| CODE | DGA2031 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Spatial Intelligence | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Digital Arts | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit builds upon foundational spatial information principles and advances students’ understanding from geographical data to spatial intelligence. It introduces spatial intelligence as the structured integration of location-based data, contextual information, and analytical reasoning to support understanding, decision-making and action in both real and virtual environments. Students will examine how spatial relationships operate across physical, natural and social environments, including interactions between people, infrastructure, ecosystems and digital representations. The unit explores how spatial intelligence emerges when diverse datasets are contextualised, interpreted and integrated within coherent systems rather than treated as isolated data layers. The study-unit also introduces the governance, ethical and legal frameworks that regulate the use of spatial data and intelligent systems. These include data protection and privacy principles, spatial data infrastructures, algorithmic accountability and emerging AI regulation. Legislative instruments such as GDPR, DPIA, INSPIRE Directive, the AI Act and others. Emphasis is placed on understanding that spatial intelligence must be legitimate, protected and responsibly deployed to be effective. Through applied examples and analytical exercises, students will learn how spatial intelligence supports planning, policy development, environmental management, security, social analysis and immersive digital environments. Study-Unit Aims: - Develop students’ understanding of spatial intelligence as an integrative analytical process - Examine relationships between location, environment and human activity across real and virtual domains - Introduce the transition from DIKA (data to information to knowledge to action) model - Promote awareness of legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks governing spatial and intelligent systems - Promote interdisciplinary understanding of inter-domain and intra-domain information integration as a pivot for spatial intelligence - Prepare students for advanced study-units in spatial immersion, visualisation and XR environments Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the concept of spatial intelligence and how it differs from spatial data and spatial information - Describe spatial relationships between physical, natural and social environments - Discuss the progression from data to information to knowledge to action within spatial systems - Identify the role of real and virtual environments in contemporary spatial intelligence applications - Describe the different legislative instruments and their vitality for spatial information - Recognise the importance of governance, protection and system integration in spatial intelligence 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse spatial relationships using contextual and multi-layered information - Critically evaluate spatial intelligence outputs and their implications for decision-making - Integrate spatial datasets into coherent analytical narratives - Apply ethical reasoning and legal awareness to spatial intelligence use-cases - Communicate spatial intelligence concepts clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences - Communicate effectively with entities and individuals on the ground through discourse on privacy, data protection, DPIA and relevant tools Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: View reading list |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Cannataci Frankie Farrugia Saviour Formosa (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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