Transport and Geoinformation Technology KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Overview

The master's Transport and Geoinformation Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology combines two closely related aspects of the built environment: transport systems and geoinformation technologies. The programme enables you to either specialise in one of these main subjects or develop an individual interdisciplinary study plan tailored to your unique background and interests. The recommended courses form a foundation for both subject areas, and you can choose a subject area by selecting the most appropriate sequence of elective courses. Most courses combine interactive lectures with laboratory work. Many also include an in-depth semester project. The courses make use of modern data collection instruments and quantitative modelling and processing software.

In the final semester degree project, students apply their acquired knowledge and skills in solving scientific problems in the main subject areas of the programme. You conduct independent investigations characterised by critical analysis and synthesis; they learn to analyse, formulate and define scientific problems, find and evaluate possible solutions and present the results in a thesis. In addition, you will gain practical training in scientific communication and presentation, both orally in seminars and written form. You can carry out the degree project at KTH or in a company or organisation outside the university. The topic is developed by you alone or together with supervisors.

Transport systems

Transport systems deal with the movement of people and goods across space and the socio-technical systems that support that movement. Skilled transport engineers and planners must combine elements of engineering, planning, economics, and systems analysis, to guide how transport systems should be designed, built, operated, and evaluated. As a specialist in transport, you will learn how to analyse complex transport networks in which the goal is for people to carry out their daily activities in ways that support economic activity while minimising environmental impacts.

To grapple with the complexity of modern transport systems, transport planners and engineers need a high level of technical competence, but at the same time need to engage with policy-makers, stakeholders and the public who use the transport system to ensure that our solutions truly meet societal needs. Finally, we work across disciplinary boundaries to fully appreciate the possible effects of the transport system on urban development, the economy, and climate and ecological systems.

In the study of transport, we emphasise a systems approach that helps us manage the complexity of transport networks and provide information that allows society to make the best decisions about investing resources in long-lasting transport infrastructure. Nearly all of our graduates find a career in a city, regional government, national administration, transport ministry, as a consultant at a private firm, or as a researcher.

Geoinformation technology

Geoinformation technology, also known as geospatial technology or geomatics engineering, is a science dealing with acquiring, storing, managing, analysing, and delivering geographic and spatially referenced information. Knowledge of the built and natural environment in the form of maps and databases is necessary for almost all fields of human activities. Today, we take it for granted that we use GPS receivers built into mobile phones or installed in cars to find our way to the restaurant, cinema or address that we have "googled". Professionals in disciplines such as urban planning, land administration, real estate registration and many others use maps, city models and spatial databases for decision support. Geoinformation technology is not only about collecting geographical data and its visualisation; it also provides tools for using and interpreting the data for different kinds of analysis, for example, finding optimal routes, identifying patterns and making predictions.

Geoinformation technology is a perfect choice if you are interested in applied mathematics and computer science. You will learn, both theoretically and practically, how to acquire geographic data using different sensors or data sources and how to perform processing and analysis to be able to produce the required solution and its visualisation. Today's and tomorrow's labour markets are growing in this sector and need experts like you. You can work as a provider, analyst or user of spatial data and geoinformation technologies in private companies and governmental agencies.

This is a two-year programme (120 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given mainly at KTH Campus in Stockholm by the School of Architecture and Built Environment (at KTH).

Career

Securing sustainable development and preventing climate change is a top priority for humanity. It can only be achieved with well-organised, well-functioning and environmental-friendly transport systems. Actual and up-to-date geographic databases are prerequisites for planning, designing and constructing all necessary infrastructure. There is great demand for experts within transport systems and geoinformation technologies in private and government sectors.

Examples of career opportunities for graduates include:

• Geoinformation analyst: gathering, analysing, and reporting on geospatial data at national mapping and cartographic agencies (such as Lantmäteriet in Sweden).
• Transport planner/modeller: helping the city, regional governments or national administration to plan, design and operate transport systems and to analyse the transport effects of new developments to achieve sustainability (for example, consultant companies like Sweco, WSP, regional governments or the national transport administration, Trafikverket).
• Consultant at a private firm in areas ranging from surveying, mapping, and geoinformation processing to transport planning and traffic engineering (such as Digpro or Ramboll).
• Railways engineer; undertaking analysis and strategic planning of rail systems including infrastructure, rolling stock, timetable management, and traveller information services (for example, at SL, SJ or other railway companies, or the national transport administration, Trafikverket).
• GIS expert in urban planning, land and resource management, and environmental monitoring (municipalities, consultant companies).