Education of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing

Geo-information science thesis topics are narrowly related to the research programme of the Laboratory of Geo-informationt Science and Remote Sensing (GIRS). This research program covers a wide range of subjects. The following main themes have been selected to delineate the laboratory's identity:

1. Sensing & measuring
2. Modelling & visualization
3. Integrated land monitoring
4. Human - space interaction
5. Empowering & engaging communities

The thesis research is conducted under supervision of a staff member of the GIRS group, but might also take place in another institute or company.

• Students have to follow the GRS thesis procedure. Complete guidelines for doing a thesis Geo-information Science are available via Brightspace.
• Required documents and forms are available via Brightspace. Contact us for access to this Brightspace page.
• For the planning of the thesis research an overview with dates for the midterm presentations and colloquia are scheduled.
• Thesis topics can be selected from the GRS thesis topic list or under conditions be proposed by individual students.
• Past thesis projects can be consulted (last years)
  (before 2022).

Compulsory course in

• Master Geo-Information Science (MGI)

Restricted Optional in

• Master Biosystems Engineering (MBE)
• Master Urban Environmental Management (MUE)

The aim of thesis rings is to provide you with the opportunity to improve your scientific writing skills in interaction with other MGI students. You will receive constructive feedback to improve your own writing skills. Thesis rings help you to improve your document before turning it in to your supervisor who will focus mostly on the content. Reviewing other reports, and discussing these reviews in a group setting, will help you identify common mistakes, inspiring approaches and in the end will result in higher quality thesis reports.

A thesis ring is a group of about 6-8 MGI thesis students that will peer-review each other’s written work. The thesis ring meets every week for one hour. For every meeting two students submit a part of their proposal/thesis beforehand. All other students review these submitted documents before the meeting and discuss these during the meeting. There will be a tutor present to chair the meeting and to provide additional support.

At the start of the academic year (early September) an email will be send to all GRS thesis students giving the opportunity to enrol in a thesis ring. During the academic year students can email the thesis ring coordinator (Alvaro Lau Sarmiento) to inquire if there are still spots available in the thesis ring.

Joining a thesis ring during your MSc thesis is voluntary (not obligatory). Once you have joined a thesis ring, full commitment is expected! The thesis ring only works when students actively participate, and when there is a critical mass of students to provide feedback and contribute to discussions.

We use MS Teams for the planning of submissions, sharing of documents, exchange of good practice examples, instructions and other supporting information. More details on the thesis ring procedure (submitting documents, giving feedback etc.) can be found on MS Teams.

The main objective of an internship is to select a personal GI professional field of interest within the large working Geo-Information domain and gain “real” working and/or research experience on an academic level. The MGI internship (GRS704XX) stands for a minimum of 24 ECTS, which corresponds with a period of 4 months. However, a varying internship period of up to 36 ECTS is possible in consultation with the study adviser. The evaluation of the internship is based on the professional skills of the candidate (45%), the internship report (45%) and a self-reflection report (10%). The guidelines of evaluation are in accordance with the rubric of assessment developed at this university.

The MGI internship (GRS704XX) stands for a period of work, study and reflection outside the academic walls of the University. The aim is first, to explore the nature and range of your personal work choice as an up and coming GI academic professional and/or researcher. This period offers, the student to experience a working environment the university can hardly provide. However, educational aims must be met. General aims are:

• applying your acquired knowledge and skills in a working situation;
• gaining insight into possible future working environments;
• being introduced to potential employers;
• gaining insight into the working networks in which graduated GI and Remote Sensing academics and professionals operate.

It is compulsory the student formulates at least three personal learning goals before starting the internship. These personal learning goals must be discussed and approved by the GRS internship supervisor.

The MGI internship stands for a minimum of 24 ECTS. This corresponds with a period of 4 months. However, a varying internship period of up to 39 ECTS (±6 months) is possible. The choice of internship length is left entirely up to the student in consultation with the study adviser.

The internship takes place at any organization active in the field of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing in its broadest sense. Therefore, any company, institute or organization that is involved in any aspect of GIS or Remote Sensing is a potential place of internship. The range of suitable places is therefore very big (WUR-MGI users only). The only main restriction is the internship must fulfill an academic standard in correspondence with your study. This means at least 60% of the internship must be spent on a personal project-/research topic at MSc level. This topic must be approved by the GRS internship supervisor before the internship can start. Subsequently, the internship supervisor of the hosting organisation must have an academic title to guarantee the competencies and expertise the internship requires.

Foreign students wishing an internship in the Netherlands must take into account that a strict application protocol must be followed. This has to do with acquiring a temporary working permit for the internship period. Following this protocol from beginning to end takes at least 3 weeks. Therefore, it is wise to contact the internship coordinator well in advance. In case the internship will be spent abroad, a longer preparation period must be taken into account.

MGI students are expected to actively involve themselves in finding an internship. To assist you herein, you can use the experience of fellow students or looking through professional magazines and on the internet to find names of organizations and individuals.

To find internship possibilities, -providers, -regulations, -documents etc. please consult the Internship Brightspace site (WUR-MGI users only).

The current internship coordinators are Erika Speelman and Johannes Reiche and should be contacted via the MGI internship email: internship.mgi@wur.nl.

• GRS10306 Introduction Geo-information Science
• GRS10806 Geo-information Science for Planning and Design
• GRS20306 Remote Sensing
• GRS20806 Geo-information Tools
• GRS21810 Management of Geo-information in Organisations
• GRS22306 Geo-information Science for Society
• GRS23306 Geo-information Science BSc research project
• GRS30306 Spatial Modeling and Statistics
• GRS31310 Advanced Applications
• GRS32306 Advanced Earth Observation
• GRS33306 Spatial and Temporal Analysis for Earth and Environment
• GRS33806 Geo Scripting
• GRS34306 Geo-information Science in Context
• GRS35306 Smart Environments
• GRS35806 Data Visualization
• GRS5040x Capita Selecta
• GRS60312 Remote Sensing and GIS Integration

• AIN31306 Deep Learning
• HSO20306 Environmental Assets for Health
• MAT27306 Quantitative Research Methods
• YMS31403 Metropolitan Data 2