Sytze de Bruin appointed as professor Geo-information Science

The Geo-information Science group (GIS) is part of the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing, which Prof. De Bruin will lead together with the Remote Sensing chair. ‘The GIS team works on methods for analysing spatial data and spatial interactions,’ De Bruin explains. ‘That means data about the world around us — the environment we as humans live in and interact with every day.’ For him, the key word in geo-information science is information, because it clearly points to the importance of context in this research area: ‘It is the context that turns data into something meaningful. That is also why our research and teaching often take an interdisciplinary approach.’

Connecting the dots

Although he is interested in the wider field of geo-information science, De Bruin has mainly focused on methods to acquire and analyse data. This includes spatial and temporal sampling — deciding whereand how often to collect data — as well as so-called spatiotemporal interpolation. ‘For example, when investigating air quality, it's not feasible to measure particulate matter at every single spot in the research area and at every moment in time. Instead, we take frequent measurements at selected locations and develop a calculation method to reliably predict the values at the spots in between.’

Precision farming in a small-scale landscape

De Bruin has been involved in research with applications ranging from land degradation and biomass assessments to precision agriculture. ‘One of the projects I look back on with great pleasure was with farmers in the Hoeksche Waard (a municipality in the western part of The Netherlands). They required a technical solution for machine control that fitted in with the irregular geometry of their fields. Together with Wageningen Environmental Research we developed a web-service in which farmers uploaded their field boundaries to compute precise guiding lines for their tractors. At the same time, our approach facilitated ecological enhancement because it allowed space for flower-rich field margins.’

Spatial is special

In his new role as Chair of the GIS team, De Bruin looks forward to further strengthen the group’s work on cutting-edge geospatial methods and their responsible use in research areas such as environmental sustainability and food production. He looks forward to actively collaborate across Wageningen University & Research, as well as with partners in industry, government, and non-governmental organisations. Together with Remote Sensing Chair Prof. Kirsten de Beurs, he aims to further develop the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing as an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem of academics.

Curriculum vitae

The appointment marks a new chapter in De Bruin’s career, that has grown from Wageningen’s academic soil. What began as an MSc study in tropical soil science in Wageningen has now come full circle with his appointment as Professor. After graduation in 1989, he spent four years in Central America — working in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras — as an applied soil scientist. Next, a study leave opened the door to a new passion: Geographical information science. This field captivated him so much that he soon embarked on PhD research back in Wageningen, which led to a thesis on geographical information modelling for land resource survey in 2000. Since then, he has held several positions at the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing.

De Bruin has (co)-authored more than 100 peer reviewed journal articles. After more than ten years as an associate editor of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science, he now serves on the journal’s editorial board as well as on the editorial board of Spatial Statistics.