Five practices for researchers, academic institutions, and organisations that need reliable, expert-level GIS and remote sensing support. Every engagement is grounded in academic rigour, practical experience, and a clear deliverable. The flagship is a 14-week co-authored publication bridge for mid-stage PhD scholars — see Research & Publication.
Structured, hands-on training in GIS and remote sensing for students, scholars, faculty, and professionals.
A structured 3-month programme covering GIS fundamentals through advanced deep learning integration for geospatial analysis. Delivered by Dr. Aran Castro A J, GIS Manager. Available online and on-demand.
End-to-end workflow: satellite download, classification, accuracy assessment, change matrix, and publication-ready maps. Duration: 2–3 days.
Shoreline extraction, DSAS setup, transect generation, EPR, LRR, and NSM calculation, based directly on my doctoral research. Duration: 1–2 days.
Complete CVI methodology using Gornitz's approach. Parameter selection, ranking, weighting, GIS integration, and vulnerability mapping. Duration: 1–2 days.
Tailored programmes for specific departmental or institutional needs. Previous programmes at University of Madras, SRM University, TRP Engineering College, and IIRS.
End-to-end geospatial research support for PhD scholars and professors across any discipline.
The 14-Week Publication Bridge · 1:1, Remote · Mid-stage PhD scholars (Year 2–3)
A co-authored manuscript programme for scholars whose field data is sitting in spreadsheets months after collection. We move it from raw data to a Q1/Q2 submission in fourteen weeks, together. Honest scope, honest roles, no ghostwriting.
Data audit, research-question sharpening, Q1/Q2 target-journal shortlist with scope fit.
GIS, remote sensing, statistics. Reproducible Python or R scripts with version-pinned requirements.
Publication-ready figure set at 300 DPI (TIFF + PNG). Wong palette, colour-blind safe, journal-ready.
Methodology, results, discussion, introduction, abstract. Indian academic English, APA 7th.
Revision cycles between co-authors. You add domain interpretation; figures and text refined together.
Pre-submission QA, cover letter, author-contribution statement, checklist, submission.
I appear as co-author per ICMJE criteria. You benefit from lower cash outlay; I benefit from publication credit. 50% at kickoff · 50% before Week 14.
You retain sole authorship with supervisor; I am credited in acknowledgements. You lead intellectual framing of intro and discussion. 50% at kickoff · 50% before Week 14.
What you receive
For scholars who don't need the full 14-week programme. Each is a named, scoped engagement with a written one-page proposal in 24 hours.
Research-question sharpening, end-to-end methodology design, target-journal shortlist (Q1/Q2 fit). You walk away with a defendable analysis plan before you write a single script.
Publication-ready 300 DPI figure set for an existing draft. Wong palette, colour-blind safe, journal-formatted. Single round of revision after first delivery.
Thousands of PhD scholars in India reach a stage where they need GIS or remote sensing analysis but lack the skills, software access, or methodological guidance to execute it properly. They spend months struggling with unfamiliar software, produce substandard maps, or abandon geospatial components entirely. I exist to solve this exact problem, completely and efficiently. The 14-Week Publication Bridge above is the structured path; the add-ons and services below cover standalone engagements outside that programme.
Identifying appropriate data sources, selecting analytical methods, defining the GIS workflow, and ensuring the methodology is rigorous enough for Scopus and SCI journal publication.
Acquisition of Landsat, Sentinel, ALOS, Cartosat, or other sources; radiometric, geometric, and atmospheric correction; analysis-ready data preparation.
Complete workflow: spectral signature selection, supervised or unsupervised classification, accuracy assessment with error matrix and kappa coefficient, multi-temporal change detection.
Full DSAS-based analysis: shoreline extraction from multi-temporal satellite imagery, transect generation, EPR, LRR, NSM, and statistical reporting.
Complete CVI construction using Gornitz's approach or modified frameworks. Parameter extraction, ranking, weighting, and vulnerability mapping.
Buffer, overlay, proximity, interpolation (IDW, Kriging), watershed delineation, DEM analysis, viewshed, network analysis, and more.
Maps meeting Scopus/SCI journal formatting standards. Delivered as high-resolution PNG/TIFF, PDF, and editable project files.
Assistance with structuring methodology, results, and discussion sections. Figure preparation and ensuring geospatial components meet reviewer expectations.
Receipts in preparation. Each scholar I've supported is asked for written permission before their paper is featured publicly. The list publishes here as scholars opt in. For verifiable references in the meantime, WhatsApp me and I'll share names + journals you can cross-check on Scopus.
Custom geospatial solutions for institutions, government bodies, NGOs, and private organisations.
Geospatial assessment using CVI methodologies, shoreline change analysis, bathymetric analysis, geomorphological mapping, and land use impact evaluation.
GIS-based spatial analysis for EIAs and environmental monitoring: land use change quantification, vegetation index analysis, water body monitoring.
Multi-temporal satellite-based analysis of land use changes for districts, municipalities, or regions. Urban sprawl, agricultural land loss, forest cover change.
Spatial analysis of temperature trends, rainfall distribution, drought indices, flood risk zones, and sea-level rise impact modelling.
Georeferencing historical maps, spatial analysis of historical settlement patterns, temporal change analysis of cultural landscapes.
Watershed delineation, drainage network extraction, flood plain mapping, groundwater potential zone identification, rainfall-runoff modelling.
Professional map production for reports, publications, presentations, and proposals, from simple location maps to complex thematic atlases.
Advisory for organisations implementing GIS infrastructure: software selection, data architecture, workflow design, staff training needs.
For Heads of Departments, Deans, and IQAC Coordinators seeking a quality resource person in GIS and geospatial research methodology.
I have delivered FDPs at nationally recognised institutions including the University of Madras (Department of Applied Geology), the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), SRM University, and TRP Engineering College. My programmes are intensive, hands-on skill-building experiences that leave faculty with tangible capabilities they can apply immediately.
Foundational FDP for faculty across science, engineering, and social science. Core GIS concepts, satellite data access, basic spatial analysis, and integration into existing research.
Intermediate-to-advanced: LULC change detection, shoreline analysis, DEM terrain modelling, and spatial statistical methods for faculty with basic GIS familiarity.
Specialised FDP introducing Python for GIS automation. Automate repetitive tasks, process large datasets, build reproducible workflows.
GIS and remote sensing for flood mapping, coastal hazard assessment, earthquake risk zonation, and landslide susceptibility analysis.
A methodology-focused FDP drawn from my book Systems Over Software. Moves beyond software operation to disciplined research thinking and analytical reasoning.
Hands-on GIS, remote sensing and AI — taught live online or in person across four cities, by a working GIS Manager.
A practical, project-led curriculum from fundamentals to advanced workflows: coordinate systems, data creation, spatial analysis, remote sensing, satellite image classification, LULC mapping, change detection, and DEM analysis — finishing with a professional geospatial project you keep.
Cloud-based, planetary-scale remote sensing — NDVI and time-series across large areas with the JavaScript / Python API.
Advanced spatial analysis, plugins, automation and journal-quality cartography in open-source GIS.
Prompt-driven, AI-assisted geoprocessing — using MCP and modern AI tools to speed up real GIS tasks.
Satellite image classification, change detection, DEM analysis and an introduction to deep learning for earth observation.
Online live (with Dr. Aran Castro) · Offline batches in Nagercoil, Kochi, Chennai & Coimbatore
Online sessions are live and interactive, led by Dr. Aran Castro from Nagercoil. Prefer in person? Join an offline batch at any of our four city campuses. Same curriculum, same project, same certificate.
Four quick fields. We reply on WhatsApp within 24 hours.
The questions scholars and institutions ask most. If yours isn't here, WhatsApp me — I reply same-day.
A standard LULC classification for a single district using Sentinel-2 or Landsat imagery takes 5 to 10 working days, depending on the number of classes, temporal periods, and whether change detection is included. Multi-temporal studies (e.g., 1990 vs 2000 vs 2020) take proportionally longer.
Primarily ArcGIS Pro and QGIS for spatial analysis and map production. For remote sensing, I use ERDAS IMAGINE and Google Earth Engine. Specific workflows also use DSAS (shoreline analysis), SNAP (Sentinel data), and Python with libraries like Rasterio, GeoPandas, and Scikit-learn for advanced automation and machine learning.
Yes. I regularly coordinate with PhD supervisors and guide teachers. I can present the methodology and results to your supervisor, attend review meetings (online or in-person), and ensure the geospatial components align with your overall research framework.
Absolutely. You receive all processed data, shapefiles, raster outputs, ArcGIS/QGIS project files, and publication-quality maps (PNG, TIFF, PDF). Everything is yours to keep, modify, and present during your viva or paper review.
Yes. The 3-month Advanced Spatial Data Science programme is available fully online via live sessions and on-demand recordings. I also conduct in-person training at Geospatial Campus, Nagercoil, and can travel to your institution anywhere in India for workshops and FDPs.
After we agree on scope and pricing, I send an automated invoice. Payment can be made via UPI, bank transfer, or other standard methods. For PhD research support, installment options are available so you can pay in stages as work progresses.
Yes. Every training programme and internship includes a certificate of completion from Geospatial Campus. The certificate lists the modules covered, duration, and your project work. It is recognised by institutions and useful for your academic and professional profile.
Start with a free 15-minute consultation. Tell me what you are working on and I will point you in the right direction.