Call for Participation in the Summer School
“Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring using Satellite Remote Sensing”
May 11-17, 2025, Drilon (Pogradec), Albania
We invite early-career researchers, graduate students, and professionals from government and civil society institutions in the Western Balkans with a professional interest in agriculture and rural development to apply to the Summer School. The immersive program provides hands-on training in satellite image analysis using machine learning techniques for crop classification and agricultural monitoring. Participants will work closely with leading international experts in satellite remote sensing. The Summer School offers lectures, practical exercises, and group discussions to enhance participants' awareness of the potential and pitfalls of remote sensing for effective agricultural monitoring.
The Summer School is organised by the Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT) and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) as part of the project Establishing a Geoinformation Centre for the Western Balkans (GEO-WB6, www.geo-wb6.net). The project builds capacities in geospatial techniques to support the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries, particularly regarding Chapter 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development) of the EU Acquis. Additionally, GEO-WB6 fosters a regional network of geoinformation experts across the Western Balkans.
At a glance:
• Duration: May 11th, 6:00 PM, until May 17th, 10:00 AM (full participation expected)
• Location: Hotel Driloni, Drilon (Pogradec), Albania
• Eligibility: Open to postgraduate students, lecturers, researchers, and professionals in agriculture and related fields who are affiliated with an institution in one of the six Western Balkan countries. Applicants should have a professional interest in geodata analysis, be fluent in English, and bring their laptops. Experience in GIS and remote sensing is an asset.
Topics:
• Introduction to area-based monitoring
• Crop-type monitoring using satellite remote sensing
• Collection of training and validation data
• Statistical accuracy assessment of image classifications
What we offer:
• Hands-on sessions for satellite-based classification of crop types
• Practical field work using different satellite imagery and open-source software sources
• Insights from a fully operational Area-based Monitoring System
• Facilitation by international lecturers and researchers
• Interaction with a diverse group of practitioners and scholars from the region
• An official certificate issued by UBT and IAMO
• Full coverage of accommodation and food
How to apply:
Please send your CV and motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al. All submitted documents should be in English language. The application deadline is April 18, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance after April 22, 2025. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment and strongly encourage women and individuals with disabilities to apply.