The Caraga State University through the Caraga Center for Geo-Informatics (CCGeo) in cooperation with the Geo-SAFER Agusan Project and College of Engineering and Geosciences conducted the seminar entitled “Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring” last August 29, 2019, 1:15 – 5:45 PM at the New Administration Building Conference Room, Caraga State University (CSU), Ampayon, Butuan City.
The seminar is the 2nd in the Geo-Informatics Seminar Series of CCGeo. The Seminar Series aims to (i.) introduce the different fields and applications of Geo-Informatics; (ii.) share and discuss with the public the various Research and Innovation Activities of the Center; and (iii.) contribute to the development of Geodetic Engineers and Geospatial Researchers in the region and beyond.
For the 2nd Geo-Informatics Seminar, the objectives are
- to introduce the fundamental principles, concepts, and applications of Remote Sensing for environmental monitoring.
- to discuss case studies and examples of the applications of Remote Sensing for monitoring environmental changes, such as in the Agusan River Basin.
After the seminar, the participants are expected to have
- acquired basic knowledge of Remote Sensing (RS) technology;
- acquire basic knowledge of the application of RS for environmental monitoring; and
- understood the other role of Geodetic Engineers such as being Remote Sensing specialists to undertake projects or studies that will utilize RS technology to monitor environmental changes.
The 2nd Geo-Informatics Seminar is also the very first Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program conducted by the CCGeo as an accredited CPD Provider. With CPD Program Accreditation No.: OGE-2018-003-1, all Geodetic Engineers who participated and completed the seminar earned 3 CPD Credit Units. Engr. Virgilio P. Soliman, Jr. acted as the CPD Monitor for this seminar.
The 64 participants of the said seminar comprised of various individuals coming from different agencies and offices. It included 27 Geodetic Engineers, 18 faculty/researchers and other professionals, 9 students, 3 resource speakers (who were also Geodetic Engineers), 1 CSU official, 1 CPD Monitor, and 5 Geo-SAFER Agusan Project personnel who acted as Secretariat.
Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Vice-President for Research Innovation and Extension of Caraga State University, started the program by welcoming the participants and expressing her gratitude to everyone who came and attended the activity. She also explained the importance of sharing their expertise and knowledge in terms of research outputs to other institutions.
Engr. Jojene R. Santillan, Center Director of the Caraga Center for Geo-Informatics, followed and presented the rationale of the seminar. Engr. Santillan explained the importance of sharing CCGeo’s expertise and knowledge in terms of its research outputs to other individuals and institutions.
The first topic entitled Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, was presented by Engr. Meriam Makinano-Santillan, Project Leader of Geo-SAFER Agusan and the Dean of the College of Engineering and Geosciences. Engr. Makinano-Santillan started by introducing Remote Sensing to the participants including various data that can be acquired through the use of Remote Sensing. She also tackled on the 7 elements of the Remote Sensing Process as well as its applications.
The second topic was about Environmental Monitoring with Remote Sensing discussed by Dr. Michelle V. Japitana, Professor II of the College of Engineering and Geosciences of Caraga State University. Dr. Japitana discussed the factors that one must do or know in using Satellite Images. She also explained the different Image Processing Techniques including the application of Remote Sensing Techniques to Environmental Monitoring.
The third and last topic of the seminar was given by Engr. Jojene R. Santillan and was entitled Case Study: Monitoring Land-cover Change in the Agusan River Basin (ARB) Using Remote Sensing. Engr. Santillan introduced Land-cover mapping and monitoring to the participants including the importance of mapping land-cover and monitoring its changes. Engr. Santillan also tackled the case of the Agusan River Basin and presented the land-cover maps and the detected changes in the ARB.
After all the discussion, an open forum followed. The participants were encouraged to ask questions and give their feedbacks regarding the topic.
Engr. Michele Napay from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Dinagat Islands showed her gladness to CCGeo for conducting seminars with topics that were not much familiar to her during their college years. “Ganahan ko sa seminar kay bag-o ang mga topic, wala jud ni nako naagian during sa akong pag skwela ug college. Mao thankful kayo ko sa Caraga Center for Geo-Informatics kay nag conduct sila ani nga training nga libre pa jud (I liked the seminar since the topics were new, I have not encountered these when I studied in college. Thant is why I am thankful to the Caraga Center for Geo-Informatics for organizing this kind of seminar, and even for free)”.
According to Engr. Alice Osa, a Geodetic Engineer from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB Caraga), she felt the urge to learn more after the seminar since the topics are all interesting and useful in her line of work. “Nindot kaayo ni nga opportunity para sa ako kay wala pa man gud kaayo koy background aning Remote Sensing and nakita nako nga gamit jud kayo siya labi na sa akoa. Mao looking forward ko sa uban pa nga mga seminar and hopefully, more in-depth na put ang mga topics (This is a good opportunity for me since I really do not have that much background on Remote Sensing and I can see that it is really useful in my line of work. That is why I am looking forward to the seminars to
come and hopefully, the topics will be more in-depth).”
After the open forum, Engr. Makinano-Santillan gave her closing message by expressing her thanks to the participants for their positive response to the seminar and for making the conduct of the seminar a success. After her message, the participants together with the resource speakers posed for a group photo to commemorate the 2nd Geo-Informatics Seminar.
The presentations by the resource speakers can be accessed though the links below:
- Rationale
- Topic 1. Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
- Topic 2. Environmental Monitoring with Remote Sensing
- Topic 3. Case Study: Monitoring Land-cover Change in the Agusan River Basin (ARB) Using Remote Sensing