Urban planning experts discuss spatial technologies

Pondicherry University hosts international summer school on urban resilience and spatial technologies for future urban leaders.

Urban planning experts from international institutions, and across the country, discussed the promotion of education and research in the fields of urban resilience and spatial technologies during an event hosted at Pondicherry University.

The ‘Spatial Technologies for Urban Resilience: Empowering India and Mongolia’ (STEER–2024), a 14-day international summer school, is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of urban resilience and spatial technologies through a series of lectures, workshops, and hands-on exercises, a press note from the University said.

As cities around the world grapple with issues such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, and social inequality, initiatives such as the STEER–2024 play a crucial role in equipping future leaders with the right skills and expertise to build more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

Participants were given the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field, explore cutting-edge research, and gain practical skills that are essential to address the complex challenges that modern cities face. The goal is to empower the next generation of urban innovators and leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to address the complex challenges faced by modern cities.

K. Tharanikkarasu, officiating Vice-Chancellor, Pondicherry University, officially launched the summer school, that assembled a diverse cohort of teachers, scholars, students and experts from across the world.

The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the summer school’s ambitious agenda, which includes topics such as satellite data acquisition and pre-processing, GIS data handling and management, urban mapping and monitoring, and spatial analysis for urban resilience, among others. Participants also got to engage in capacity-building workshops, field trips and networking events, that enhanced their learning experience.