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Adapting to Climate Change with Spatial Engineering

Adapting to Climate Change with Spatial Engineering

Help the challenge provider to adjust sustainably to climate change with Spatial Engineering
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DescriptionOutcomesPotential progressInformationProviders

Our Challenge

Are you passionate about solving the world's biggest challenges, like climate change, food insecurity, or biodiversity loss? If you're ready to make a real difference, this is the course for you! The world needs Spatial Engineers, innovative thinkers who can bridge multiple disciplines and interpret spatial data to tackle these wicked problems head-on. This course will support you to become a Spatial Engineer by working on a real-world case study focused on climate change. Through a challenge-based approach, you'll not only develop an actionable plan for climate adaptation but also dive deep into the three core knowledge areas of Spatial Engineering: Spatial Information Science (SIS), Spatial Planning for Governance (SPG), and Technical Engineering (TE).

The Team

TG
Thomas Groen
Teamcher
MM
Mafalda Pinto Soares Madureira
Teamcher
PR
Paolo Raposo
Teamcher
JE
Janneke Ettema
Teamcher
MV
Marloes Penning de Vries
Teamcher
0 learners
Study format
Online
Application period
24 June – 1 October 2025
Study period
10 November 2025 – 1 February 2026
Credits
15 ECTS
Hosting university
University of Twente
Got questions?Reach out to us via this 

Learning outcomes

General: Identify and describe gaps in your knowledge

Identify and describe gaps in your knowledge (related to the three core knowledge domains of spatial engineering, see below)

ESCO SKILLS

Search for information online

General: Integrate knowledge formulating an actionable challenge using the CBL for M-SE approach

Integrate knowledge formulating an actionable challenge using the Challenge Based Learning for M-SE approach

ESCO SKILLS

Project managementSolving problemsThink holisticallyWork in teams

Spatial Planning for Governance: Recommend evaluation and future needs

Recommend evaluation and future needs - Elaborate on ways to measure to guide, monitor and evaluate the realisation of spatial plans.

ESCO SKILLS

Solving problems

Spatial Planning for Governance: Advice on a planning situation

Advise on a planning situation - Develop and present a concept plan for addressing a given spatial planning situation.

ESCO SKILLS

Project management

Spatial Information Science: Identify and apply multiple methods in a GIS

Identify and apply methods for the exploration, analysis, integration, synthesis and presentation of digital spatial data and imagery in a geographic information system (GIS).

ESCO SKILLS

Use IT tools

Spatial Information Science: Apply basic statistical methods to geographic data to gain insights

Apply basic statistical methods to geographic data to gain insights.

ESCO SKILLS

Identify statistical patterns

Technical Engineering: Apply parameter uncertainty to make interpretations

Apply parameter uncertainty like variability, RMSE and R2, to make interpretations of outputs of models that simulate earth system processes (Parameter uncertainty).

ESCO SKILLS

Identify statistical patterns

Spatial Planning for Governance: Describe and explain theory and context of spatial planning

Theory and context - Describe the evolution of spatial planning theory and practice and how these relate to notions of sustainable development and resilience. - Explain the political, legal and institutional context of a spatial planning situation.

ESCO SKILLS

Search for information online

Spatial Planning for Governance: Analysis of a planning situation

Analysis of a planning situation - Analyse a given spatial planning problem/situation, identifying key stakeholders and their interests. - Describe the trade-offs between competing interests in a given spatial planning situation.

ESCO SKILLS

Project management

Spatial Planning for Governance: Discuss how spatial analysis can assist

Discuss how spatial analysis can assist in anticipating future needs and emerging issues in society.

ESCO SKILLS

Environmental engineeringPromote innovative infrastructure design

Technical Engineering: Apply schematizing complex systems using existing techniques

Apply schematizing complex systems using existing techniques to capture them in equations (System thinking and model conceptualization).

ESCO SKILLS

Think creatively

Spatial Information Science: Conceptualize and represent the real world in digital geospatial data

Conceptualize and represent the real world in digital geospatial data.

ESCO SKILLS

Digital competenciesThink creatively

Technical Engineering: Describe cycles of nutrients, water and carbon and underlying principles

Describe cycles of nutrients, water and carbon and underlying principles such as conservation of mass and energy (Process thinking and conceptualization).

ESCO SKILLS

Follow environmentally-sustainable work practices

General: Plan, execute and reflect on the learning process needed to bridge the gap

Plan, execute and reflect on the learning process needed to bridge the gap.

ESCO SKILLS

Evaluate data, information and digital contentSelf-management skills and competencesExercise self-reflectionRespect the diversity of cultural values and norms

Technical Engineering: Apply probability density functions and concepts of correlations & regression

Apply probability density functions and concepts of correlations and regressions (Stochasticity) to estimations of relevant parameters of earth system processes.

ESCO SKILLS

Analyse big data

Potential progress

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Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Critical and innovative thinking

Inter-personal skills

Energy and sustainability

Intra-personal skills

Global citizenship

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Information

The whole world is confronted with the effects of a changing climate. The challenge is how we deal with this situation. So how big is the problem in the city under study? What is at risk, and why? What is being done? What will happen if nothing is done? What would be the effect of adaptation measures?

In this course we follow the conceptual framework on risk defined by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch), where risk is at the centre. Figure 1 presents this framework, where three core concepts of weather and climate, exposure and vulnerability interact (IPCC, 2014). The risk of climate-related impacts results from the interaction of climate-related hazards (including weather and climatic events and their trends) with the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems. Changes in both the climate system (left) and socioeconomic processes including adaptation and mitigation (right) are drivers for changes in hazard, exposure, and vulnerability (IPCC, 2014).

There are options for risk reduction through adaptation, because adaptation measures can reduce risk by addressing one or more of the three risk factors: vulnerability, exposure, and/or hazard.This can be achieved through various policy and action choices. A visualisation of this process is in Figure 2. Risk reduction measures through adaptation (Source: IPCC 2019).

The three core concepts of hazard, exposure and vulnerability can be linked to the three core domains of Spatial Engineering: Hazard - Technical Engineering (TE), Vulnerability - Spatial Information Science (SIS), and Exposure - Spatial Planning and Governance (SPG).

Here’s what you can expect:

  1. Challenge-Based Learning: Engage in a hands-on challenge that will enhance your ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines. This experience is an introduction into the learning environment of the master’s programme Spatial Engineering as well (https://www.utwente.nl/en/education/master/programmes/spatial-engineering/).
  2. Core Knowledge Mastery: Choose one of the three essential pillars of Spatial Engineering (SIS, TE, or SPG) and build a strong foundation in that area, especially if it's new to you.

With expert guidance you’ll choose one of the 3 core knowledge areas, and it will be one you’re not yet familiar with. Join us and start shaping a sustainable future today!

Hosting university

University of Twente

University of Twente