At ITC, I found an academic setting that matches perfectly what I was looking for.
Hello! My name is Flávio Henrique, I’m a Brazilian geologist, and this is my story as a Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (MSc) student, specializing in Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) at ITC, University of Twente.
From the beginning, what fascinated me most about geology wasn’t only being out in the field but trying to make sense of landscapes as systems: how different elements connect, change, and tell a story. That curiosity followed me into my professional life, throughout almost seven years as an engineering geologist in the energy sector where I was part of project development across diverse landscapes, from vast hydropower reservoirs to smooth and subtle photovoltaic farm sites, where I was constantly dealing with spatial problems. Fieldwork was an important component of my routine, but much of the real challenge was transforming raw spatial data into meaningful information. Preparing datasets for field campaigns, integrating geological, environmental, and engineering information, processing field data, and supporting decision-making through GIS became core parts of my daily work.
Over time, I realized that what motivated me was the diversity of spatial questions I used to face. One day I was analysing geological structures, the next, environmental constraints, spatial patterns influencing project feasibility, or construction risks. This constant exposure to different spatial problems made me realize that I wanted to strengthen my role as a geospatial problem solver, someone capable of navigating complex datasets.
At ITC, I found an academic setting that matches perfectly what I was looking for. Being surrounded by people from all over the world, all working on different spatial challenges, has been amazing. Backed by the support of the ITC Excellence Scholarship and the NL Scholarship, this experience has shown me that pursuing this master’s is truly possible, and that there are several opportunities in place to aid students who are willing to take this step.
Although not intuitive at first, choosing the GeoAI specialization was the natural continuation of my path. Rather than focusing simply on handling larger datasets, GeoAI is strengthening the way I approach geospatial analysis itself. By integrating GIScience, remote sensing, machine learning, and programming, I am learning how to build tailored analytical workflows and select methods based on the problem, not the tool. This flexibility is essential to me, as it allows my geospatial skills to remain transferable across different domains and types of spatial questions.
As my programming and analytical skills grow, I feel increasingly prepared to move between contexts, from geology to engineering, environmental, energy and data-driven decision making contexts, with a clear goal to consolidate my role as a geospatial problem solver. If the field taught me to read the landscape, geotechnologies taught me to understand it in depth. And it is at this intersection that I’m building the next phase of my career.