The Land Potential-Knowledge System (LandPKS; landpotential.org), a joint USAID-USDA program, was created to help put valuable information about the land, including climate, soils, and vegetation, in the hands of land managers across the world. LandPKS does this through the use of their free, open-source LandPKS mobile app that allows users to enter data about their land and receive valuable results right on the phone. Sound like a useful tool for you and your work? Want to learn more about using the LandPKS app as well as accessing and interpreting your results on the phone and on the LandPKS Data Portal (portal.landpotential.org)? Now it is as easy as accessing our new online LandPKS training at http://learn.landpotential.org/. You can create an account to track your progress or use the training as a guest. If you have any trouble accessing the training, please contact us as contact@landpotential.org.
We have created this online LandPKS training so that it can be completed by anyone, anywhere, at any time. The LandPKS team gets requests to conduct LandPKS trainings all over the world, and unfortunately we are unable to fulfill most these requests due to time and budgetary constraints. With this online training, now LandPKS users anywhere can complete the online training without waiting for an in-person training or consultation. This makes it easier than ever to learn how to effectively use LandPKS for making more sustainable land use decisions. Upon completion of this training, participants should be able to:
- Use the app independently when it runs smoothly,
- Access the Data Portal, and
- Analyze and interpret the output in specific application contexts.
The online training can be completed in its entirely, or a participant can choose which sections they wish to complete. There are currently seven sections including:
- Introduction to the LandPKS App
- Collecting Data with LandInfo
- Collecting Data with LandCover
- LandPKS Data Portal: Accessing Data
- LandPKS Data Portal: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- LandPKS Phone Output: Accessing, Analyzing, and Interpreting Data
- Training Conclusion
Our online training was adapted from the One-Day LandPKS Training that was developed in Nairobi, Kenya by Amy Quandt (LandPKS Global Coordinator), Michaela Buenemann (Associate Professor of Geography, New Mexico State University), and Lillian Ndugu at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). The full One-Day Training Materials are available upon request and meant to guide an instructor in teaching a full in-person training on LandPKS. If you would like access to this full training, please e-mail us at contact@landpotential.org.