Manuel Baer
PhD Candidate in GIScience
I am a PhD candidate in the Geocomputation Group at the University of Zurich exploring novel methods of gamification in landscape perception and preference research. Besides being psyched about space im also mad about mapping, devious with drones and wild about windsurfing!
Window Expeditions: Mystical landscapes and where to find them
The world is a multidimensional collage of people, perceptions and places, stitched into the fabric of time. Individual threads intertwining and splicing into senses, perceptions, associations and preferences. How we as individuals experience the world, specifically the (in)finite variety of
Social vs. Digital – A Matter of Mindset
Since early this year, the world has collectively experienced an extraordinary transition. Nothing new to humankind, but new for many. We had to adjust to new rules and regulations about how we interact with others. We had to worry about
Citizen Science Winter School – Of Ivory Towers and Building Bridges
Last week I attended the Citizen Science Winter School (#cswinterschool) organised by the Participatory Research Academy and the Graduate Campus of the University of Zurich. Here is me “giving my mustard” as we would say in Swiss German aka “my
2022
Baer, M. F. & Purves, R. S. Window Expeditions: A playful approach to crowdsourcing natural language descriptions of everyday lived landscapes. Applied Geography. Volume 148, November 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2022.102802
Hartmann, M. C. & Koblet, O. & Baer, M. F. & Purves, R. S. Automated motif identification: Analysing Flickr images to identify popular viewpoints in Europe’s protected areas. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Volume 37, March 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100479
2021
Thibault, M. & Baer, M. F. Urban Gamification during Lockdown and Social Isolation – From the Teddy Bear Challenge to Window Expeditions. GamiFIN21. 2021. http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2883/paper14.pdf
Wartmann, F. M. & Bär, M. F. & Hegetschweiler, K. T. & Fischer, C. & Hunziker, M. & Purves, R. S. Assessing the potential of social media for estimating recreational use of urban and peri-urban forests. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127261
2019
Baer, M. F. & Wartmann, F. M. & Purves, R. S. StarBorn: Towards making in‐situ land cover data generation fun with a location‐based game. Transaction in GIS. 2019; 00: 1– 21. https://doi.org/10.1111/tgis.12543
- Presentation
- Workshop
- Research Visit
- Publication
- Collaboration
- Application
2021
Zurich, Switzerland
Assessing the potential of social media for estimating recreational use of forests
Accepted and published paper as second author exploring social media and recreational use of forests.
Levi, Finland
GamiFIN Paper Presentation
Presentation of our accepted paper regarding gamification during lockdown and social isolation at GamiFIN.
Zurich, Switzerland
Urban Gamification during Lockdown and Social Isolation
Accepted and published conference paper as second author exploring how playful practices were adopted during COVID.
Levi, Finland
Collaboration for publication
Collaboration on a paper with a member of the Gamification Group.
2020
Zürich, Switzerland
Storyboarding
Attendance of the course on Storyboarding as a research tool.
Zürich, Switzerland
Advanced Citizen Science
Attendance of the course on advanced methods and approaches in citizen science.
Zürich, Switzerland
Publish or Perish
Attendance of the scientific writing course “Publish or Perish”.
Zürich, Switzerland
Hochschultag
Presentation at the HSGYM Hochschultag: “Coming Home”.
Zürich, Switzerland
Window Expeditions
Development of Window Expeditions to crowdsource landscape descriptions while reducing the feeling of isolation during lockdown.
Levi, Finland
GamiFIN Poster Presentation
Presentation of my accepted poster regarding a location based game for landscape perception and preference research at GamiFIN.
Levi, Finland
GamiFIN Doctoral Consortium
Presentation and discussion of my research with PhDs and a panel of experts at the (online) GamiFIN conference.
Zurich, Switzerland
Citizen Science Winter School
An interesting and intense week of learning about public participation in research and discussing the future of “Citizen Science” in Academia.
2019
Zurich, Switzerland
URPP Language and Space Scientific Advisory Board
Presentation of my research in the Spatial References Focus Group in the University Research Priority Programm Language and Space
Zurich, Switzerland
Scientifica
After months of planning we informed visitors of the Scientifica19 about our research.
Zurich, Switzerland
StarBorn: Towards making in‐situ land cover data generation fun with a location‐based game.
Accepted and published paper exploring the advantages and limitations of using a location based game as a means of collecting land cover data
Zurich, Switzerland
URPP Language and Space Funding Evaluation
Presentation of the planned future of the Spatial References Focus Group in the University Research Priority Programm Language and Space
Zurich, Switzerland
PhD Concept Talk
Presentation of my PhD concept to the department and guests
2018
Zurich, Switzerland
Mapathon – Polygons Against Poverty
Scientific input presentation
Melbourne, Australia
GIScience18
Presentation of my accepted extended abstract at the GIScience 2018 conference in Melbourne
Berlin, Germany
Coding Geographic
Participation in the workshop Coding’Geographic
Edinburgh, Scotland
Collaboration for publication
Research visit to the Institute of Geography at the University of Edinburgh to work on a publication
Zurich, Switzerland
Who is behind your data? A conversation across geographic disciplines
Presentation of my work in crowdsourcing
Zurich, Switzerland
Citizen Science in Linguistics
Presentation of my experiences in Citizen Science relevant for linguists.
Experience
2018 - Present
PhD Candidate
I am currently a PhD Candidate in the Geocomputation Group at the University of Zurich. My main focus is gamification of crowdsourcing in landscape perception and preference research.
2017 - 2018
Research Assistant
I worked as a research assistant in the Geocomputation Unit of the University of Zurich. Tasks involved administrative work, aid in research and writing papers.
2015 - 2017
Freelance GIS Specialist
I completed various contract work projects as a self employed freelancer specialising in web-design and geographic information systems.
2013 - 2015
GeoplanTeam AG
At GeoplanTeam AG I was employed as a part time geographic information system specialist and worked on a variety of projects. I used a multitude of tools including AutoCAD 3D, Spatial Databases, Leaflet, d3.js
Education
2017
MSc in GIScience University of Zurich
with distinction
2014
BSc Geography University of Bern
magna cum laude
Languages
Contact
- www.spatialsparks.com
- Research Gate
- Linked-In