An interest in geospatial information and Finnish student culture led Katariina Kuoppala to Aalto

Why did you choose the Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics, and why did you originally decide to apply to Aalto?

I completed my bachelor’s degree abroad, where I studied business administration as well as civil and environmental engineering. Through my engineering courses, I became familiar with geospatial information and various geographic information systems (GIS), which were the topics I found most interesting during my studies. Eventually, I decided to pursue a master’s degree related to geospatial information.

I chose the Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics because I find geospatial information fascinating. It is complex in nature, yet highly practical, as it is connected to our environment in one way or another. I also wanted to return to Finland and experience Finnish student culture, so Aalto’s Geoinformatics programme was an excellent fit for me. In addition, I had heard about Aalto’s high-quality teaching and vibrant student life, which further strengthened my decision to apply.

What has been the most interesting part of your studies?

The most interesting aspect has been seeing how theory is applied in practice and developing problem-solving skills through different assignments. For example, in a photogrammetry course, we modelled the Amphitheatre using photographs taken with our own phones. In the GIS Development course, we worked on a project related to autonomous GIS AI agents.

We have also had several guest lecturers who have shared interesting insights from their professional work. In addition, we have gone on excursions to places such as research institutes.

What is studying at Aalto like in practice?

The courses in the Geoinformatics master’s programme are relatively small, and support is always available from both teachers and fellow students. I appreciate the flexibility of the programme because attendance is only required in a few courses, which allows students to complete much of their work independently.

Personally, I usually attend lectures and complete assignments on campus because it is a great way to get to know classmates, solve problems together, and enjoy student lunches. I think Aalto’s five-period academic system makes it possible to focus fully on just a few courses at a time. On the other hand, depending on the course load, the periods can be quite intensive, and time passes very quickly.

What do you hope for from your future career?

In the future, I would like to work with geospatial information. I want to use geospatial data and spatial analysis to contribute to better and more sustainable decision-making. Geospatial information is used in an incredible variety of fields, and career opportunities are plentiful.

At the moment, I am particularly interested in technical GIS applications, analytics, and the development of new tools. I hope to have a career where I can solve practical problems and work on projects that have a tangible impact on society and the environment.

Have you worked in your field during the summers or alongside your studies?

Yes, I have worked in part-time positions related to my field during my studies and have also completed summer internships.

I worked part-time in the property team of an electricity distribution company, where I primarily served as the team’s IT support person. In addition, I improved the quality of property-related data and implemented various automation solutions.

During a summer internship at a large consulting company, I worked with geospatial information and participated in projects such as route optimisation while also learning about the day-to-day work of a consultant.

This summer, I am working for a city in GIS-related tasks, mainly assisting with GIS support services as well as maintaining and updating geospatial datasets.