Aalto and National Land Survey of Finland extend their collaboration

Aalto University and the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) have agreed on a closer collaboration. The objective is to form an international state of the art concentration of real estate and geospatial information know-how, which provides experts with a wide range of land surveying skills to meet the needs of both labour market and research.

The collaboration centres around branches of science in which Aalto University and the NLS possess know-how unique in the Finnish context; real estate economics, remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, geospatial information science, positioning and geodesy. The collaboration aims at realising internationally high-grade research and development projects on these fields and securing long-lasting funding.

The collaboration also extends to education; NLS experts participate in thesis instruction and the institute provides jobs for thesis workers. The collaborative partners will also start making preparations for a jointly funded professorship. In addition, the collaboration increases in designing, procuring and utilising research infrastructure.

‘The extended collaboration aims at combining our complementary expertise for the benefit of the society as efficiently as possible. For example, geospatial information analytics and applications benefit of the multidisciplinary expertise,’ says Aalto University President Tuula Teeri.

‘The National Land Survey of Finland is pleased that the collaboration agreement with Aalto University carries on the fruitful operation that has raised the Finnish real estate and geospatial information system to the international elite. Even though the field is rather small considering its volume, its social meaning for maintaining the democratic market economy is remarkable. Applying novel technologies and innovations to develop the field requires close collaboration with a top university. Now the foundation for continuing this collaboration is laid,’ states National Land Survey of Finland Director General Arvo Kokkonen.

The collaboration agreement was signed by Arvo Kokkonen, DIrector General of NLS, and Tuula Teeri, President of Aalto University.