As evidenced by the increasing number of geographical information systems (GIS), not only in the area of geography itself, but also in archeology, history etc., the humanities and social sciences have developed a greater interest in geographical information over the past 20 years or so.

Research practices within the associated disciplines increasingly include a spatial dimension. Corpuses of spatialized data with their dual geometrical and semantic component aim to describe and analyse the relationships between man and terrestrial space, and to reproduce them using cartographic language. When a phenomenon is transcribed onto a map, its spatial distribution is made readable and it becomes possible to identify correlations with other phenomena distributed in the same space.

Thus GIS enable the processing of geographical information with the ultimate aim of providing a decision-making support, particularly in the context of scientific choices (hypothesis testing, production of new knowledge). However, the structuring of these corpuses of spatial data and the implementation of geoprocessing, is not something that can be improvised. It requires familiarity with certain issues, methods and technologies, which this summer school will present.

The course aims to familiarise the participants with the principal and potential uses of geomatics in the context of research. It will involve the transmission of skills for the structuring of databases with a view to answering scientific questions. Hence, the problems of data acquisition, modelling and management will be tackled through the effective implementation of specific procedures (GPS, georeferencing, geocoding, geostatistics etc.).