Universidad
Politécnica de Madrid

In the context of escalating climate change and environmental degradation, effective decision-making requires robust and practical geotechnological tools. Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Python-based geospatial analysis provide powerful capabilities to monitor environmental changes, assess climate impacts, and support sustainable development through real-time data analysis. This course is designed to equip students with hands-on skills in geotechnologies, enabling them to process satellite imagery, analyze spatial data, and develop decision-support tools that enhance climate action and environmental protection.

Remote Sensing empowers students to continuously monitor Earth’s surface, offering real-time insights into land use changes, deforestation, urban growth, and the impacts of extreme climate events such as floods and wildfires. Through practical exercises, participants will learn to process satellite data, apply climate indices—like NDVI, EVI, and LST—and interpret the results for environmental decision-making.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) extend these capabilities by allowing spatial analysis of climate risks, urban expansion, and ecosystem dynamics. This course includes practical applications using QGIS and Google Earth Engine (GEE), enabling students to handle real-world datasets, conduct spatial analysis, and produce actionable maps for environmental and climate assessments.

The course also introduces Python programming for geospatial analysis, with a focus on building scripts for automated data processing and environmental modeling. By integrating Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT, students will learn to optimize coding practices, reducing the learning curve and enhancing productivity in environmental data processing.

The objectives are:

Apply Remote Sensing and GIS for Environmental and Climate Monitoring.

Develop Practical Skills in Geospatial Analysis for Decision-Making.

Integrate Python Programming for Environmental Data Processing.

Generate Actionable Insights for Sustainable Environmental Management.

Friday sessions

Module 1 (1 ECTS). Remote Sensing for Climate Action and Environmental Analysis (5h)

Date: 16/01/2026, 23/01/2026 Time: 18:00 – 20:30

1.1. Fundamentals of Remote Sensing for Climate Action and Environmental Monitoring

1.2. Tools and Applications in Environmental and Climate Change Detection

1.3. Indices and Algorithms for Climate and Environmental Analysis

1.4. Practical Cases and Processing Software for Environmental Decision-Making

Module 2 (2 ECTS). GIS for Climate Action and Environmental Analysis (10h)

Date: 30/01/2026, 6/02/2026, 13/02/2026, 20/02/2026, 27/02/2026 Time: 18:00 – 20:00

2.1.Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Climate Action and Environmental Monitoring

2.2. Spatial Analysis for Climate and Environmental Impact Assessment

2.3. Tools and Software for GIS in Climate and Environmental Action

2.4. Modeling and Simulation of Climate and Environmental Scenarios with GIS

2.5.Python-GIS packages for the evaluation of Environmental Services and Levels of Service

2.6. Real-World Cases and Applications in Environmental and Climate Action