Kyiv, 8 August 2025 – Representatives from five Ukrainian communities recently completed a two-day training session to build skills in creating high-precision geospatial data – a critical asset for post-war recovery and sustainable development at the local level.  

The training was held on 28–29 July 2025 as part of the third round of the Knowledge Hub for Recovery and Development, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine with financial support from the Government of Germany. 

On the first day of training, participants were introduced to the technical tools and software used for aerial imagery collection. They also learned the fundamentals of planning spatial data acquisition missions. The participants practiced the complete data collection cycle through structured indoor simulations – from equipment setup and mission design, to data capture and export. 

The second day focused on hands-on field exercises. Working in teams, participants performed real-life aerial imaging tasks, organized geotagged datasets, and did initial quality checks. The collected imagery was then used to demonstrate how to generate orthophotos and integrate them into Geographic Information Systems (GISs). The session also reinforced knowledge from previous training rounds, which included GIS basics, address registry management and mobile data collection. 

Special attention was given to best practices for ensuring data accuracy, documentation and metadata management. The purpose of this was to enable the integration of collected materials into official datasets, such as the National Geoportal. 

Up-to-date orthophotos generated from collected data are essential tools for local governments. They support damage assessment, cadastral updates, recovery planning, and data-informed decision-making. 

Tetiana Hrunska, Deputy Head of the Balakliia City Administration (Kharkiv Oblast), one of the training participants, praised the two-day course.

“(There were) excellent instructors, (and) an excellent team,” Hrunska said. “I want to sincerely thank you for giving our ‘land specialists,’ as we call them, wings. You provided them with the tools they need. They want to work, they want to grow.” 

Background:

The training programme was developed and organized by UNDP with the support of UADamage as part of the “Strengthening Evidence-Based Recovery in Ukraine” project. The Government of Germany provided financial support. The Knowledge Hub for Recovery and Development is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre. The goal is to improve local capacities for data-driven planning and decision-making. 

Media inquiries:  

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy, yuliia.samus@undp.org