Geospatial Research Meets Business Impact in EAASI Thesis Award

EAASI opens second edition of Outstanding Thesis Award to recognize excellence in geospatial innovation with business Impact

Following the success of its inaugural edition, the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) is proud to launch the 2025 Outstanding Thesis Award – Spatial Business Bridge, a unique initiative designed to spotlight postgraduate research that connects geospatial technologies with real-world business applications.

This second edition continues EAASI’s mission to bridge the gap between academic excellence and the operational needs of the aerial surveying sector, while also reflecting the growing demand for practical, industry-relevant innovation.

For the 2025 edition, submissions are now open for Master’s, Doctoral, and Post-Doctoral students who have submitted theses or equivalent project reports to European universities in 2023, 2024, or 2025.

The final deadline is August 31, 2025. Click on the image or on the button below to launch the application form.

Apply

Candidates are expected to demonstrate:

• Innovative use of geospatial data from crewed airborne platforms

• A solid understanding of geospatial technologies and their practical application

• Clear real-world relevance and value to business or operational decision-making

• Strong potential for industry adoption or commercial impact
  

The winner of the 2025 EAASI Outstanding Thesis Award will receive:

• A €2,000 cash prize

• Full travel and accommodation to present their work at the EAASI Partner Summit

• A trophy and a certificate of recognition

• Inclusion in the EAASI Hall of Fame

• Visibility in industry media and platforms, helping to launch their professional career

  
  

A growing community of talent

The deadline for the first EAASI Thesis Award closed on August 31, 2024, and received an overwhelming response from postgraduate students across European universities. The association was deeply impressed by the high quality and diversity of research topics, which included AI-powered environmental monitoring, 3D city modelling, and aerial data for infrastructure planning.

“The first edition set a high standard for combining technical innovation with practical relevance,” said EAASI Secretary General Marcos Martínez. “We are excited to see how new voices in academia continue to shape the future of our industry.

 Quddus Busari receives the EAASI Outstanding Thesis Award from Simon Musäus, Lead of the EAASI University and Students Committee

Quddus Busari, a postgraduate student at the University of Leicester, received the first-ever award for his thesis on using AI and aerial data to enhance tree classification—a project that showed both technical excellence and tangible business value for national mapping initiatives.

EAASI invites all eligible students to apply and become part of an exciting movement shaping the future of aerial surveying through academic insight and business impact.