Implementation of a Collaborative Geographic Information System (CGIS) in a research campaign at the Coropuna Glacier (Tropical Andes of Peru)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/estgeogr.2025.1192

Keywords:

Nevado Coropuna, collaborative GIS, glaciology, glacial geomorphology, fieldwork, ArcGIS Online

Abstract


Geographic Information Technologies offer significant potential as tools for designing, planning, managing, and disseminating research campaigns. Cloud-based digitalization saves time throughout all expedition phases—pre-fieldwork, fieldwork, and post- fieldwork —by facilitating the preparation, collection, and editing of data and maps. This paper presents a cloud-hosted ArcGIS Online system developed to support, within a collaborative environment, a research campaign conducted on the glaciers of Nevado Coropuna (southern Peruvian Andes) during July and August 2022. The ArcGIS Online application provided the following functionalities: (1) preparation of data, maps and 2D/3D apps for fieldwork planning; (2) configuration of maps for collaborative, offline field use; (3) on-site data collection; (4) processing of the campaign’s collected data; and (5) dissemination and publication of results. The tool requires no prior user experience and is applicable to any Earth science research project.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Balram, S. & Dragicevic, S. (2006). Collaborative Geographic Information Systems. Idea Group, Inc. Hershey, USA. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59140-845-1

Bromley, G.R., Thouret, J.C., Schimmelpfennig, I., Mariño, J., Valdivia, D., Rademaker, K., Vivanco, S.P., ASTER Team, Aumaître, G., Bourlès, D. & Keddadouche, K. (2019). In situ cosmogenic 3He and 36Cl and radiocarbon dating of volcanic deposits refine the Pleistocene and Holocene eruption chronology of SW Peru. Bulletin of Volcanology, 81, Article 64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-019-1325-6

Esri. (2012). ¿Qué es ArcGIS?: https://resources.arcgis.com/es/help/gettingstarted/articles/026n00000014000000.htm

Esri (2019a). Recursos de ArcGIS Online. https://trust.arcgis.com/es/security/arcgis-online-capabilities.htm

Esri (2019b). Operaciones de campo. https://www.esri.es/eses/arcgis/productos/field-operations/overview

Healy, G & Walshe, N. (2020). Real-world geographers and geography students using GIS: relevance, everyday applications and the development of geographical knowledge. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 29 (2), 178-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2019.1661125

Han, R. (2019). Web GIS in Development: From Research and Teaching Perspectives. In S. Balram (Ed.), Advances in Geographic Information Science (pp 103-122). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06058-9_7

Kerski, J. J. (2008). The Role of GIS in Digital Earth Education. International Journal of Digital Earth, 1 (4), 326-346. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538940802420879

Llanto, J., Pellitero, R., Úbeda, J., Atkinson-Gordo, A. D. J., & Pasapera, J. (2025). 69-Year Geodetic Mass Balance of Nevado Coropuna (Peru), the World's Largest Tropical Icefield, from 1955 to 2024. Remote Sensing, 17(19), 3344. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193344

Nétek, R., Pohanková, T., Bittner, O., & Urbán, D. (2023). Geospatial Analysis in Web Browsers-Comparison Study on WebGIS Process-Based Applications. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 12 (9), Article 374. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi12090374

Nogués-Paegle, J., Mechoso, C.R. & Fu, R. (2002). Progress in Pan American CLIVAR Research: Understanding the South American Monsoon. Meteorologica, 27, 3-30.

Nowak, M.M., Dziób, K., Ludwisiak, Ł. & Chmiel, J. (2020). Mobile GIS applications for environmental field surveys: A state of the art. Global Ecology and Conservation, 23, e01089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01089

Panek, J. & Netek, R. (2019). Collaborative Mapping and Digital Participation: A Tool for Local Empowerment in Developing Countries. Information, 10 (8), Article 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/info10080255

Phantuwongraj, S., Chenrai, P. & Assawincharoenokij, T. (2021). Pilot Study Using ArcGIS Online to Enhance Students' Learning Experience in Fieldwork. Geosciences, 11, 357. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11090357

Randall, J., Inglis, N. C., Smart, L. S. & Vukomanovic, J. (2022). From Meadow to Map: Integrating Field Surveys and Interactive Visualizations for Invasive Species Management in a National Park. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 11 (10), Article 525. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11100525

RGI Consortium. (2017). Randolph Glacier Inventory-A Dataset of Global Glacier Outlines, Version 6 [Dataset]. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Sagredo, E. & Lowell, T. (2012). Climatology of Andean glaciers: A framework to understand glacier response to climate change. Global and Planetary Change, 86-87, 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.02.010

Sagredo, E., Rupper, S.& Lowell, T.V. (2014). Sensitivity of the equilibrium line altitude across the Andes. Quaternary Research, 81, 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2014.01.008

Sun, Y. & Li, S. (2016). Real-time collaborative GIS: A technological review. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 115, 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2015.09.011

Sylvestre, F. (2009). Moisture Pattern during the Last Glacial Maximum in South America. In F. Vimeux, F. Sylvestre & M. Khodri (Eds.), Past Climate Variability in South America and Surrounding Regions, Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research 14 (pp. 3-28). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2672-9_1

Úbeda, J. (2011). El Impacto del Cambio Climático en los Glaciares del Complejo Volcánico Nevado Coropuna (Cordillera Occidental de los Andes, Sur del Perú). [Ph.D. Thesis], Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid. Recuperado de: https://docta.ucm.es/entities/publication/17ae565b-8c8c-4729-ab70-b2e2e651e647

Úbeda, J. (2023). Estudio Glaciológico. Proyecto Coropuna 2030. Fase de Formulación.[Unpublished technical report].

Úbeda, J., Bonshoms, M., Iparraguirre, J., Sáez, L., De la Fuente, R., Janssen, L., Concha, R., Vásquez, P. & Masías, P. (2018). Prospecting Glacial Ages and Paleoclimatic Reconstructions Northeastward of Nevado Coropuna (16° S, 73° W, 6377 m), Arid Tropical Andes. Geosciences, 8 (8), 307. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8080307

Úbeda, J., Yoshikawa, K., Pari, W., Palacios, D., Masias, P., Apaza, F., Ccallata, B., Miranda, R., Concha, R., Vasquez, P., & Cruz, R. (2015, April 12-17). Geophysical surveys on permafrost in Coropuna and Chachani volcanoes (southern Peru) [Paper presentation]. EGU General Assembly 2015, Vienna, Austria.

Vera, C., Higgins, W., Amador, J., Ambrizzi, T., Garreaud, R., Gochis, D., Gutzler, D., Lettenmaier, D., Marengo, J., Mechoso, C.R., Nogues-Paegle, J., Silva Dias, P. L. & Zhang, C. (2006). Toward a Unified View of the American Monsoon Systems. Journal of Climate, 19, 4977-5000. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI3896.1

Wagtendonk, A., & De Jeu, R. (2005). Mobile GIS and optimizing data collection methods in hydrological fieldwork. In Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems and Hydrology VII (Vol. 5976, pp. 33-40). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.627937

Wang, X, Van Elzakker, C.P.J.M. & Kraak, M.J. (2017). Conceptual Design of a Mobile Application for Geography Fieldwork Learning. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 6 (11), Article 355. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi6110355

Yoshikawa, K., Úbeda, J., Masías, P., Pari, W., Apaza, F., Vasquez, P., Ccallata, B., Concha, R., Luna, G., Irraguirre, J., Ramos, I., De la Cruz, G., Cruz, R., Pellitero, R. & Bonshoms, M. (2020). Current thermal state of permafrost in the southern Peruvian Andes and potential impact from El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 31, 598-609. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.2064

Zhou, J. & Lau, K.M. (1998). Does a monsoon climate exist over South America? Journal of Climate. 11, 1020-1040. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1998)011<1020:DAMCEO>2.0.CO;2

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Navarro Frutos, Álvaro, Pellitero Ondicol, R. ., & Úbeda Palenque, J. (2025). Implementation of a Collaborative Geographic Information System (CGIS) in a research campaign at the Coropuna Glacier (Tropical Andes of Peru). Estudios Geográficos, 86(299), 1192. https://doi.org/10.3989/estgeogr.2025.1192

Issue

Section

Special

Funding data

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
Grant numbers PID2020-113247RA-C22

Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Grant numbers 2021V/- TAJOV/005