TSPC News

The ever-present topic of Big Data was once again in the spotlight with the talk by Chrys Margaritidis on the ethical implications of Big Data, particularly addressing the field of geographic information systems (GIS). This public lecture, organized by the OSUN GeoHub project, was held at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) on June 7 and gathered an audience both in-person and online.
The talk recognized the predominant role of Big Data and metadata in our daily lives. One day we are witnessing the positive impact of Big Data analytics on consumer experience and the management of global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The next day, we hear about the misuse of personal information by technology giants like Facebook and Cambridge Analytica or the reports about the effect of fake news on the electoral process.
Focusing more on the potential "dark" side of Big Data, the lecture discussed such examples as predictive policing, real-time surveillance, and pre-emptive punishment, showing how otherwise beneficial uses of Big Data can pose significant risks to our society if we don’t develop a comprehensive understanding of their importance and an ethical framework to handle their potential consequences. The last part of the presentation explored the challenges in the GIS field, particularly looking at the ways the geospatial data is gathered, stored, analyzed, and used.
The lecture sparked a lively discussion among both online and in-person participants about the ethical aspects of Big Data and GIS, highlighting the relevance and importance of the issue and encouraging further exploration of this crucial topic.

This study was conducted as part of the technical support provided to the Tourism Department by the SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility, which is funded by the European Union.

ArcGIS is ESRI's most advanced professional desktop GIS application. ArcGIS software allows AUCA students to explore and visualize data, create 2D and 3D maps, perform spatial analysis, and manage geographic data

On March 9, the Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) held a presentation of research topics for 15 volunteer students from Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan aimed at implementing data projects.
 

For Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia and landlocked, land is an integral part of its national economy.

Main objective of the research is to improve current understanding of the causes and impacts of the winter air pollution in Bishkek.

AUCA prepared a National Action Plan for the Prevention and Response to Hurricane-force Winds and Possible Dust and SandStorms in the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2021-2030.

Within the framework of the PERETO project, COVID Free Guide with the focus on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) was developed for the HoReCa segment in Kyrgyzstan.

On September 9, the PERETO project held its official kick-off event. The project is unique for Central Asia, as there has not yet been such an integrated approach on energy and sustainable use of natural resources in the tourism industry in the region.

The American University of Central Asia is seeking a contractor to develop a website for the PERETO project on a secure open source platform, outside the main AUCA website.