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In 2017, the GIN/NCG Thesis Prize was established in collaboration with Geo-Information Netherlands (GIN). The search for the best thesis was created to discover new talent and to bind the next generation to the geo-domain. With this award, recent graduates are put in the spotlight. Training coordinators of geo-related courses can submit two theses per course annually via the GIN website.
In 2023, a distinction between bachelor’s and master’s theses will be introduced for the first time to give bachelor students more opportunities to compete for the prize. The NCG provides the Bachelor’s prize, GIN the prize for the best Master’s thesis.
GIN/NCG Thesis Prize 2023
The winner of the 2023 GIN/NCG Thesis Prize for bachelor’s students is Laurens van der Marel with his thesis ‘3D Wreck Visualization in the waterbed of the IJ’. The prize was awarded at the GIN symposium at the GeoFort. Laurens van der Marel’s thesis came out on top because of the thorough problem definition of the research in combination with the historical starting point. The research examines the question to what extent it is possible to use data from various 2D parametric sub-bottom profilers (these are acoustic research techniques with which the water bottom is mapped), to image rows and wooden wrecks of old sailing ships in 3D.
Also this year there were many entries. The jury, consisting of Arnold Bregt, Peter Kaspers and Hiddo Velsink, was unanimous in its opinion that all theses were of a high (scientific) level. The nominees were therefore close to each other in terms of final scores.
GIN/NCG Thesis Prize 2019
Inge van den Meiracker, MSc Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) student, won the GIN/NCG Thesis Prize with her thesis ‘Exploring 3D functionalities: A research into software that support the spatial analysis and visualization of 3D surface data’. She received a prize check for € 500.
For her research she has 3D modeled and visualized soil and geographical data. Inge explains: “Geologists, hydrologists, engineers and project managers must be able to interpret this surface data. For many people, the surfaceis still a ‘vague area’, because it is not immediately visible. A 3D model provides improved interpretations of spatial data and better communication.”
GIN/NCG Thesis Prize 2018
The winner of the GIN/NCG Thesis Prize this year is MSc Alireza Ajami. This was announced by the professional association Geo-Information Netherlands (GIN) during the annual GIN Gala in Den Bosch. Because both bachelor’s and master’s research were presented, the jury chose in 2018 to assess based on an additional criterion. In addition to the content, presentation and contribution to the geospatial field, it was also examined whether the research contributes to solving a social problem. Taking these criteria into account, the jury is unanimously of the opinion that Alireza Ajami’s research ‘Analysing the relationship between image-based features and socio-economic variations of slums’ is the best of the submitted theses.
Alireza Ajami was presented with a certificate and a cash prize of € 500 with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf of the GIN and the NCG respectively.
5 theses have been submitted for the 2018 GIN/NCG Thesis Prize; one from GeoMedia & Design of the HAS in Den Bosch, two from the ITC faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente, one from the Wageningen University faculty of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing and one from the TU Delft faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. The jury was again impressed this year by the quality of the submitted theses.
GIN/NCG Thesis Prize 2017
Lars van Hoeve from the Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) course was announced as the winner of the first GIN/NCG Thesis Prize at the 2017 GIN Gala. The jury praised Van Hoeve in particular for the application of geo-information in a completely different field: Lars analyzed football data. Lars van Hoeve received a check for € 500 from the NCG for his winning thesis ‘Geovisual Football Analytics’.
The jury was almost unanimous in its choice of the thesis winner and praised Van Hoeve in particular for the application of geo-information in a completely different field: Lars analyzed football data. This may not seem new. However, the sensors currently in use generate a lot of data, and only 2-3% of this data is actually used in today’s applications. Lars’ research focuses on analyzing and combining many more data sensors on a larger scale. The jury finds his master’s thesis innovative, interesting and has a good scientific basis.
In 2017, no fewer than 9 theses were submitted by various vocational and university courses with a geo component. The jury was impressed by the quality of the theses. Other courses that submitted theses were Civil Engineering and Management (University of Twente), Aerospace Engineering (TU Delft), Geodesy/Geoinformatics (Utrecht University of Applied Sciences), Geomatics (TU Delft), Geo-Information science (WUR) and Informatics E3 (University of Maastricht).
Geo-Information Netherlands (GIN) is an interactive meeting place and forms an accessible knowledge network for everyone who is professionally involved with geo-information: information with a spatial/geographical component. GIN organizes activities and encourages and facilitates its members to share and transfer knowledge for the development of all members and to strengthen the position of the field of geo-information in society.