Task 1.1 - GIS essential

This task will be implemented between partners and beneficiaries with both a good and low level of knowledge on GIS and willing to share and acquire GIS capacity in specific scientific GIS aquatic domains in general and on zoning applications (Aquatic Code - Chapter 4.2) in specific. This is a collaborative activity of mutual benefit for all the people involved.

The task will be delivered in two phases:

Knowledge exchange (phase 1)

The aim is to identify the key components of the GIS projects in the aquatic domain.
A series of webinars will be organised with selected experts. The webinars will based on a technical document that will include aquaculture spatial issues that can be addressed with the GIS technologies. The technical document will be revised through a dedicated workshop. The revision will be based on the key principles of :

1. applicability;
2. sustainability;
3. appropriatness;
4. opportunity of their implementation in aquatic applications.

Knowledge transfer (part 2)

The aim is to transfer the basic knowledge on:

• implementation of GIS projects on surveillance and disease response for aquatic animal disease;
• GIS software and technologies in general, and in the aquatic domain in particular.

A series of webinars and training-on-the-job with the beneficiary organisations will be organised. The learning content will be based on the assessment of GIS expertise.
Minimal requirements to attend these training events will be established.
The training activities will follow a mixed approach with theoretical and practical sessions. The practical sessions will include assignments which will be verified and discussed in plenary sessions.

The topics addressed during these phases have been better explained in “Annex 1- Webinar offer training”.

Task 1.2 - GIS application for freshwater aquaculture

This task aims at defining a framework and providing capacity building on implementing GIS projects for freshwater aquaculture application. In particular, two activities will be implemented:

Knowledge exchange for the implementation of a GIS framework for freshwater

A series of webinars will be organized with GIS experts in order to identify and analyse frameworks and practical applications that can be used to support surveillance and response for freshwater aquatic animal disease. The webinar model of agenda will be based on the development of a technical document. Framework and applications identified in the technical document will be then re-defined and tailored according to the geographical context, types of production and environmental peculiarity of the beneficiary partners.

Knowledge transfer for the implementation of GIS projects on freshwater domain

Based on the outcomes of sub-task 1.2.1 (GIS framework for surface water), a specific capacity building program will be developed and implemented. The activities covered by the capacity-building program will include a course on “GIS applications on freshwater environment” and dedicated training-on-the job webinars for implementation of dedicated GIS projects.

The topics faced in the first six months of the project have been further detailed in the Annex 1- Webinar offer training.

Task 1.3 - Applied epidemiology to freshwater aquaculture

This task will provide an overview of epidemiology applied to surface water aquaculture. The capacity-building program will cover basic aspects of the two areas of aquatic animal health:

1. disease monitorning, surveillance and surveys;
2. spread and impact of aquatic animal pathogens.

Task 1.4 - Capacity building in GIS application for marine and brackish water aquaculture

This task aims at providing capacity building on implementing GIS projects for marine and brackish aquaculture application. In particular, two activities will be implemented:

• Knowledge exchange for the implementation of a GIS framework for marine and brackish water

  A series of webinars will be organised with the GIS experts in order to identify and analyse frameworks and practical applications that can be used to support surveillance and response for marine and brackish water animal disease. The webinar model of agenda will be based on the development of a technical document. Framework and applications identified in the technical document will be then re-defined and tailored according to the geographical context, types of production and environmental peculiarity of the beneficiary partners.

• Based on the outcomes of sub-task 1.4.1 (GIS framework for marine and brackish water), a specific capacity-building program will be developed and implemented. The activities covered by the capacity-building program will include a course on “GIS applications on marine and brackish water environment” and dedicated training-on-the job webinars for implementation of dedicated GIS projects.

The topics faced in the first six months of the project have been further detailed in the The topics faced in the first six months of the project have been further detailed in the Annex 1- Webinar offer training

Task 1.5 - Applied epidemiology to marine and brackish water aquaculture

This task will provide an overview of epidemiology applied to marine and brackish water aquaculture. The capacity-building program will cover basic aspects of the three areas of aquatic animal health:

1. transboundary and emerging aquatic animal diseases;
2. disease monitoring, surveillance and surveys;
3. spread and impact of aquatic animal pathogens.

Task 1.6 - E-learning module

Alongside webinars detailed in Annex 1, an e-learning module titled “Introduction to Geographic Information System applied to aquatic animal health” will be developed. This module will be part of the project training, but since its development will take into account the OIE e-learning modules guidelines, it will also be intended for the e-learning catalogue of the OIE Training Portal. The release of this e-module is scheduled for the 18th month of the project.

Content

Diseases are among the most important threats and limiting factors for the development of aquaculture. Having in place a surveillance program can help in reducing their economic impact. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH-OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE 2021), surveillance objectives may be the following:

1. demonstrating the absence of a disease;
2. identifying events requiring notification;
3. determining the occurrence or distribution of diseases.

How this 3 goals can be achieved will be illustrated with some practical examples relevant for fish, including data collection, samples size calculation and selection of the method of surveillance (active, passive, targeted).
The objective of the online course is to illustrate the ways in which Geographic Information Systems can play a role in supporting disease response.

Target audience

The e-module will be addressed to the staff of the Official Veterinary Services (DAY 1 to DAY 2 level) and aims to illustrate the ways in which Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can play a role in supporting disease response.

Learning objectives

The ability of GIS technologies to capture spatial information, carry out exploratory spatial data analyses and produce thematic maps can be used to support aquatic animal health surveillance. Nevertheless, the use of GIS requires technical skills and specific knowledge of data collection, spatial data manipulation, and data analysis. Learning objectives for this module are:

• raise awareness on the creation and design of thematic maps, on application of geoprocessing and spatial analysis tools, and on the use of satellite data in the aquatic animal health domain;
• deep understanding of the GIS basic features, data collection, and explorative spatial data analysis to be applied in aquatic animal health.

Expected WP1 results

• Identification of the barriers to the implementation of GIS techniques that can be used to support the veterinary service in the surveillance and early response activities;
• Raising capacity on planning and implementing GIS project aquaculture domain;
• Production of technical documents on development and application of geographical methods in the aquatic animal health domain;
• E-learning module on second year of project activities.

WP1 outputs

• 1.1.1: Technical document “Constitutive elements for the implementation of GIS projects in the aquatic animal health domain”
• 1.1.2: Training on GIS methods in the aquaculture domain
• 1.1.3: e-learning module “Introduction to Geographic Information System applied to aquatic animal health”;
• 1.2.1: Technical document “Application of geographical methods in the freshwater aquatic animal health domain”;
• 1.2.2: Training on development and application of GIS method in the freshwater aquatic animal health domain;
• 1.4.1: Technical document “Application of geographical methods in the marine and brackish water aquatic animal health domain”;
• 1.4.2: Training on development and application of GIS method in the marine and brackish water aquatic animal health domain.

E-learning module

These modules are scheduled to be delivered during the 18th and the 36th months of the project.

Contents

The e-modules contents may include, but not be limited to videos, podcasts, pdf, quizzes, interactive exercises, etc.

Technical specifications

The e-modules will be developed in English, and will have an overall duration of 1 hour each. They’ll be divided into units, with an introduction describing module contents and learning objectives for each one. Every e-module will have an entry test and a final assessment exercise as well as a learners’ guide with clear user instructions and recommendations. An index system will also be put into place to facilitate learners’ navigation through contents.

The development of e-learning modules will take into account two different possibilities: the first one will be the use of an authoring tool such as Articulate 360, having a SCORM file as output. The second one will be the direct set-up of two courses into IZSVe Moodle platform, using Moodle’s activities and resources (video contents, quizzes, H5P interactions, etc). IZSVe instructional designers and media producers will take care of all the resource development (videos, podcast, quizzes, etc.) and they’ll set-up these learning objects into Moodle as a whole working course. This second option will probably allow the maximum flexibility in terms of future updates, as well as completion tracking data obtainable. IZSVe can provide a course backup file to be restored into OIE e-learning platform, but this will depend on respective Moodle versions to avoid compatibility issues.