No abstract

A geospatial pattern is a regular, recognizable (repeatable) arrangement of phenomena on the earth surface. In this thesis, when we refer to a spatial or spatio-temporal pattern, we in fact mean a geospatial pattern. Spatial patterns are the traces left behind by self-organizing systems. Self-organization means that systems evolve to a steady organized state based on local interactions. Many systems in biology and ecology show this type of regularity. Selforganization is thought to be the result of bottom-up interactions (driven by To get a better grip on spatio-temporal patterns, we need to understand the temporal component of the processes that produce these patterns. The trajectory of a system is the order in which the systems moves from one state into another. In principle a chronological system is a system that progresses from an initial state to a final state without loops (cyclic trajectory) or parallel trajectories (branching system). 1.3 Agent-Based Modelling Where clustering focusses on the detection and recognition of spatio-temporal patterns, agent-based modelling is concerned with the reproduction of these patterns. Modellers want to reproduce patterns because they provide information about the system being modelled. If a model is unable to reproduce observed spatio-temporal patterns, it is very likely that the system that produced these patterns is not correctly represented in the model. Modelling techniques that can reproduce emergent behaviour, e.g. Agent-based modelling (ABMs), can be used to model and reproduce complex patterns. Agent-based models are based on individual-based and bottom-up modelling approaches. They assume that systems are emergent and that by applying a Q4. How can models that generate more detailed (vector based) simulation outputs help to compare simulated and empirical data? Q5. How important is the use of spatio-temporal patterns, compared to temporal and spatial patterns, when building geographic ABMs? c. To develop and evaluate methods for the comparison of simulated and empirical patterns so that ABMs can be validated.

Abstract. In 2020, many students could not travel due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic. In response, Faculty ITC of the University of Twente offered the online course Principles and Applications of Geographic Information Systems and Earth Observation as the first quartile of a full presential MSc. Programme. The course used the flipped classroom strategy to enhance student's ability to choose the learning strategy that best fitted their learning styles and was developed around four principles: (1) The course was Exercise led - students were introduced to concepts from the exercise descriptions; (2) Every concept taught was demonstrated and operationalized; (3) To emphasize the focus on concept learning, only two software tools were used - QGIS and the Living Textbook; (4) The software tools should be inclusive and encourage technological independence. The first three elements were evaluated by comparing the student feedback, the evaluation questionnaires and the academic attainment levels of the 2020 course with the in-house. The inclusiveness and technological independence were measured via the institutional impact. The results were positive for the new course setup, with students performing slightly better when compared with 2019 in-house edition of the course. The course had a significant institutional impact by contributing to a deeper commitment to open-source software tools. Open source is now the primary choice for teaching, with ITC becoming a QGIS-certified organization.