Reproducible Spatial Ecology: Visualization, Reporting, and AI-Assisted Workflows with R (RSPE01)
Learn spatial ecological data visualisation in R. Master mapping, remote sensing, publication-quality graphics, accessible colour scales, and reproducible workflows.
Duration: 4 Days, 4 hours per day
Next Date: July 13-16, 2026
Format: Live Online Format
Portugal (GMT) local time - All sessions will be recorded and made available to ensure accessibility for attendees across different time zones.
£350Registration Fee
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Course Description
Spatial ecology, reproducibility, transparency, and effective communication are now central to ecological research. This course provides a practical and modern workflow for spatial ecology, combining data visualization, reproducible reporting, and artificial intelligence–assisted coding within the R environment.
Participants will learn how to manage, analyze, visualize, and communicate spatial ecological data using Quarto, LaTeX, and state-of-the-art R tools. The course emphasizes reproducible documents and presentations, publication-quality figures, and efficient coding strategies supported by AI tools. All sessions integrate hands-on examples based on real ecological and spatial datasets.
What You’ll Learn
During the course you will learn how to:
- Build fully reproducible research documents using Quarto
- Create publication-quality spatial visualizations in R
- Manage and analyze spatial ecological data
- Produce dynamic Quarto presentations for talks and teaching
- Write and compile scientific documents using LaTeX
- Integrate AI-assisted coding to improve efficiency and code quality
- Design transparent and reusable workflows for ecological research
Course Format
Interactive Learning Format
Each day features a well-balanced combination of lectures and hands-on practical exercises, with dedicated time for discussing participants’ own data, time permitting.
Global Accessibility
All live sessions are recorded and made available on the same day, ensuring accessibility for participants across different time zones.
Collaborative Discussions
Open discussion sessions provide an opportunity for participants to explore specific research questions and engage with instructors and peers.
Comprehensive Course Materials
All code, datasets, and presentation slides used during the course will be shared with participants by the instructor.
Personalized Data Engagement
Participants are encouraged to bring their own data for discussion and practical application during the course.
Post-Course Support
Participants will receive continued support via email for 30 days following the course, along with on-demand access to session recordings for the same period.
Who Should Attend / Intended Audiences
This course is intended for researchers, academics, and postgraduate students working with spatial or ecological data. A basic familiarity with R is recommended.
Equipment and Software requirements
A laptop or desktop computer with a functioning installation of R and RStudio is required. Both R and RStudio are free, open-source programs compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
A working webcam is recommended to support interactive elements of the course. We encourage participants to keep their cameras on during live Zoom sessions to foster a more engaging and collaborative environment.
While not essential, using a large monitor—or ideally a dual-monitor setup—can significantly enhance your learning experience by allowing you to view course materials and work in R simultaneously.
All necessary R packages will be introduced and installed during the workshop. A comprehensive list of required packages will also be shared with participants ahead of the course to allow for optional pre-installation.
Prof. Duccio Rocchini
Duccio is a spatial ecologist and remote sensing specialist whose work focuses on the integration of computational methods and open-source tools to measure and monitor biodiversity. His research explores the theoretical and applied dimensions of spatial ecology, with a strong emphasis on using satellite data, spectral diversity metrics, and landscape models to understand biodiversity patterns across scales.
Duccio’s career spans international collaborations with institutions such as the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Nottingham (UK), the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (India), and UCLA. His early work in remote sensing and biodiversity laid the foundation for his continued focus on reproducible, open-source approaches in ecology.
Since 2019, Duccio has been Full Professor at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna. Prior to this, he served as Associate Professor at the University of Trento and as a researcher at Fondazione Edmund Mach, where he was part of the GRASS GIS and Remote Sensing Group. He is a prominent advocate for open algorithms in spatial ecology and actively contributes to methodological advances in ecological modelling.
Education & Career
• PhD in Ecology with a focus on remote sensing and biodiversity (2005)
• Full Professor, University of Bologna (since 2019)
• Associate Professor, University of Trento (2017–2019)
• Researcher at Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento (2009–2017)
• Collaborator with international institutions including USGS, UCLA, and ATREE (India)
Research Focus
Duccio’s research investigates how remotely sensed data and spatial models can quantify biodiversity and ecological change. He specialises in spectral diversity, spatial scaling, landscape metrics, and the development of open-source tools to support ecological theory and conservation applications.
Current Projects
• Development of spectral diversity indices for biodiversity monitoring
• Open-source algorithm design for spatial and theoretical ecology
• Cross-institutional research on scaling laws and landscape complexity in biodiversity science
Professional Consultancy
Duccio advises research groups and institutions on remote sensing applications, biodiversity modelling, and open-source GIS implementation. He is also active in promoting open science and reproducible research within the ecological community.
Teaching & Skills
• Expert in remote sensing, GIS, spatial modelling, and spectral diversity
• Experienced educator in ecology, spatial analysis, and biodiversity assessment
• Advocate for open-source tools and reproducible computational ecology
Links
• ResearchGate
Session 1 – 02:00:00 – Core Spatial Visualization
- Principles of spatial data visualization
- Raster visualization with ggplot2
- Exploring and visualizing spatial variability
Session 2 – 02:00:00 – Multivariate Spatial Visualization
- Fundamentals of multivariate spatial visualization
- Dimensionality reduction and interpretation
- Advanced multivariate visual summaries
Session 3 – 02:00:00 – Vector Data and Density Mapping
- Hexagon binning for spatial data aggregation
- Visualization of vector spatial data
- Density maps and spatial intensity patterns
Session 4 – 02:00:00 – Cartography and Perceptual Design
- Cartograms and value-by-area representations
- Color blindness and accessible color scales
- Bivariate maps for multivariate spatial patterns
Session 5 – 02:00:00 – Virtual Species and Spatial Simulation
- Virtual species and simulated spatial data for ecological analysis
Session 6 – 02:00:00 – Quarto for Presentations
- Creating reproducible presentations with Quarto
- Integrating code, figures, and narrative
- AI-assisted workflows for slide creation
Session 7 – 02:00:00 – LaTeX for Scientific Documents
- Structuring scientific articles and reports
- Figures, tables, equations, and references
- Reproducible documents using LaTeX, R, and AI
Session 8 – 02:00:00 – LaTeX Presentations
- Scientific presentations with LaTeX (Beamer)
- Design principles for effective academic talks
- AI-assisted document and slide generation
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
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