Master of Geo Information Science & Earth Observation - University of Twente

The programme:
Geo-information science and earth observation (GEO) is all about collecting, processing, analysing, visualizing and organizing data representing the location, size and shape of objects on our planet. This data is generally referred to as spatial information. Geo-information science allows for this generally complex data to be presented and organized in highly accessible forms (such as apps for smart phones and other mobile devices, spatial data infrastructures, maps), making the underlying story that much easier to tell and sell.

Putting spatial information to good use
In today’s world spatial information is everywhere. Providing ever more detailed impressions of reality, it is put to good use by developers of popular applications such as Google Maps and car navigation systems. Moreover, spatial information is the key to solving complex issues that may involve, e.g.:
•improving agricultural practices to advance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in poor countries
•making land rights mapping faster, cheaper, easier, and more responsible
•helping the world by improving water safety and security
•establishing an effective urban search-and-rescue operations framework
•promoting development, exploration and utilization of geothermal energy sources
•providing a basic safety net to protect smallholder farmers from weather related perils
•promoting efficiency and equity in agro-good trade
•helping to achieve sustainable social housing and inclusive urban communities

Remote sensing and geographic information systems
Our curriculum integrates two fields vital to geo-information science and earth observation: remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Remote sensing involves the collection and analysis of scientific data at, above or below the earth’s surface without coming into physical contact with them. Geographic information systems are then used to analyse, visualize and organize the data collected by remote sensing.

Specialisations:
- Applied Remote Sensing for Earth Sciences
learn to explore for earth resources to help secure future demands for energy and minerals
- Geoinformatics
Learn to develop technologies required for analysing, distributing and visualizing geo-spatial data
- Geo-Information Management for Land Administration
Learn to use cadastral intelligence for designing and applying responsible land administration solutions
- Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction
Learn to predict and monitor multi-hazard risk and help reduce our vulnerability to disasters
- Natural Resourses Management
Learn to utilize geo-spatial data to help achieve a more sustainable use of natural resources
- Urban Planning and Management
Learn to understand dynamic urban processes and create interventions to help make coties comptetitive and create interventions to help make cities competitive, compact, sustainable, inclusive and resilient
- Water Resourses and Environmental Management
Learn to use earth observation and geo-information techniques to create safe and sustaibable water management solutions.
- Free specialization
In addition to the above you also have the option of designing your own dree specialisation
Career prospects
From traditional map-making to creating modern data-driven solutions to real-world problems, this field offers an incredible variety of possible applications. That certainly helps to explain why a US Department of Labor report identified this industry as one with a projected job outlook that is much higher than average. The Research institute Markets and Markets estimates the geospatial analytics market size to be USD 40.65 Billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 86.32 Billion by 2023
Logically the job market, in the private and (semi-)public sector as well as academia, is expected to grow accordingly.