to be closely related interrelated in scientific development, it is stated that the use of Geo-ICT in spatial planning practice lags behind expectations. The key obstacles related to this in methodology, data and competences are reviewed.

Since geographical information systems (GIS) first appeared, transportation scientists found them to be a natural aid, at first for representing the spatial and later the temporal aspects of transportation networks and infrastructures. As GIS developed, so did their use in transportation science and they became essential not only for visualisation but also to facilitate and speed up data management, algorithmic operations and decision making. This paper analyses the contributions and influence of GIS in transport science on the basis of three frameworks: geodatabase, geomapping, and geomodelling, all of which highlight the importance of location.