The online course on Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques for Mapping Sustainable Mining, is designed to equip Southern African geoscientists with the necessary GIS techniques for generating a sustainability atlas for Southern Africa. This course has been designed by academics in Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences to equip geoscientists working in the southern African region with the skills to produce a pilot atlas on sustainable mining. The course will be delivered in English by GIS and prospectivity mapping experts from Cardiff University, Geological Survey of Finland, and Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.
To confidently apply basic to advanced GIS skills to general geoscientific problems;
To implement a methodology for mapping sustainable mining.
To generate outputs that will be essential for understanding the factors affecting sustainable mining operations, and planning their implementation.
Work Load
The course is delivered in two parts - a general introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and QGIS (a free open source GIS), followed by an introduction to prospectivity mapping for sustainability.
Part 1: Introduction to GIS
This will cover the QGIS interface, coordinate reference systems, working with raster and vector data, other types of GIS layer and web mapping services, digitising, plugins and the toolbox.
Part 2: GIS for Sustainable Mining
The Weights of Evidence method will be introduced, along with the QGIS implementation. A case study will be used to show how to carry out all the necessary steps. This section will also
address the requirements for mapping sustainability, from a consideration of the data layers required and their combination in a weights of evidence approach, as well as other methods.
Programme Structure
The course takes approximately 32 hours to complete and delegates will be provided with access to the materials via UNESCO’s virtual learning platform. Most of the learning will involve asynchronous activities such as videos, exercises, and interaction through the Discussion Board. Participants can undertake learning in their own time and at their own pace.
The remainder of the learning will be delivered as ‘live’ sessions in which one or more leaders will teach fundamental concepts and techniques and provide feedback through question and answer sessions. There is also an end of course test to assess learning. Participants who achieve a 50% passrate or more will receive an e-certificate of completion.
Course Team
We have assembled an expert team consisting of Professors Blenkinsop and Maier, and Will Smith, from the School of Earth and Environmental Science (GIS and sustainable mining), Dr Bijal Chudasama from the Geological Survey of Finland (GIS, prospectivity mapping), and Dr Antony Mamuse from Midlands State University (GIS and Mineral Systems) to provide a unique offering that meets these training requirements for professionals in the field.
Key Course Academics
Professor Tom Blenkinsop
Tom is a Professor of Structural Geology. He has 30 years’ experience in structural analysis. Much of this has been carried out in the context of consultancy for problems of hydrothermal mineralisation for major mining companies. Through this experience he has developed a unified and systematic approach to structural analysis, which includes new and simple methods of dealing with structures such as lineations, folds, and shear zones.
Professor Wolfgang Maier
Wolf is Professor for Ore Geology. His research deals with petrological and geochemical processes in mafic-ultramafic igneous systems that contribute to our understanding of continental magmatism, mantle evolution, plate tectonics and the formation of magmatic ore deposits including PGE, Ni-Cu, Cr, and V-Ti-Fe deposits..
Prerequisites
None.
Frequently Asked Questions
What web browser should I use?
The UNESCO Open Learning website works best with current versions of Chrome, Firefox or Safari, or with Internet Explorer version 9 and above.
Course content
2 modules · 39 lessons · 1 assessment
article1.1 Introduction to the CourseLesson
article1.2 Introduction to the principles of GISLesson
article1.3 Q& A: Check software IssuesLesson
article1.4 The QGIS InterfaceLesson
article1.5 Vector and Raster dataLesson
article1.6 Q &ALesson
article1.7 Working With Raster layersLesson
article1.8 Working with Raster layers: exerciseLesson
article1.9 Print LayoutsLesson
article1.10 Print Layouts: exerciseLesson
article1.11 Working with Vector layersLesson
article1.12 Working with Vector layers: exerciseLesson
article1.13: Q&ALesson
article1.14 Working with other types of layerLesson
article1.15 Working with other types of layer: exerciseLesson
article1.16 Web Mapping Services, TilesLesson
article1.17 DigitisingLesson
article1.18 Digitising: exerciseLesson
article1.19 Plugins and Tool boxLesson
article1.20 Plugins and Tool box: exerciseLesson
article1.21 Q and ALesson
article1.22 GIS data for Sustainable MiningLesson
articleResources for Part 1Lesson
article2.1 Prospectivity mapping: a general introduction. Principles of Weights of Evidence.Lesson
article2.2 Introduction to Case Study data setsLesson
article2.3 Set up QGIS Project – InstallationsLesson
article2.4 Geoprocessing to create evidence layersLesson
article2.5 Set up QGIS Project for case study + Geoprocessing to create evidence layersLesson
article2.6 Q and ALesson
article2.7 WOFE in QGIS with Case studyLesson
article2.8 WOFE in QGIS with Case study: exerciseLesson
article2.9 Q and ALesson
article2.10 Finalising the WOFE modelLesson
article2.11 Finalising the WoFE model: exerciseLesson
article2.12 GIS for Sustainable MiningLesson
article2.13 GIS for Sustainable Mining: exerciseLesson