Spatial Information Management

Environmental protection, route planning, disaster management and many more

Ever since GPS, mobile phones and the Internet have become an integral and necessary part of everyday life, the role of geographic information systems (GIS) can no longer be disputed. An abundance of desktop, Web and mobile applications are processing Geodata and Geoinformation, hence enabling a wide variety of applications. Environmental protection, route planning, disaster management, crime analysis, geodata collection or demographics are just a few examples of the critical role spatial information plays in our lives.

GIS experts are in higher demand than ever before

The Master degree program „Spatial Information Management” (SIM) focuses on a range of specialised areas within geoinformatics, namely, natural hazards and risk management, site potential analysis, infrastructure planning, water resources management or traffic simulation and modeling. This program helps to make learners “spatially aware” and further to develop the expertise required to compete in the international job market. Needless to say, GIS experts are in higher demand than ever before. Through project- and problem-oriented learning, students apply the theory of GIS and the skills learned from working with GI technologies to practical applications.

Students who choose the SIM program benefit from its extensive international network. Working in close collaboration with acclaimed partners in research and development, academia, public authorities, NGOs and private industry has led to experts with first-hand practical experience being invited as guest lecturers. And because of their broad and extensive knowledge and skills, students learn subjects like, spatial decision support, geomarketing or data modelling, by means of a highly practical approach.

Legal aspects and the societal impact of Geoinformation are also part of the SIM degree program. In addition, team building and leadership or technical and business communication are taught and practiced. In the second semester students choose between three areas of specialization: Environmental Monitoring & Security Management, Geoinformatics, or Spatial Technology Management. The fourth semester is entirely dedicated to producing a Master thesis that could include various areas of Geoinformation such as environmental monitoring, spatial analysis, big data, cartography, photogrammetry, sensors, terrain analysis, or urban planning.

Application deadline

Period I: 01.10. - 15.03.20
Period II: 16.03.- 15.05.20
Period III: 16.03. - 15.07.20
Period IV: 16.07. - 30.09.20

Please note that applicants from non-EU countries or applicants living outside the European Union should apply as soon as possible to be in time for the visa procedure.

Study start

The semester starts on 1st October

Teaching time

Monday – Friday from 13:30

Saturday full-time

Events

FH DAY
31.01.2020
9-14 h
Campus Villach

FH CAMPUS DAY
06.03. & 08.05.2020
15-19 h
Campus Villach I Spittal I Feldkirchen I Klagenfurt

Study-Info-Lounge
Second Tuesday of the month
14-18 h
Campus Villach

Online-Info-Sessions10.12.2019 I 14.04.2020 I 14.07.2020

Further information

Language of instruction:

English

Downloads

Information

Contact

If you have any questions feel free to ask:

Head of Degree Program

Level of qualification
Master

ECTS credits
120

Tuition fees
€ 363,36 / Semester

Qualification awarded

Master of Science in Engineering

Duration of study
4 Semester

ÖH (Austrian Student Union) fee
€ 20,20 / Semester

Language of instruction
Englisch

FH campus

Villach

General Study Information

Curriculum

Curriculum Spatial Information Management, Master – Download

Profile of the Study Program

The Master degree program “Spatial Information Management” is a two year graduate program that qualifies students for a wide variety of careers in various areas of GIS. Graduates of “Spatial Information Management” provide fast, up-to-date and accurate integration, analysis, simulation and visualization of the relevant spatial situation to stakeholders and decision makers.

The SIM faculty has built an extensive network to the GIS professionals’ community and connects its students to high profile institutions of research, development and academics. With applied research for solving real life problems as the core of effective education, it follows that most of the thesis projects are conducted in cooperation with partners in public administration, academia and the private sector. Students can pursue their interests by choosing one of the three areas of specialization: Environmental Monitoring & Security Management, Geoinformatics, or Spatial Technology Management. SIM keeps up-to-date with developments in GIScience and relevant fields by, for example, inviting distinguished scholars and young researchers to the “GI Research Colloquium” where talks are given on hot topics ranging from dealing with big data or geovisual analytics to open source software solutions or sensors on drones.

Engineering & IT is an unbelievably fascinating field of applied sciences. This area is characterized mainly by creativity, innovation and design. Engineering & IT is also a rapidly developing area, crucial for the economic development of a region.

The students of the School of Engineering & IT should demonstrate strengths in the following areas:

technical understanding,
reasoning power,
good English, mathematics and computer skills,
creativity,
enthusiasm for innovation.

Graduates of the Master Degree Program Spatial Information Management are able to:

analyse independently, as a GI application specialist, a space-related problem and solve specific issues with the use of existing geo-data and methods
integrate digital geographic data technically correctly in administrative and business processes
model conceptually and formally
manage selection, integration and application of state-of-the-art technologies
calculate and manage independently GI projects
apply interdisciplinary approaches in the international and domestic environment

Current courses - Spatial Information Management

Semester 2 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Data Mining	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.07
Project Management and GIS	SE	2,0	3,0	M-SIM2.04
Proposal Writing	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.01
Selected Aspects of Operations Research	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.03
Spatio- Temporal Databases	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.06
Teambuilding and Leadership	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.05
Technical and Business Communications	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM2.02
Specialization Area: Geoinformatics	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Applied Internet Technologies	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM2.08
GIS Services	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.09

Semester 4 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Master Thesis	MT	0,0	25,0	M-SIM4.01
Master Thesis - Seminar	SE	4,0	5,0	M-SIM4.02

Semester 1 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Advanced Concepts and Applications of GIS&T	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM1.05
Discrete Combinatorial Optimization	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.07
Geodata Integration	ILV	1,0	2,0	M-SIM1.11
Introduction to GIS&T	SE	2,0	4,0	M-SIM1.01
Introduction to Spatial Decision Support Systems	ILV	5,0	5,0	M-SIM1.09
Introduction to Spatial Information Management	SE	1,0	1,0	M-SIM1.02
Legal & Social Aspects	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.06
Principles of Computer Science	SE	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.04
Principles of Mathematics	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.03
Standards & Interoperability	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.10
Statistical Spatial Analysis	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.08

Semester 3 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
3D Modeling and Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Modeling	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.09
Entrepreneurship	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM3.01
Geovisualization	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.03
International Collaboration and Project Funding	SE	1,0	2,0	M-SIM3.02
Project	PT	5,0	5,0	M-SIM3.05
Project Development	SE	3,0	3,0	M-SIM3.07
Project Monitoring	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.06
Spatial Simulation Technologies	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.08
User Interface Design	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.04
Specialization Area: Geoinformatics	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Distributed Computing	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.11
Mobile GIS	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.10

Semester 2 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Data Mining	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.07
Project Management and GIS	SE	2,0	3,0	M-SIM2.04
Proposal Writing	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.01
Selected Aspects of Operations Research	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.03
Spatio- Temporal Databases	ILV	4,0	5,0	M-SIM2.06
Teambuilding and Leadership	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.05
Technical and Business Communications	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM2.02
Specialization Area: Environmental Monitoring & Security Management	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Introduction to Environmental Monitoring	SE	1,0	1,0	M-SIM2.13
Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.14
Sensor Technologies	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.12
Specialization Area: Geoinformatics	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Applied Internet Technologies	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM2.08
GIS Services	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.09
Specialization Area: Spatial Technology Management	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Location Analysis and GIS	SE	3,0	3,0	M-SIM2.10
Sales and Marketing	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.11
Optional subject	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
German M2	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.15
Spanish M2	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM2.16

Semester 4 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Master Thesis	MT	0,0	25,0	M-SIM4.01
Master Thesis - Seminar	SE	4,0	5,0	M-SIM4.02

Semester 1 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Advanced Concepts and Applications of GIS&T	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM1.05
Discrete Combinatorial Optimization	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.07
Geodata Integration	ILV	1,0	2,0	M-SIM1.11
Introduction to GIS&T	SE	2,0	4,0	M-SIM1.01
Introduction to Spatial Decision Support Systems	ILV	5,0	5,0	M-SIM1.09
Introduction to Spatial Information Management	SE	1,0	1,0	M-SIM1.02
Legal & Social Aspects	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.06
Principles of Computer Science	SE	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.04
Principles of Mathematics	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.03
Standards & Interoperability	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.10
Statistical Spatial Analysis	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM1.08
Optional subject	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
English	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.12
German	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.13
Spanish M1	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM1.14

Semester 3 - (Curriculum 2011)

Lecture	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
3D Modeling and Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Modeling	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.09
Entrepreneurship	ILV	3,0	3,0	M-SIM3.01
Geovisualization	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.03
International Collaboration and Project Funding	SE	1,0	2,0	M-SIM3.02
Project	PT	5,0	5,0	M-SIM3.05
Project Development	SE	3,0	3,0	M-SIM3.07
Project Monitoring	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.06
Spatial Simulation Technologies	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.08
User Interface Design	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.04
Specialization Area: Environmental Monitoring & Security Management	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Risk Management	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.15
Spatial Security & Crime Analysis	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.14
Specialization Area: Geoinformatics	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Distributed Computing	ILV	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.11
Mobile GIS	ILV	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.10
Specialization Area: Spatial Technology Management	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
Product and Service Development	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.13
Technology Management	SE	2,0	3,0	M-SIM3.12
Optional subject	Type	SPPS	ECTS-Credits	Course number
German M3	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.16
Spanish M3	SE	2,0	2,0	M-SIM3.17

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Tips after the study

The development of spatial scenarios opens a whole new world of professional opportunities. Highly qualified experts with the knowledge and skills we train in are in high demand and are needed to help find solutions for the challenges of our times. Such challenges include the increasing threat caused by terrorism, the shortage of natural resources, traffic congestion or the monitoring of the health for the elderly. For these reasons, our graduates have excellent and exciting international career opportunities – within a broad spectrum of application fields such as:

Natural Hazard Management
Utilities Planning and Optimization of Electric, Energy and Telecom Networks
Water-Supply and Water-Information Management
Traffic Simulation and Modeling
Regional and Local Planning
Location-Based Services
Public Participation
Health and Human Services
Security and Intelligence Services
Environmental Resource Management
Sales and Technology Marketing

The successful completion of the master program in turn qualifies the graduate to undertake a doctorate according to § 6 FHStG (4) FHStG stands for Fachhochschul Studies Act).

Statements

Autonomous-driving minibus project

"At Salzburg Research, I work with large-scale spatio-temporal datasets like real-time and historic movement data. As a data analyst, I pre-process data to find quality leaks like street topology errors and develop efficient methods to discover useful information as traffic states or person movement probabilities. Starting a few months ago, I also work as an operator at our autonomous-driving minibus project. We evaluate the requirements and implications to use such a vehicle. This involves the infrastructure at the test track but also social and legal conditions. During the test drives in the rural municipality of Koppl, we assess how the bus itself, passengers and surrounding car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians behave."

Simon Gröchenig
Alumni, Software Developer for Spatial Information Systems

Unique master program

"During my Bachelor studies at the University of Udine I came to realize how great the additional value of Geoinformation Systems is. During an internship I worked with environmental data at a municipality. It soon became clear that Spatial Decision Support Systems were necessary to look at problems in a holistic way in order to solve them. With this unique master program in Villach I have found exactly the kind of education that allows me to learn these necessary skills."

Emilio Politti
Alumni Spatial Information Management

A lot of job opportunities

"My motivation in joining the Spatial Information Management (SIM) program was borne out of practicality and interest. This is a multi-disciplinary field in terms of scope and application. I believe that an expert in this field will not run out of job opportunities. For my undergraduate studies, I majored in Electronics and Communications Engineering. SIM is a new field for me. I am always fascinated that I learn something new after every class. I find the methods used for each course very intuitive, practical and relevant to the study. Added bonuses are my classmates who come from different parts of the world to study here. It is interesting to learn about their culture and how similar and different theirs are to mine. I am just happy to be here, I bet they are, too."

Elaine Faith Sotacio
Alumni Spatial Information Management

Insight into the US American developments

"The analysis of personal digital data plays a vital role in decision support. It affects the planning of action in the health sector and in the fight against crime. Treating sensitive data responsibly and visualizing it accurately while protecting privacy rights of the individual is gaining more and more importance, especially in the USA. My lectures at the Department of Geoinformation provide insight into the US American developments and the State of the Art of international research in this field."

Michael Leitner
Associate Professor Department of Geography and
Anthropology Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

Good job opportunities

"Summer 2016 was very special for me because I graduated from the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS, Villach, Austria). I studied the Master degree program “Spatial Information Management” there for two years, under the gSmart Erasmus Mundus scholarship. This degree opened good job opportunities for me in my home city Astana, Kazakhstan. I would like to express my gratitude to the gSmart Erasmus Mundus program and their coordinators for giving me the opportunity to study Masters in CUAS. My special “thankyou” goes to the coordinator of study program, Prof. Dr. Gernot Paulus and all CUAS staff. Their excellent lectures and valuable knowledge have facilitated me in my career and life.

Yelbek Utepov, PhD, MSc (Kazakhstan)
Alumni Spatial Information Management

The full report can be found on page 16 of the GI Newsletter 2018/2019.