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TOPIO

Towards Democratic Landscape Observation Through Geoinformatics and Public Participation

09/04/2026

IFLA World Congress | 10–12 September 2025 🌍

The research team of J&G Engineering & Architecture Ltd participated in the International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress 2025, presenting the paper:
“Participatory Landscape Governance in the Akamas Peninsula: A Bottom-Up Approach through the Project”

♟️ The presentation was part of the thematic track With Society: Participatory Approaches and Governance Strategies

The contribution highlighted the Akamas Peninsula in Cyprus 🇨🇾 as a pilot area of the EU-funded TOPIO project, showcasing how tools such as Public Participation GIS, Earth Observation 🛰️, citizen science 👥, and stakeholder workshops can support inclusive and evidence-based landscape governance in protected areas.

The presentation sparked strong interest in:
• integrating community knowledge into landscape management
• the role of digital participatory platforms in long-term stewardship 💡

🏞️ The Akamas case demonstrated how bottom-up approaches can bridge conservation priorities with local values, offering a replicable model for Natura 2000 and Mediterranean landscapes.

09/02/2026

📅 On 7 December, the team had the opportunity to present the project at the 3rd Conference On Participatory Design (participatory LAB) at the Agricultural University of Athens, within the session “Layers of Evidence: Decoding Conflicts, Cities and Landscapes.”
👥 Alongside researchers, professors and scientists, we shared insights from our work “Citizen Science and Public Participation in Landscape Governance,” with a focus on the case study area in Crete.
🌍 The presentation showcased how TOPIO brings together geoinformatics, Earth Observation and AI, combined with participatory methods, to support more inclusive and transparent landscape governance across Europe. By merging scientific data with citizen observations, participatory mapping, co-design workshops and local experiential knowledge, TOPIO contributes to more informed and democratic decision-making.
🤝 We appreciated the opportunity to contribute to a session that explored landscape and urban challenges from diverse perspectives. A big thank you to the organisers and participants for the rich and productive discussions that followed.

09/01/2026

🌍⁀જ✈️︎ From Crete to Rome!
This summer, George Lampropoulos from the Institute for Mediterranean Studies - FORTH (Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas) continued his journey with the project through a secondment in Rome during July and August.
🌐 During his stay, George worked on advancing Work Package 5, focusing on land use / land cover analysis using Earth Observation techniques, a key step toward improving how we understand and manage landscapes sustainably.
🤝 Special thanks go to Virginia and Vito from the Department of Environmental Biology of Sapienza Università di Roma whose warm welcome and invaluable support made the secondment both productive and enjoyable.

19/12/2025

🛶Continuing our series we're visiting Belgium 🇧🇪 and the river Scheldt.
🗺️ Flowing through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, the Scheldt connects diverse landscapes, from tidal wetlands and estuaries to vibrant urban centres. It is a lifeline for biodiversity, cultural heritage, and economic activity, shaped by centuries of human interaction with the river.
🔭 The River Scheldt is an evolving landscape where ecological restoration, water management, and sustainable development converge. It offers a living example of how river systems can adapt to climate change, reconnect with floodplains, and restore habitats, while continuing to support navigation, agriculture, and urban life.
🏞️ Stretching from tidal estuaries and wetlands to vibrant port cities and rural hinterlands, the Scheldt area is home to migratory birds, rare aquatic species, and cultural landscapes shaped by dikes, polders, and centuries of human ingenuity. It embodies both vulnerability and resilience, reflecting the constant dialogue between nature and society.
🤝 brings together science, river, and people to imagine and co-create a thriving and resilient Scheldt landscape for generations to come.

03/12/2025

🚀 We are excited to announce the launch of the project newsletter!
🔗 Stay connected with TOPIO and explore how we support stronger public engagement and more inclusive decision-making for the landscapes we share.
🔔 Subscribe through our website to receive the first issue of the TOPIO newsletter, featuring the latest project updates, key achievements, our initiatives, events, and outcomes!
🗺️ Let’s discover TOPIO together. Join our journey!
👉 Subscribe today and follow every step of the project: https://lnkd.in/dr9nthyQ

17/11/2025

On October 22, we gathered in Rethymno, Crete, for a meaningful and hands-on thematic workshop as part of the project.

Hosted at the premises of Institute for Mediterranean Studies - FORTH, the project’s coordinating partner, the workshop brought together members of the Institute to engage in participatory mapping of Land Description Units for the Greek case study: the wider area in western Chania.

🤝 Together, we reflected on landscape characteristics, shared local knowledge, and co-created insights that will guide TOPIO’s scientific work.
🧭 Through collaborative discussion and participatory mapping, participants explored and documented the key features shaping the Falasarna landscape.
This activity contributed significantly to advancing the project’s objectives, strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue, and deepening our collective understanding of landscape dynamics in the region.

🗺️ Falasarna is one of the six TOPIO case study areas across Europe (Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium).

Learn more at https://topioproject.eu/

16/10/2025

🎬 Last Day in Portugal – Autumn School 2025 Wrap-Up!
The 2nd TOPIO Autumn School concluded last Friday with a field trip around the municipality of Chamusca, visiting the surroundings of the Observatório da Paisagem da Charneca, the project’s case study area in Portugal 🇵🇹
🚗 Partners visited places from the industrial zone of the Relvão Eco Park to the historic Castelo de Almourol, discussing land uses, landscape changes, and how the local community reacts and adapts to them in a constant circle.
🌅 Following the Tagus River, the group reached the Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Pranto in the center of Chamusca just in time to see the sunset.
💬 The Autumn School ended with the partners’ meeting back at the Observatório da Paisagem da Charneca, focusing on the project’s progress, the Work Packages, the secondments, and the general planning for the next period.
🍰A…sweet surprise awaited us as our hosts had prepared a special TOPIO cake, marking the end of the School and the partners’ gathering in Portugal.
See you next year in 🇮🇹 Italy, for the 3rd TOPIO Autumn School!

10/10/2025

📚🍂 2nd Autumn School – Day 2 & 3 Highlights!
The second Autumn School of TOPIO continues at the Observatório da Paisagem da Charneca in Chamusca, Portugal 🇵🇹 .

🤝 Nine partners from six countries continue to exchange insights and experiences during this year’s School, Specialized Lecture, and Workshop.
💬 On the evening of the second day, the workshop “Transformações em Curso no Território da Chamusca”, hosted by Guilherme Saad Ximenes and Joana Dias from Instituto Superior Técnico, brought together over 22 participants from the local community. Discussions and interactive activities focused on landscape change and how people perceive the transformations taking place in their region.

🎓 The third day began with reflections on the workshop outcomes, followed by the second round of Topical Lectures, featuring:

🛰️Advancing Landscape Character Assessment and Participatory Landscape Monitoring through Geoinformatics — Dimitrios Alexakis, Institute for Mediterranean Studies - FORTH
🗺️ A Digital Twin Interface Based on Visitor’s Insights at the TOPIO Pilot Sites — Anna Papadima, Geosystems Hellas
🌱 Participatory Approaches and Tools for Nature Conservation and Awareness — Vito Emanuele Cambria, Sapienza Università di Roma
💪 Empowering Citizens in Landscape Decisions: Valuing Their Opinions and Fostering Engagement — Stella Koukosoula, J&G Engineering & Architecture Ltd

🔭 👨‍🏫The session concluded with a lecture by invitee speaerr, Assoc. Prof. Claudia Cassatella (Politecnico di Milano) on “The Role of Landscape Observatories for Fostering Participatory Planning”, sharing valuable insights from Italy and across Europe.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Autumn School unfolds!

08/10/2025

📚🍂 The second Autumn School of has officially begun!
All smiles as 9 partners from 6 countries gather at the Observatório da Paisagem da Charneca in Casal do Gavião, Gaviãozinho, Chamusca, Portugal! 🇵🇹

The opening day featured a warm welcome from Graça Saraiva and our hosts at Casal do Gavião, followed by introductions to the Autumn School from Prof. Isabel Loupa-Ramos (Instituto Superior Técnico) and Dr. Dimitrios Alexakis, Principal Researcher and Project Coordinator (Institute for Mediterranean Studies - FORTH).

Prof. Maria José Prados (Universidad de Sevilla) presented the topical lecture:

“Renewables yes, but not like this. Landscape sensitivity and shared value strategies in the energy transition.”

🌳 Participants also explored the surrounding landscape, discussing how environmental changes and the ongoing energy transition are shaping the local community. 💬

This afternoon, the program continues with the workshop “Transformações em Curso no Território da Chamusca”, led by Guilherme Saad Ximenes and Joana Dias (Instituto Superior Técnico), focusing on local community perspectives.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Autumn School unfolds here in Portugal!

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