Fields of Expertise:
Design, set-up and management of Geographic Information Systems, geo-databases, WEbGIS Applications including mobile tools for data collection and monitoring.
Capacity Building and institutional support in geographic information tools to support Urban Planning, Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, Agriculture and Environment.
Project Appraisal, Management, Administration and Evaluation, Logical Framework Analysis.
Urban green area mangement, ecosystem services, inventory of urban greeneries.
University Education:
1984-1991: University of Florence, Faculty of Agriculture, Course in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture.
1991 Degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture with full votes (110/110) Thesis: Monitoring of the Vegetation in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Additional Qualifications:
• Strong interpersonal, organisational and team-working skills
• Professional computer knowledge; in particular Database, Analysis and GIS software;
experienced knowledge of major word processing and desktop publishing software.
• Clean “A” and “B” driving license
Professional Experience
January 2005 – now: Managing director of the company R3 GIS
Since 2005 I have been managing the GIS software and consulting company R3 GIS.
Activities include technical, administrative and financial management of the company, project management and senior consultant on a wide range of GIS projects for clients in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Russia. Major clients are Municipalities, Regional governments, private companies. I am mainly involved in the analysis and design of information systems including databases, GIS, Web interfaces and mobile devices.
I have also been responsible for several EU-funded Projects dealing with Geospatial data. In particular within the project Interreg IT-CH FreeGIS.net I coordinated the implementation of a multilingual and interoperable WebGIS Plattform for managing, publishing and editing INSPIRE-compliant transboundary data. I am the overall coordinator of the LIFE Urbangreen Project, funded under the LIFE 2017 Programme, and of the VERDEVALE Project funde under the Interreg IT-CH Programme 2014-2020.
June 2010: Consultant to the Nature Protection Investment Project, Institute for International Relations – IMO, Zagreb.
Identification of methods of conversion into electronic formats for existing historical data related to definition of protected areas boundaries and identification of needs and methods to develop communication protocol(s) for data collection, exchange, verification, access, and sharing of species inventory and monitoring data, taking into account the INSPIRE directive.
June 2003 – July 2007: Team Leader for Consulting Services to the Karst Ecosystem Biodiversity Conservation Project
As a Team Leader I was coordinating the activities of approx. 120 experts on behalf of Agriconsulting S.p.A. for the implementation of the technical part of the Karst Ecosystem Conservation Project in Croatia, an 8.000.000 US$ project funded by the World Bank Global Environment Facility (GEF) to improve the management of 5 national parks in the karst area of Croatia. Activities include overall technical coordination, participation to meetings and negotiations with the Government of Croatia and the World Bank, technical input into the design and implementation of a GIS-based information system, coordination of input on tourism, infrastructure, fauna and flora inventories, transboundary activities, tourism, small enterprises development and in the compilation of managemen plans for Plitvice, Risnjak, Northern Velebit, Velebit and Paklenica Protected Areas.
January 2002 – July 2003: Free lance consultant for GIS and databases.
The major assignments carryed out are:
– EU Natural Forest Management and conservation Project: Development of database
applications for the Uganda Forest Department
– FAO/UNDP/GEF East African Cross-Border Biodiversity Protection Project: technical assistance in the field of GIS for forest management and conservation planning in the Forest Departments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania;
– Politecnico di Milano, Italy: Conversion of GIS data for the Region Lombardia into the new national database standard Dbprior10K.
– Provincial Government of Bolzano: Development of GIS Legends and Templates for the new technical map of the province
– Compagnia Generale Riprese Aeree S.p.A. Parma, Assistance for the preparation of technical documents for a tender
– Geomatica Srl., Lavis: technical Assistance in the field of GIS, databases and cartography
– Municipality of Merano, Italy: technical Assistance in the field of GIS and databases, development, set-up and management of an integrated information system
– Municipality of Merano: development of a database on trees and green areas with GIS component over the Internet.
January 2000 – December 2001: Italy, City of Merano: GIS Manager.
Setup and management of a GIS System within a local administration with 400 employees.
The Town of Merano is the first town in the country of South Tyrol to set up an integrated shared GIS system for management, planning and information on the Municipal Territory. I was responsible for:
– development of database specifications,
– creation of a GIS with links to existing tabular databases,
– development of applications to make the data accessible through the Intranet and Internet,
– development of procedures for the regular update of the information,
– management of contracts with external consultants for data acquisition and specific tasks
– Development of an interactive GIS WebSite
– Training of staff in the uise and management of the GIS.
April-May 2001: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, FAO: FAO-UNDP-GEF Biodiversity Project: “Reducing Biodiversity Loss at Cross Border Sites in East Africa” (UNTS/RAF/008/GEF), Regional Consultancy on Geographic Information Systems in Forest Planning.
I have been working on the Project in developing GIS capacity at National level in the three countries where it operates. The one-month mission included an assessment of existing facilities and capacities, the set-up of hard- and software in each of the three countries and the training of project and Government staff, the development of simple zonation map models and
biodiversity value, use and threat map models, so as to demonstrate the use of the map based system in forestry management plans. There will be a follow-up mission after 12 months.
April 1999 – December 1999: Uganda – EU: Technical Advisor to the EU-funded Natural Forest Management and Conservation Project on GIS/GPS applications and database development with training and capacity building of staff within the Forestry Department.
The Uganda Forest Department was in the process of improving data collection and monitoring techniques in the field with the assistance of the EC-funded Natural Forest Management and Conservation project. The Expert was contracted for a three-month period to:
– Build capacity in handling and analysing data collected from all over the country, including the design of custom databases in Access and the training of FD staff on it’s use.
– Develop a methodology to map forest boundaries in the field using a GPS system with satellite differential correction and train FD staff on it in the field; test the DGPS system and compile documentation and training material; based on the findings prepare a proposal to be carried out over 5 years in the next phase of the project.
– Develop applications to transfer and use the data collected by GPS for management purposes and integrate it in the GIS and in management procedures.
– The production of a CD-Rom with the complete dataset of the Uganda Forest Department Biodiversity Inventory and a manual and description of the database.
– Assistance to FD staff in further development of databases for forest management.
– Training and capacity building in database and GIS issues.
Nov. 1996 – March 1999: Uganda – FAO: GIS/Communications Expert in Project: “Operational Water Resources Management and Information Systems for the Nile Basin Countries” (GCP/RAF/286/ITA)
The project had the main objective to build capacity in eight countries of the Nile Basin (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) to improve water resources planning, develop harmonised water policies and establish a GIS and remote sensing based monitoring system.
Based in Entebbe, Uganda, the Expert was responsible for:
– capacity building in Geographic Information System (GIS), databases and
communications
– procurement and set-up of GIS and GPS equipment in each country and the training in it’s use
– extensive travelling to project countries and assistance in particular to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania in the set up of a GIS unit and a database on hydrological, meteorological and environmental resources,
– development of E-mail communications and Internet capabilities
– assistance to national counterparts in the organisation of workshops, preparation of reports and technical papers.
Training has been carried out through country-specific workshops, on the job training in the
Focal Point Institution in each country and international workshops with participants from all countries.
In addition to the capacity building component the expert has been assisting in the overall management of the project including procurement, administration, contracting of national experts, reporting and planning.
Jan. 1994 – Oct. 1996: Uganda – FAO: Biodiversity Database Advisor in the Project: “Institutional Support for the Protection of East African Biodiversity” (UNO/RAF/006/GEF)
Within the regional East African Biodiversity Project the expert has been supporting the database and GIS activities of the Forest Department and the National Wetland Programme in the Ministry of Environment in Uganda.
The main part of the assignment was carried out in the Forest Department in Kampala, where he has been assisting the implementation of a biodiversity inventory programme assessing the biodiversity, timber resources and human use of Uganda’s Forests, with the aim to zone forests
based on the Man and Biosphere (MAB) model, for optimal biodiversity conservation.
Responsibilities included: advise on hardware and software and set-up of a computerised database, establishment of a biodiversity data management system, organisation and supervision of data entry, analysis of biodiversity information, on the job training of Forest Department Officers and Rangers and support staff, design of data collection forms and testing in the field, use of GIS (ArcInfo, ArcView, Idrisi and MapInfo) to zone forests and to produce Management maps, statistical analysis of inventory data, production and layout of a series of 33 biodiversity reports containing all the data recorded in the field.
The expert assisted also the Department of Environment, National Wetlands Programme (IUCN/Ministry of Natural Resources): on a part time basis, (Jan 1995 – June 1996) to set-up
a database and analyse biodiversity data collected by Uganda’s National Wetlands Programme. Responsibilities include advise on hard- and software, set-up of the database, supervision of data entry, verification of data, on the job training of Government Officers, analysis of the data and assistance in the production of the final report.
Other aspects of the assignment were: liaison with other databases, museums and training institutions worldwide, training of university students on data analysis techniques, writing of scientific publications, participation to international conferences, preparation of manuals on the
use of the database, writing of Internet pages to publicise the activities of the project and compilation of reports for the dissemination of information.
June 1992 – Dec. 1993: Austria – CARE Austria: Head of Development Co-operation Department for the International Organisation CARE Austria.
Based in Vienna I was in charge of the Development Co-operation Programme of CARE Austria.
The responsibilities included project acquisition and development, negotiation with donors, monitoring, reporting, technical and operational backstopping of projects in eastern and southern Africa. In particular I developed proposals and set up projects in:
– Uganda, Environment/Agroforestry: Bushenyi Agricultural Innovations Project
– Kenya, Environment/Agroforestry: Afforestation Programme in co-operation with the Greenbelt Movement
– Zanzibar, Forest Conservation: Jozani Forest Conservation Programme
– Namibia, Small Enterprise Development/Micro-credit: Okawango Training Programme and Okawango Credit Scheme
– Rwanda, Water and Sanitation: Byumba District Water and Sanitation Programme
Feb. – April 1992: Uganda – Agriconsulting/EEC: Consultant for the EC funded project: “Technical Assistance to the Uganda Institute of Ecology” (EDF Project 6100.037.42.031)
Preparation in a team of the Vegetation Map of the protected area system in western Uganda including Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kigezi and Kyambura Game Reserves (Tot. 3,000 km2 ). Responsibilities included:
– Interpretation of panchromatic black and white aerial photographs and stereo plotting of seven 1:50,000 preliminary interpretation maps
– planning, supervision and co-ordination of field survey (ground and aerial techniques)
– data collection in the field including specimen identification
– set-up and organisation of a computerised vegetation database
– analysis of the data and production of a report including a series of seven 1:50,000 vegetation maps
June 1990 – October 1991, Italy and Uganda – University of Florence – Research Officer attached to the Uganda Institute of Ecology: Monitoring of the Vegetation in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.
Co-ordinator of a research programme aimed at understanding the ecological influence of the large decline in large mammals on the vegetation of the Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda and at establishing a permanent long term vegetation monitoring system.
Funded by a grant of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, the programme included a bibliographical study of all previous work in the region, the planning and set-up in the field of permanent plots and transects to monitor the influence of grazing, browsing and trampling of large herbivores and fire, baseline survey of all these areas, including specimen identification,
data analysis. The research was the base for a doctoral thesis and scientific papers.
Publications and reports:
– Paolo Viskanic: “L’innovazione al servizio del verde: dal censimento ad una gestione efficiente per la valorizzazione dei servizi ecosistemici”. Libro Bianco del Verde 2021, pag. 236-242.
– Magdalene Schmid, Mauro Tomasi, Paolo Viskanic: Der Grünplan von Meran, 2021.
– Marta Pederneschi, Paolo Viskanic: The new webgis of the BBT, completely developed of Free Software. SFSCON 2021, Bolzano, Italy.
– Enbrico Boi, Chaira Dell’Orto, Marco Raffaldi, Paolo Viskanic: “Finding the right Approach for a National Underground Infrastructure Register Object” Proceedings of the GI Forum 2013, Salzburg, Austria, Herbert Wichmann Verlag, pag. 15-17.
– Paolo Viskanic, Stamm P., Hopfgartner P., Hummel C., Mapbender, un Content Management System (CMS) geografico. Mondogis Nr. 62/2007, pag. 52-53.
– Viskanic, Paolo, Franceschi, S., Tulumello, C., Überbacher D., Il portale sulle energie rinnovabili della città di Laives. Mondogis Nr. 61/2007, pag. 50-55.
– Di Trapani, Giovanni, Viskanic P., 2007. Il Sistema Informativo Territoriale Integrato della Comunità Montana Valtellina di Tirano. SottoSopra, Laboratorio sottosuolo – Anno I, n. 6 – 5/2007, Regione Lombardia.
– Paolo Viskanic, Natalija Pavlus, Bajica M., Brkljačić A., Gašparac M., Kiš K., Kramarić Z., Lukač G., Pintarić K., Tišma S., 2006. The Karst Ecosystem Conservation Project in Croatia: an example on the role of GIS in the conservation and management of protected areas. Symposium on Nature Protection GIS, Dresden (Germany).
– Paolo Viskanic, 2006. Guidelines for Protected Area Management Planning in Croatia; Karst Ecosystem Conservation Project, Agriconsulting, Rome.
– Francesca Di Maria, Guzzetti F., Privitera A., Viskanic P.; Atti della 9. Conferenza Nazionale ASITA 2005; Progetto “Verde Milano”: il catasto delle aree verdi di Milano e la sua gestione ed aggiornamento con strumenti WebGIS.
– Nicola de Bertoldi, Guzzetti, F., Pelone, A., Viskanic, P., Atti della 9. Conferenza Nazionale ASITA 2005; Formazione del personale del comune di Merano nell’ambito dei sistemi Informativi Territoriali.
– P.Viskanic, Crotta S., Guazzetti F.; la Realizzazione del DBPrior10K della Regione Lombardia. Cartographica n. 4/2003.
– T. Coianiz, Guzzetti, F., Zanvettor, G. e Viskanic, P.; Le problematiche dei rilievi ed aggiornamenti multiscala: il caso dei SIT dell’Alto Adige. Documenti del Territorio, n. 48/2001, pag. 9-16.
– P. Viskanic, G. Giacomuzzi e T. Coianiz, October 2001. L’utilizzo dei dati geografici in vari aspetti dell’Amministrazione Comunale: gli strumenti sviluppati ed in uso nel Comune di Merano. Atti della 5. Conferenza Nazionale ASITA, Rimini, Italy.
– T. Coianiz, G. Guzzetti, P. Viskanic, G. Zanvettor, October 2001. Le problematiche dei rilievi ed aggiornamenti multiscala: il caso dei SIT dell’Alto Adige. Atti della 5. Conferenza Nazionale ASITA, Rimini, Italy.
– T. Coianiz, F. Gambalonga, P.Viskanic, 2001. Quality control and test of 3D geographic data using ESRI software. Proceedings of the 21st Worldwide ESRI User Conference, San Diego, CA, USA.
– Viskanic, P. Coianiz, T., July 2001. Access to GIS data in a large administration using ArcIMS. Proceedings of the 21st Worldwide ESRI User Conference, San Diego, CA, USA.
– Viskanic, P., June 2001. Regional Consultancy on Geographic Information Systems in Forest Planning for the FAO-UNDP-GEF East African Cross-Border Biodiversity Project (UNTS/RAF/008/GEF)
– Viskanic, P., June 2001. GIS Training Manual for Forest Management. FAO-UNDPGEF East African Cross-Border Biodiversity Project (UNTS/RAF/008/GEF), Arusha, Tanzania.
– T. Coianiz, Gambalonga, F., Viskanic, P., February 2001. Dalla Cartografia Numerica ai Sistemi Informativi Territoriali. Rivista dell’Agenzia del Territorio, N. 2/2001, pag. 31-50.
– T. Coianiz, F. Gambalonga, P. Viskanic, 2001. Capitolato speciale d’appalto per la formazione della cartografia tecnica in forma numerica comunale alla scala 1:1000.
Consorzio dei Comuni dell’Alto Adige, Bolzano, Italy.
– P.Viskanic, T. Coianiz. October 2000. GIS in the Local Administration in South Tirol, Italy. In proceeding of the ESRI European, Middle Eastern, and African User Conference 2000. The Poster was awarded the First Prize at the conference.
– Howard, P.C., Davenport, T.R.B., Kigenyi, F.W., Viskanic P., Baltzer M.C., Dickinson, C.J., Lwanga, J., Matthews, R.A. and Mupada, E.,. Protected Area Planning in the Tropics: Uganda‘s national system of forest Nature Reserves. Conservation Biology, Vol. 14, No.3, 858-875.
– Viskanic, P., December 1999. The Uganda Forest Department Biodiversity Database. Description of the database structure (includes a CD-ROM). Forest Department, Kampala, Uganda.
– Viskanic, P., July 1999. Databases, GIS and GPS Applications in the Uganda Forest Department, Forest Department, Kampala, Uganda.
– Viskanic, P., 1999. Manual on the use of the OmniSTAR Differential GPS system, Uganda Forest Department, Kampala.
– Howard, P.C., Viskanic, P. Davenport, T.R.B., Kigenyi, F.W., Baltzer, M., Dickinson, C.J., Lwanga, J.S., Matthews, R.A., Balmford, A., 1998. Complementarity and the use of indicator groups for reserve selection in Uganda. Nature, Vol 34, No. 6692 (30/07/98), 472-475.
– Howard, P.C., Viskanic, P., Kigenyi, F.W., 1997. Biodiversity Assessment for Conservation Planning in Uganda’s Forests in Proceedings of the conference “Assessment of Biodiversity for Improved Forest Planning”, 7-11 October 1996, held in Monte Verita’, Switzerland. Kluwer, 1998.
– Lenzi-Grillini, C., Viskanic, P. and Mapesa, M., 1996. Effects of 20 years of grazing exclusion in an area of the Queen Elisabeth National Park, Uganda”. Afr. J. Ecol., 34/4 (Dec. 1996), 333-341.
– Viskanic, P. 1996. Biodiversity database development in the East Usambara Catchment Forest Project. Report of a visit by the Ugandan Forest Department Database Coordinator.
– Kigenyi F. and Viskanic, P., 1994. Biodiversity Inventories in 62 of Uganda’s major natural forest and woodland reserves. In Malimbwy R.E and E.J.Luoga, 1995, Eds. , Workshop proceedings “Information acquisition for sustainable natural forest resources of eastern, central and southern Africa” Arusha, Tanzania.
– Zandri, E. and Viskanic P., 1992. Vegetation Survey and Mapping in the Queen Elisabeth National Park, Kjambura Game Reserve and Kigezi Game Reserve.
Uganda National Parks
