1 Teachers training workshops

1.1 Train-the-Teachers Course on Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) technologies

Date: 27th April - 01st May 2023

A five-day Train-the-Teachers Course on Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technologies was organized by the Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka from 27th April to 01st May 2023 from 9.00a.m to 5.00p.m at the staff development centre, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Around 40 Participants from the partner universities, along with the staff from the Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, participated in the workshop. The resource persons were Prof. Vassilis Gikas from the National Technical University of Athens, Prof. Gunther Retscher and Dr.Jelena Gabel from the Technical University of Wein. Participants were given an opportunity to learn about GNSS technology and modernization and also some hands-on experience with cutting-edge GNSS devices.

1.2 Train-the-Teachers Course on Location-Based Services and Multimedia Cartography

Date: 20th - 24th February 2023

From 20-24 February 2023, the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, hosted the third train-the-teachers workshop of the LBS2ITS project. The primary objective of this workshop was to train the participating lecturers from the four Sri Lankan partner universities in domain knowledge regarding Location-based Services (LBS) and Multimedia Cartography, as well as on didactic strategies and concepts.

1.3 Train-the-Teachers course on “Data and Models in Transportation.”

Date: 7th - 11th November 2022

A five-day Train-the-Teachers Course on “Data and models in transportation” was held at TU Dresden from the 7th - 11th November 2022. Project members of the Faculty of Geomatics, Mr.Vipula Abeyratne, Dr Homindra Divithure, Dr Nishamanie Ranashinghe and Mr Rajavarathan Jenan participated in the workshop representing the faculty along with the project members from other partner universities. The aim of the workshop was to highlight the advantage of the modern usage of the statistical programming language R based on the tidyverse package family. Further, participants were given hands-on experience in data analysis and visualization with R and Transportation modelling with MATSim.

1.4 Re-training of Teachers in EU with an emphasis on Gender Equity

Dr. AK Rasika Nishamanie Ranasinghe, a Senior Lecturer from Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka participated in a training program named “Female Re- training of teachers in the EU with an emphasis on gender equity”under WP 3.8 aligning to the ERASMUS+ project of Curricula Enrichment delivered through the Application of Location-based Services to Intelligent Transport Systems (LBS2ITS) during the period of 15th of September 2024 to 06th of October 2024 in the School of Rural, Surveying and Geo-informatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Several activities were conducted in order to enhance the collaborative research idea and GNSS data collection activities for the evaluation of PNT potential of low-cost devices that are relevant to the scope of LBS2ITS project. The positional capabilities of Samsung S23, Redmi note 12 Pro 5G, XiomiMi 8, Google Pixel 5, Stonex S70 Tablet, and TRIUMPH-1 GNSS Receiver were tested with different Static and kinematic scenarios. She was also fortunate to visit the Researcher’s Night for all the Universities and Research Centers by National Technical University of Athens, consistent with its appointment for the eleventh consecutive year of Attica on Friday, September 27, 2024 from 5 pm to 10 pm in the emblematic Averof building of the Patisia Historical Complex.

1.5 ERASMUS+ LBS2ITS Project Dissemination Conference Highlights Successes in Sri Lankan Universities, TU Wien

The LBS2ITS Erasmus+ project successfully concluded its Dissemination Workshop on 09th September 2024, held at TechnischeUniversität Wien, Austria, from 10:00 to 16:00 hrs. The event showcased the remarkable outcomes and progress achieved by partner universities in Sri Lanka and abroad. Key participants from Sri Lanka and Europe, including representatives from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), University of Moratuwa (UoM), General Sir John KotelawalaDefence University (KDU), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL), and TechnischeUniversität Dresden Germany, National Technical University of Athens shared their achievements and the long-term impact of the project. Participants from TU Wien included Jelena Gabela Majic, Guenther Retscher, Hans Neuner, Anne Struempf, and Max Brandstaetter. Representing the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) were VassilisGikas and FotisNtagiantas, while Jonas Krombachattended fromTechnischeUniversität Dresden. The delegation from the General Sir John KotelawalaDefence University (KDU) included NamaliSirisoma, PradeepKalansooriya, Manjula Pradeep, and Ashen Wanniarachchi. The University of Moratuwa (UoM) was represented by AmilaJayasinghe, H.R. Pasindu, V.V. Adikariwattage, and NiroshanSanjaya. From the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ),Choolaka attended, while the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL) was represented by A.K.R.N.Ranasinghe, H.Divithure, H.M.I. Prasanna, and . G.S.N. Perera. The final dissemination workshop was a fitting conclusion to an impactful Erasmus+ project that has transformed the educational landscape of Sri Lankan universities. Through the introduction of advanced technologies, modernized curricula, and strengthened research collaborations, the participating institutions are better equipped to meet both academic and national objectives. The conference celebrated these achievements, ensuring the legacy of the Erasmus+ project will continue to foster innovation and sustainability in education.

1.6 LBS2ITS Development and Quality Control Workshop Recap: A Week of Collaboration and Exchange, TU Wien

The days after the Dissemination Conference in Vienna, we took the opportunity that attendees from all four Sri Lankan and all three european project partners came together in person to hold another workshop, as the project will come to an end in mid-December.The main goals of the workshop were to follow up on the remaining open tasks and work packages, to take care of the internal quality control of the project and to also take the opportunity for networking and teaching experience with different departments of TU Wien.The first part of the workshop focused on finalising open tasks and work packages, project management, financial matters, and ensuring internal quality control. Within the neworking and teaching experience, we had the chance to meet Prof. Thomas Dillinger from TUW’s Department of Spatial Planning to present the organisation of their study programmes followed by a lively question and answer session regarding spatial planning in Austria and future opportunities for student exchange.Dr. Heidemarie Schaar and Prof. Norbert Kreuzinger from the Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Water Quality, presented their institute’s current research topics and Austria’s ongoing issues with Wastewater Management. We also had the chance to take part in a geodesy student’s master thesis defence and Prof. Hans Neuner led a discussion on evaluation of teaching and how this is done at TUW. Apart from the work on the project and the networking and exchange activities, we had the chance to take a tour through Austria’s Parliament which underwent a huge renovation a few years ago and is now open to the pubic accompanied by a tour guide. To top off the time in Vienna, we had the special opportunity to get invited to meet His Excellency, Ambassador of Sri Lanka at his office.

2 Project activities

2.1 Meeting of Prof Gunther and Prof Vassilis to SUSL

Date: 10th - 11th February 2022

Prof Gunther from the Technical University of Wien, Austria and Prof Vassislis from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece had a two day visit to the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. During the visit, visitors had a great look on the university infrastructure and also conducted discussions in several aspect of LBS2ITS for development of Location Based Service infrastructure in the Faculty of Geomatics and in Sri Lanka, development of memorandum of understanding between SUSL and other governmental organizations related to LBS in Sri Lanka. Further, plans for TTT course on Alternative Positioning Techniques were also completed during the discussion.

2.2 GNSS for Surveyors (MS 214) - GNSS course for Masters in Faculty of Geomatics

Faculty of Graduate Studies with the collaboration of the Faculty of Geomatics are conducting a Master degree program which mainly focused on introducing and promoting modern surveying techniques or in another name modern precise positioning and navigation techniques for the professionals and graduates. This course module is directed to Masters degree students to get the practical experience about GNSS technology and practice actual surveying tasks using the modern GNSS positioning instruments.

2.3 GeoWeek - The place where Academia and Industry comes together

The main purpose of GEOWEEK is to strengthen the relationship between the industry and the academia in Geospatial Science and its practical applications. Apart from that, the event focuses on stimulating research in the discipline of Geospatial Science and promoting scientific exchange among researchers and scholars. GEOWEEK leads various open discussion forums, round table discussions, trade exhibitions related to the Geospatial industry, several technical sessions with invited speakers, industry experts and workshops. The natal of the GEOWEEK dates back to 27th November 2021 as it was the emblem to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. The legacy continues as an annual event of the calendar of the Faculty of Geomatics.

2.4 LBS2ITS Curriculum Enrichment workshop

The workshop was held from 14th - 25th December 2023 at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. This workshop held as a part of the ongoing Location Based Services to Intelligent Transport Systems (LBS2ITS) project funded by Erasmus+ grant. And it was organized as a part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project ‘Curricula Enrichment for Sri Lankan Universities delivered through the application of Location-Based Services to Intelligent Transport Systems’ (LBS2ITS).

Through the project, Faculty of Geomatics highly benefitted through several aspects such as equipment grants, modernization and inclusion of new course modules to the undergraduate and post graduate syllabuses. Through number of Train-the-teachers courses, conducted through this project, lecturers from four Sri Lankan universities are collaboratively involved in knowledge sharing sessions with partner university members from Greece, Germany and Austria.

The experience and knowledge gained through the participation in these workshops are highly valuable for the development of existing curriculum, educational system and research activities at Faculty of Geomatics.