Finland

University of Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland

The University of Helsinki has a Department of Geosciences and Geography, where GIS / RS research is concentrated in various labs, such as the labs in the digital geography, geographic information, the earth observation, and the biogeoclimatic modeling. The overall research capability of this university is strong. The university offers a well-developed training program in GIS, with a 2-year master’s degree for undergraduate applicants and a 3- to 4-year PhD program for those who already has a masters degree.

Professors:

Tuuli Toivonen: Geoinformatics, Accessibility & Mobility, Nature Conservation, Sustainability, Big data analysis;
Petteri Muukkonen: Geography, GIS, Forestry, Carbon cycle, Landscape fragmentation;
Petri Pellikka: Remote sensing applications, Land cover, Impact of human-nature interactions;
Janne Heiskanen: Earth Observation, Remote sensing, Land cover, Geography;
Eduardo Eiji Maeda: Remote Sensing, Hydrology, Climate change, Deforestation, Land changes;
Miska Luoto: Biogeography, Arctic, biodiversity, Global change, Species distribution modelling;
Enrico Di Minin: Conservation Biology, Machine learning, Economics, Policy, Africa.

Aalto University

Helsinki, Finland

Units: Department of Built Environment

GIS / RS programs at Aalto University are under the Department of Built Environment in the Faculty of Engineering and focuses on research areas such as geodesy, geoinformation technology, digital photogrammetry, and laser scanning and remote sensing. The GIS program at the university is flexible in terms of course selection and can be supplemented with courses in computer science, artificial intelligence and other specialties. The university offers a well-developed training program in GIS, with a 2-year master’s degree for undergraduate applicants and a 3- to 4-year PhD program for those who already has a masters degree.

Professors:

Kirsi-Kanerva virrantaus: Geoinformatics, Spatial data analysis and modeling, GIS for safety and defence;
Henrikki Tenkanen: GIS, Multimodal spatio-temporal accessibility modelling, Mobility analytics, Dynamic accessibility patterns;
Miina Rautiainen: Earth observation, Remote Sensing, Forests and Vegetation;
Martin Vermeer: Satellite positioning, Geodesy, Coordinate reference systems, Photogrammetry, Navigation technologies;
Matti Vaaja: Laser scanning, Mobile mapping, Change detection, 3D-models.

University of Turku

Turku, Finland

Units: Geography and Geology

The GIS / RS at the University of Turku is under the Department of Geography and Geology in the Faculty of Science and focuses on research areas such as geographic information science, remote sensing, and meteorology. The University offers a 2-year Master’s program in GIS (taught in Finnish and English) and a 3- to 4-year PhD for those who already have a master’s degree.

Professors:

Niina Käyhkö: Geospatial research, Environmental Remote Sensing, Landscape Geography, GIS;
Nora Fagerholm: Landscape Research, Participatory GIS (PGIS), Ecosystem services;
Jukka Käyhkö: Climatology, Urban climates, Geomorphology, Global change, Remote sensing.