Carlos has an undergraduate degree in Cadastral and Geodetic Engineering and is currently completing his Masters in Geomatics at the University of Waterloo. He has worked in different branches of Geomatics such as: GIS and Mapping Quality Control Engineer, GIS Analyst, Cadastral (legal) Surveyor, Real Estate Technical Director, Cadastral (legal) Surveying Supervisor, Land Surveying Party Chief and has been a supervisor in land/legal surveying by developing Cadastral updating surveying and GIS Analysis for land planning and oil downstream industries in public and private companies.

His research interest and is in GIS applications to land use. Carlos’ Master’s involves investing the current tendency of purchasing huge land expanses in different areas around the world by local corporations, governments and multinational companies has led to land grabs in developing countries. In Colombia, land grabs is mainly associated with mining and the production of food and biofuels (e.g., oil palm). The expansion of the areas cultivated with oil palm has increased the problem of land concentration with negative consequences for the local communities and the environment. To promote a sustainable agricultural development and the protection of the areas at risk, he is using a GIS suitability model to analyze biophysical, geographical, and socio-political characteristics of the land that are subject to being grabbed for oil palm cultivations.