PhD: Semantic Modelling of Geodata Sources and Geo-analytical Workflows

Are you eager to advance research at the crossroads of geography, data, and AI? As a PhD candidate in the ERC-funded GeoTrAnsQData project at Utrecht University, you will develop innovative methods to make geographic data smarter and more question-aware, contributing directly to the future of spatial reasoning and sustainability.

Your job
Answering geographic questions like “What is the potential to reduce urban heat in Amsterdam by installing green roofs on existing buildings?” is important in fields such as urban planning, sustainability, and public health. Most current Geographic Question Answering (GeoQA) tools only return short factual answers, but many real-world questions—like this example—require deeper spatial analysis.

In such cases, maps must be created or transformed from data rather than simply retrieved. The GeoTrAnsQData project addresses this by developing a GeoQA method that converts questions into executable geo-analytical workflows, turning geodata into new answer maps. We use knowledge graphs to model these transformations and apply AI methods to scale them across large map repositories, enabling users to explore many ways maps can be reused to answer different kinds of questions.

This PhD position focuses on developing a semantic model of geodata sources of a given map repository in terms of the questions they can answer, their analytical purposes, as well as their provenance, making use of explicit concepts of geographic information. The goal is to support question-aware geodata discovery and computational reasoning using transformation models of data sources for synthesizing workflows.

As a PhD candidate, you will:

• develop a semantic framework and a knowledge graph to represent geodata sources and their provenance including geospatial workflows on an abstract level, using purpose-driven concepts and conceptual transformations;
• develop AI and machine learning based technology to automate the description and modeling of data sources based on available text descriptions (NLP) and geodata;
• contribute to a knowledge base linking practical geographic questions to datasets and spatial transformation steps;
• collaborate closely with another PhD candidate (on question modelling), a postdoc (on the GeoQA reasoning engine), and a technical assistant;
• evaluate the framework through user-centered scenarios in spatial planning or environmental assessment, and by developing annotation manuals and tests on a gold standard.

This position is part of the ERC-funded project GeoTrAnsQData, which develops the foundations of a transformative GeoQA methodology through an integrated research programme across geoinformatics, AI, and geography. The project is based at the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, and contributes to cutting-edge research on spatial reasoning, semantic technologies, and AI for geosciences and geography.

This position is ideal for someone interested in conceptual modelling, spatial data infrastructures, and AI-supported reasoning over geographic information. You have the following qualifications:

• a Master’s degree (completed or near completion) in GIScience, GeoInformatics, Computer science, Ontology engineering, Computational geoscience, or a related field;
• a strong interest in conceptual modeling, semantic modelling, ontology engineering, formal logics or cognitive modelling, and some experience with knowledge graph standards (e.g., RDF, OWL, SHACL);
• familiarity with GIS, geodata infrastructures and geo-analytical workflows
• some experience with AI and machine learning methods to label texts (NLP) or data sources;
• strong programming skills (e.g., Python, RDF) and some skills in web-based data retrieval;
• good English communication skills and an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.

• A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,059 and €3,881 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.