Intergeo 2025: fostering dialogue between education, research and industry

A true place of learning – that is how Dr Jens Brauneck, Professor of Multisensory Geodata Acquisition in the Geodata Management programme at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, describes Intergeo. The world’s leading exhibition for geodesy and geoinformation brings together industry professionals, educators and researchers, showing the dynamism with which geodesy is evolving and the close ties between education and professional practice. This year, and then regularly from 2027 onwards, Intergeo will take place in his university's hometown, Frankfurt am Main.

As the people living and working there know, Frankfurt is of course more than just an easily accessible conference location. The city is a prime example of the exchange between disciplines, people and technologies. As a transport hub, financial centre and location for numerous digital projects, it is ideally suited for bringing together developments from industry, science and administration. In other words, Intergeo is being held in a region that is perfect for the exchange between science, business and public authorities. Topics such as urban development, mobility, climate protection and infrastructure are not mere theory here. This is where actual planning, construction and discussion take place.

The Frankfurt Geoportal and also the Frankfurt Urban Data Platform demonstrate how geodata supports public transparency, administrative decision-making and urban planning to enhance overall livability. The surrounding metropolitan area – the Rhine-Main region – is equally well positioned, with universities, research institutions, engineering firms, startups and public agencies. This diversity is reflected at the Intergeo trade fair, which brings together experts from various fields and offers students an opportunity to engage with potential employers at an early stage.

A real place of learning

For those of us in higher education, Intergeo is not merely a mandatory event, but a real place of learning. It shows the dynamism with which geodesy is developing, and how closely education and professional practice are linked. When former students return as young professionals and exchange ideas with their former lecturers, it becomes clear how valuable good education and personal networks are. What makes the trade exhibition special is that you can see how things really work. Technologies such as UAVs, Lidar, GNSS, AI-supported GIS systems and digital twins are not only exhibited, but also actively explained and demonstrated. Students experience how their knowledge proves itself in practice, and where it needs to be further developed.

For us teachers, Intergeo is also a place to stay up to date with the latest technology. In discussions with developers, manufacturers, authorities and colleagues from other universities, we get ideas. What works well in practice? What technology will be needed in the future? Which content might be missing from the curriculum? This feedback helps us keep our courses up to date, both technically and methodologically. And last but not least, Intergeo opens doors for many students. It is a place where ideas for internships and theses are born – and often where initial job offers are made. It is rare for academic life to offer such direct access to real-world innovation, employers and opportunities.

Developing solutions to real-world problems

What we experience there is also reflected at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Our Department 1 brings together architecture, civil engineering, geodata and facility management in terms of both organization and content. The social challenges facing our region and our country – climate adaptation, energy infrastructure, mobility, digitalization and housing – can only be solved through an interdisciplinary approach. The common goal is not only to educate students in technology, but also to give them the proper tools to develop solutions to real-world problems themselves. Our study programmes in the field of geodata management are practice-oriented, wide-ranging and socially relevant. Especially in the dual work-study formats, theory is directly linked to everyday professional life. Cooperation with authorities and companies creates networks that not only provide training, but also contribute specifically to the region’s further development.

Research plays an important role in this. We work on projects that are directly related to practical applications, such as the monitoring of dry forest areas using UAV-based Lidar in Brazil, climate adaptation strategies in urban planning in Frankfurt, or the surveying of radio telescopes for global reference systems. This work is incorporated into our teaching. From real interdisciplinary cases, our students learn what geodesy can achieve, and where it is necessary to think for oneself instead of just applying knowledge.

Combining technological precision with social contexts

The topics of geodesy and geoinformation are often still underestimated in politics and administration, yet much depends on them. Geodesy, as a broad discipline, provides the fundamental data and spatial precision that is essential for informed political, social and urban planning decisions. Geodesy makes a decisive contribution to key issues of the future, such as climate monitoring, spatial planning and global infrastructure. Without good data, there can be no well-functioning urban planning, no reliable infrastructure and no targeted climate protection.

In many places, geodesy is considered a technical specialty. It is not just a question of measurement accuracy and software skills, however, but also of how to handle spatial data responsibly. This requires people who can combine technological precision with an understanding of social and ecological contexts. That’s why global climate change, energy transition, competition for land and pressure on land use, social inequality and spatial disparities are not marginal topics in our curricula. They are at the heart of our education.

The need for political will

Training interdisciplinary professionals is the task of universities, but this can only be achieved with long-term funding and reliable support. However, universities in many countries (including Germany!) are under increasing pressure to fulfil their tasks with limited resources. Areas such as geodesy, where innovation, research and education are closely linked, are particularly affected. In order for geodesy to realize its potential, technical expertise must be accompanied by the political will to promote this work in a sustainable manner.

Intergeo embodies this principle by fostering dialogue between education, technology and social responsibility, and creating an opportunity to help shape the future. Geodesy in particular provides the necessary tools for this: precise measurement methods, a deep understanding of spatial relationships and the ability to make complex changes visible and assessable. Whether for climate adaptation, sustainable infrastructure or digital transformation, geodetic expertise is indispensable. To ensure that this expertise remains available in the future, strong partnerships between science, business, administration and politics are needed – as well as places like Intergeo, where these partnerships can thrive.