Research brochure - ITC

FACULTY OF GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE
AND EARTH OBSERVATION
ITC
research
Space for global development

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The Faculty of
Geo-Information Science
and Earth Observation
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
One of mankind’s greatest challenges is to achieve an appropriate balance
between developing natural resources and maintaining an optimal natural
environment. To meet this challenge, we need detailed and reliable geoinformation
and geo-information management tools.
At the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of
the University of Twente, knowledge of geo-information management is
readily available and is continually being developed and extended.
By means of postgraduate education, research and project services, we
contribute to capacity building in developing countries and emerging
economies. In doing so, considerable attention is paid to the development
and application of geographical information systems (GIS) for solving
problems. Such problems can range from determining the risks of
landslides, mapping forest fires, planning urban infrastructure and
implementing land administration systems, to designing a good wildlife
management system or detecting environmental pollution.
The key words characterizing our activities are geo-information
management, worldwide and innovative. We concentrate on earth
observation, the generation of spatial information, and the development of
data integration methods. Furthermore, we provide tools that can support
the processes of planning and decision making for sustainable
development and the alleviation of poverty in developing countries and
emerging economies.
Prof. Tom Veldkamp, Dean

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ROLE OF RESEARCH AT ITC
DISCOVERY OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
ALSO SUPPORTING QUALITY EDUCATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
At the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of
the University of Twente, research is carried out within the framework of a
coherent research programme. The research programme is embedded in
the research school SENSE, which is recognized by the Royal Netherlands
Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Most chairs of the Faculty are admitted to the Twente Graduate School.
The academic research programme addresses timely and specific problem
fields in geo-information science and earth observation and develops new
methodologies to continue to address important problems in society that
have a spatial and temporal character. The new methods result in tools for
the collection, storage and analysis of geospatial data. In this way, new
scientific approaches are developed that help to address to societal problems,
particularly in developing countries.
Our research programme contributes to the mission of the Faculty as it
aims at capacity building of institutes and organizations in developing
countries and emerging economies. It does so by means of a scientific
dialogue with these institutes and organizations.
Most researchers in the programme are junior and mid-career researchers
who utilize the latest scientific developments and skills to address national
and international problems. Since 1990, over 200 alumni of the graduate
programme have been awarded a PhD degree by a Dutch university.
TWENTE GRADUATE SCHOOL
ITC contributes to the Twente Graduate School of the University of
Twente. The School offers an increasing variety of integrated
master’s and PhD programmes for outstanding graduate students
who are aiming at a career in scientific research. The programmes
are set up in cooperation between faculties and research institutes.
By means of a wide selection of compulsory and elective courses,
students can specialize in a research area of interest and at the
same time broaden their perspective on the societal context of
technology and research. These aspects are integrated within the
Twente Graduate School as a breeding ground for research talent.
High standards are set and a strict selection procedure applies to
both research and education programmes, as well as to prospective
students.
More information: www.utwente.nl/tgs

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GRADUATE PROGRAMME
STUDY FOR A PHD
Junior researchers studying for a PhD degree at the Faculty ITC are registered
in the graduate programme. Each graduate student carries out a PhD
project embedded in one of the themes of the research programme under
the supervision of one or more ITC professors. In addition, research projects
are defined within the research programme, and graduate students
are recruited to carry out the research (research assistants: in Dutch AiO’s)
for these projects. Applicants that have received a PhD fellowship from an
external sponsor and those who are self-funded are encouraged to prepare
and submit a research project outline addressing a problem with which he/
she is already familiar, as part of the application and registration procedure.
The professor(s) within the research theme concerned will judge the
relevance of the proposed topic, as well as the quality of the candidate.
There are around 150 graduate students at ITC. Most graduate students are
full-time PhD students aiming to earn their PhD degree at the University of
Twente. Depending upon the fellowship, full-time PhD students have
between three and four years to complete their thesis. ITC also hosts
sandwich PhD students, who spend a considerable time carrying out
research in their home countries.
Each PhD research project is subject to quality assurance checks, as
defined in the Training and Supervision Plan. The first six months is a
qualifying period. During this time, the student has to develop a research
proposal for public presentation and examination. Successful completion of
this qualifier is mandatory for continuation of the PhD research and for
entrance to the research school SENSE. Subsequent quality assurance
checks are made annually to monitor the progress of research.
RESEARCH AT ITC
• Seven research themes
• Around 150 PhDs enrolled
• Approximately 150 MSc graduates annually
• Seven MSc degree courses
Output
• PhD and MSc graduates
• Scientific publications
Partnerships
• Research partnerships
• Joint education programme
Affiliations
• SENSE research school (www.sense.nl)
• Twente Graduate School (www.utwente.nl/tgs)
Association
• United Nations University – ITC
• School for Disaster Geo-information Management
• School for Land Administration Studies
More specific and detailed information on ITC’s graduate programme is
available on the research web pages: www.itc.nl/research. Here, the
research themes are listed and an interested PhD student can select the
theme that optimally suits his/her background and research interests. The
next step is to carry out a self-assessment of eligibility for registration. At
the end of the self-assessment, an online application for registration in our
graduate programme is available. When submitted, the online application
will be forwarded to the leader of the selected research theme.

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RESEARCH PROGRAMME
LEADING TO SOCIETAL BENEFITS
The research programme of ITC develops cutting-edge knowledge and
innovative approaches in the field of geo-information science and earth
observation. The programme addresses applications of geospatial data to
space and resource management and the provision of geospatial data for
the user community, with emphasis on solving problems in developing
countries.
To ensure that new knowledge and innovation in space and resource
management and in the provision of geospatial data lead to societal
benefits, the programme is based on six research themes and the umbrella
theme. Each theme has a varying emphasis on each of three domains:
• Earth observation and geo-information processing technologies
• Geospatial processes (e.g. earth sciences, social sciences) that play a
role in the thematic field
• Ways for society associated with the thematic field to access and exploit
new knowledge and innovation.
Academic output 2007-2011
Type of publication 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
ISI journals 67 83 124 145 184
Other peer-rev. journals 18 18 23 26 27
Chapters in books 33 47 31 15 24
Books/monographs 0 1 3 4 11
Phd theses 12 8 7 17 21
Subtotal reviewed publ. 130 157 188 207 267
Conference-full papers 78 99 76 99 69
Professional publications 92 69 80 100 66
Conference presentations 77 114 92 126 153
Total 377 439 436 532 555
In each theme, research is carried out by a group led by one or more ITC
professors. A group typically comprises several expert staff members and a
number of PhD students, while MSc students are also assigned to the
group as apprentice researchers during their thesis research period of six
months. The outcomes of research activities are used to update the education
in degree, diploma and certificate (short) courses (visit www.itc.nl/
study for further information or see the separate study brochure).

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RESEARCH THEMES
TAILORED TO THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA
4D-EARTH
To manage resources (energy, economic and industrial minerals), to cope with
environmental effects of the exploitation of resources, to minimize loss of life
and property from natural and man-induced disasters, and to contribute to economic
development and a sustainable future, we need reliable earth science
information.
ITC Professors
• Victor Jetten, professor of earth surface systems analysis
• Freek van der Meer, professor of earth subsurface systems analysis
More information: www.itc.nl/4D-EARTH
The aim of the 4D-EARTH research theme is to make adequate spatial and
temporal information on earth systems and processes available and accessible.
This requires a good understanding of the earth systems and processes,
their dynamics in time and space, and their influence on society. Competence
in the earth sciences is combined with relevant know-how concerning
state-of-the-art remote sensing and GIS technology. This includes spatiotemporal
process modelling, predictive modelling, geostatistics, objectoriented
remote sensing and contextual filtering, hyperspectral remote
sensing, and airborne and spaceborne geophysics and geochemistry.
The research theme is divided into two intimately linked themes:
• Geologic Remote Sensing (GRS) and
• Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Management research (DMAN).
HYPERSPECTRAL REMOTE SENSING
Characterizing Hydrothermal and Geothermal Systems
Airborne hyperspectral data in combination with air-/spaceborne geophysical
data and ancillary field geochemical and spectral measurements are
used to map surface alteration mineralogy as a guide to fluid pathways in
volcanic systems. Understanding such systems aids in characterizing the
prospectively for precious metals. In active systems it helps the exploration
for geothermal energy resources.

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ACQUISITION AND QUALITY OF GEO-SPATIAL INFORMATION
Developments in sensor and web technology have led to an increase in earth
observation data from many sensors Advanced methodology is needed to
integrate and interpret large amounts of data such that they are easily and
rapidly available for decision making. The users require high-speed data
analysis to almost continuously monitor global and local geospatial processes,
taking into account the data quality and fitness for use.
The core objective of the Acquisition and Quality of Geospatial Information
research theme is to develop tools and techniques to optimally extract
information from images and point clouds. Attention is given to optical
remote sensing, radar and lidar from spaceborne, airborne and terrestrial
platforms. Assessments of data quality are made. This means that the
information should be relevant, should have a well-specified accuracy that
is fit for use, and should be globally available for similar studies elsewhere.
The final aim is to develop information collection from sensor data such
that it serves a well-targeted range of practical problems.
The research theme is built on expertise available in the chairs of the
department. The two chairs collaborate in an integrated way on shared
methodology, topics and fields of application. Special attention is given to
super-resolution mapping and spatio-temporal statistics.
ITC Professors
• Alfred Stein, professor of spatial statistics and spatial data quality
• George Vosselman, professor of geo-information extraction with sensor
systems
More information: www.itc.nl/ACQUAL
Fast methods for making 3D city models
There is a growing demand for three-dimensional city models, but creating
these models is expensive and labour-intensive. Shi Pu and Sander Oude
Elberink have developed methods to largely automate this process, using
topographic information from the land registry in combination with terrestrial
and airborne laser scanning data and imagery. On the left in airborne
images (top), laser scanning data (middle) and generated 3D roof models
(bottom) are shown; on the right terrestrial imagery (top) are combined
with laser segments (middle) to reconstruct building facades (bottom).

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FOREST AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE SPATIAL SCIENCES
Increasing population combined with growing economic activity place
pressure on the natural environment and result in problems such as deforestation,
overgrazing, biodiversity loss, and reduced food security. We are
increasingly aware that environmental issues and agriculture transcend
scales and require data collected over extended time periods. As evidenced
by various international agendas and agreements, the management of the
Earth’s natural resources is of concern to us all.
The mission of the Forest Agriculture and Environment in the Spatial
Sciences research theme is the sustainable management of and the
meeting of societal needs from the green cover (biosphere) by applying and
developing geo-information, earth observation and spatio-temporal analytical
tools. Spatial information is used to assess, monitor, plan and manage
natural resources. Cross-cutting topics addressed cover human impacts as
well as technology applications, including hyperspectral remote sensing,
physical modelling, infrastructure (cloud computing, wireless etc.) and
sensor networks. Scientists are active in spatial environmental health as
well as natural resource security. The research theme comprises three
knowledge clusters: Agriculture, Environment and Forestry, with a focus on
biodiversity, food security and forest biomass.
ITC Professors
• Andrew Skidmore, professor of spatial environmental resource dynamics
• Eric Smaling, professor of sustainable agriculture
• Wouter Verhoef, professor of quantitative remote sensing in natural
resources
• Tom Veldkamp, professor of spatial environmental quality
More information: www.itc.nl/FORAGES
AVIAN INFLUENZA AND MIGRATORY BIRDS
Si Yali has demonstrated the value of a spatial-ecological perspective in
understanding the relation between avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) spread
and waterfowl migration. Migratory waterfowl play an important role in the
global spread of HPAI H5N1. The information in her thesis assists in
predicting the spreading agent distribution and thus disease occurrence.
PEOPLE, LAND AND URBAN SYSTEMS
The magnitude and dynamics of urbanization place an enormous burden on
organizations responsible for the planning and management of urban regions.
The core objectives of urban planning and management are seen as
understanding dynamic urban processes and developing effective interventions
that contribute to the sustainability of urban development. Geo-information
and geo-information technology play a vital role in supporting these
objectives.
The aim of the People, Land and Urban Systems research theme is to
provide governments and other major stakeholders with disaggregated
data for the better targeting of poverty alleviation interventions; a better
understanding of the nature of urban development and its relationship with
infrastructures and services; tools for a better understanding of transportinduced
urban space; and collaborative approaches and participatory
methods for environmental planning and urban disaster risk management.
Overall, this implies the provision of new integrated spatial knowledge over
a range of relevant disciplines on how complex real-world urban-regional
systems might behave and respond to policy interventions.
The research theme comprises several research sub-themes, including
urban poverty, urban transport, infrastructure and public services, disaster
preparedness and mitigation, urban environmental planning, land use and
land tenure, participatory GIS, and spatial planning and decision support
systems.
ITC Professors
• Ms Yola Georgiadou, professor of geo-information for governance
• Martin van Maarseveen, professor of management of urban regional
dynamics
• Paul van der Molen, professor of land administration and cadastre
• Anne van der Veen, professor of governance and spatial integrated
assessment
• Jaap Zevenbergen, professor of land administration systems
More information: www.itc.nl/PLUS
DYNAMIC MODELS TO SIMULATE THE IMPACTS OF LAND USE/TRANSPORT
SCENARIOS IN CITIES
Urban development can be characterized by urban restructuring, rapid
expansion and suburbanization. It strongly interacts with developments in
transport networks, whether it be the expansion of existing transport
facilities or the introduction of new systems (e.g. metro, BRT). Staff and
students have developed and implemented dynamic models to simulate
the impacts of land use/transport scenarios on cities in China, Vietnam,
Saudi Arabia and India. What land use developments can be expected and
where? How will these scenarios affect the accessibility of economic
centres? Who benefits most from new transport infrastructure? These
questions can be addressed in a Group Decision Room that facilitates
participatory urban planning approaches with stakeholders.

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SPATIO-TEMPORAL ANALYTICS, MAPS AND PROCESSING
In their daily life, both professionals and the public need information about
objects and phenomena and about processes driving change in their environment
to gain insight and support reasoning and decision making. Nowadays
the data are collected on an ad hoc basis − or even ‘by accident’ − at such
high frequency and volume by both physical and human sensors that data
availability is no longer an issue. However, how to organize, access and
explore these data is no trivial matter.
The Spatio-Temporal Analytics, Maps and Processing research theme is
concerned with the questions of how to represent our spatial environment
and complex and dynamic processes in information systems, and how to
offer a diversity of visual representations that support the user during any
phase of the spatio-temporal data handling process. This should result in
valuable and accessible geo-information that can be used to improve our
understanding of processes to support informed decision making at a
variety of scales, for a variety of purposes, and within a variety of user
contexts.
Two main interconnected focal areas have been specified:
• Spatio-Temporal Information Processing and Services Development
• GeoVisual Analytics and Cartography.
ITC Professors
• Menno-Jan Kraak, professor of geovisual analytics and cartography
• Vacancy, professor of spatio-temporal information processing and
services development
More information: www.itc.nl/STAMP
TIME WAVE: COMBINING TIMELINE AND TIME WHEEL
The temporal component of data has a linear or cyclic nature, or frequently
both characteristics. Xia Li developed the time wave, a temporal visual
representation that combines the timeline and the time wheel. It can show
multiple time scales by nesting different waves, and is dynamically linked to
other graphics in an exploratory environment. Extensive usability research
has proved that it performs very well while executing more complex
spatio- temporal tasks that include both linear and cyclic time.

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Umbrella theme: SPACE FOR GLOBAL CHANGE
To unify the different research themes with the intention of developing a
multi-trans-disciplinary approach to sustainable development, to integrate
issues of water, food and health under the umbrella of good governance, and
to develop a beacon for the research of the Faculty, we are developing an
umbrella theme.
High-resolution evapotranspiration map for the Horn of Africa (August 2008)
WATER CYCLE AND CLIMATE
Safe water, secure food, sustainable energy, and safeguarding the environment
form key challenges to our society. Information on water quantity and
quality and their variation in a changing climate is urgently needed for
national policies and management strategies, as well as for UN conventions,
climate change adaptation and sustainable development. Better water
resources management requires fundamental understanding of the water
cycle, water and climate, and water and water ecosystem interactions, as
well as of the impact of human activity on the Earth’s climate system.
Quantitative earth observation, hydrological modelling and data assimilation
provide a powerful combination when quantifying hydroclimatic
variables to effectively address water management issues. In support of the
Dutch policy on development cooperation, researchers within the Water
Cycle and Climate research theme are actively engaged in research into
applications of earth observation technologies to monitor water availability
and food security in terms of floods, droughts and water pollution, particularly
in developing countries where field monitoring is often lacking.
The research theme is organized in four clusters:
• Retrieval of Surface Parameters
• Hydrology and Ecohydrology
• Water Quality and Environmental Security
• Water Cycle and Climate Change.
The umbrella theme focuses on sustainable development within the East
African highlands. The main research question is whether there are explicit
spatial/temporal tipping points in the African human-environmental systems
that can be used as triggers towards sustainable development in the
region. A tipping point is the place where and the time when an event
triggers a shift in system state that causes new system dynamics and
properties.
All scientific themes share their disciplinary approaches in order to develop
a multi-trans-disciplinary approach. Typical examples from the natural
sciences are the onset of flooding and the beginning of a landslide. Both
raise questions as to when and where the event started and under what
conditions, and what are the consequences. A socio-economic example is
the onset of a drought with possibly severe consequences (with ‘drought’
being broadly defined and having multiple meanings).
The theme will help to solve problems concerning water quality, food
security, health and the spread of diseases. Managing these topics requires
good governance. So far, governance has barely adjusted to the emergence,
presence and effects of tipping points and hence requires scientific
input to do so. The umbrella theme is naturally structured by tipping points
within the three disciplinary themes (water, food and diseases, and their
interactions), whereas good governance serves to integrate these.
Coordinator
• Anne van der Veen, professor of governance and spatial integrated
assessment
ITC Professors
• Bob Su, professor of spatial hydrology and water resource management
• Wouter Verhoef, professor of advanced earth observation for water
resources applications
More information: www.itc.nl/WCC
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, SOIL MOISTURE, CLOUDS, AND WATER VAPOUR
ESA launched the WACMOS project as a contribution to the World Climate
Research Programme, focusing on four components of the water cycle:
evapotranspiration, soil moisture, clouds and water vapour.
Evaporation from water or soil surfaces and transpiration from plants
combine to return available water at the surface layer back to the bulk
atmosphere, and represent a direct feedback of moisture to the atmosphere
from the land surface. At present, there is an urgent need for a
validated global earth-observation-based high-resolution evapotranspiration
product. WACMOS has developed a novel global evapotranspiration
product based on the synergistic use of MERIS, AATSR and other non-ESA
data (e.g. MODIS). Applying this WACMOS evapotranspiration product for
drought monitoring in the Horn of Africa in the TIGER initiative demonstrates
the high value of this product.

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RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
WORLDWIDE COLLABORATIONS
ITC’s research programme is carried out in collaboration with a range of
partners, not only in the Netherlands and other European countries but also
in countries worldwide that have a complementary expertise base. The
resulting agreements range from general principles such as memoranda of
understanding and framework agreements to partnership agreements
supporting specified PhD students.
Current partnerships can be viewed at:
www.itc.nl/research/researchpartners
RESEARCH MEMBERSHIPS
ITC HOLDS MEMBERSHIPS IN:
• Research school Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment
(SENSE). SENSE is accredited by the Royal Netherlands Academy
of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
• Twente Graduate School
• International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
• International Cartographic Association
• LifeWatch infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem research
• Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP)
• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)
• Twente Water Centre for Water Engineering and Governance
• Business Centre for Hydrology
• Netherlands Water Partnership
• National Ground Water Association
• International Association of Hydrogeologists
earth observation sites for research and
education AS PART OF THE GLOBAL EARTH OBSERVATION
SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS
ITC maintains a number of earth observation sites to support
education and research. These earth observation sites are
part of a global network: the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS).
These sites are part of our effort to guarantee ITC’s successful
and sustained contribution to GEOSS and contribute to
two competences to:
• offer advanced earth observation courses as requested
in the GEOSS social benefit areas
• conduct fundamental research using both space-based
and in situ sensors to further relevant ITC expertise and
application areas to meet GEOSS needs (e.g. disasters,
water cycle, climate change, ecosystems, agriculture
and biodiversity, relevant to ITC’s expertise).

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ITC ALUMNI
A WORLDWIDE NETWORK
It may be one, 10 or even 60 years since they left, but ITC’s graduates still
have a strong bond with ITC and the Netherlands, and still keep in touch
with ITC and with friends.
ITC alumni belong to a worldwide community of over 20,000 individuals,
who together form an extensive network of international contacts, a
network that includes UN organizations, universities, research groups,
resources survey and map production services, and various international
professional associations.
Over the years many graduates have reached respectable posts in society.
• Dr Laurent Sedogo
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Fisheries
Burkina Faso
• Dr Wilbur Ottichilo
Member of Parliament
Kenya
• Dr Joseph Akinyede
Director Space Applications, National Space Research and
Development Agency (NASDRA)
Nigeria
• Professor Liu Yaolin
Dean School of Urban Design, Wuhan University
China
• Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar
Secretary-General of the House of Regional Representatives of the
Republic of Indonesia
• Dr Jose-Luis Palacio
Director-General Centro de Ensenanza Para Extranjeros of the
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)
Mexico
For more information about the ITC alumni network www.itc.nl/alumni

Research at the University of Twente
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY
The University of Twente is a young, entrepreneurial
university. It sets standards in the field of new
technology and seeks to stimulate change, renewal and
progress in society. Our strength lies in our capacity to
combine. We work with the technologies of the future −
information technology, biotechnology and
nanotechnology − in which behavioural and social
science research plays a vital role. After all, the most
interesting and relevant innovation takes place at the
interface between technology and its implications for
humankind and society. We are active in areas such as
health, water, green energy, security and education.
Our research is highly regarded at both the national
and international levels, and is accommodated within
very active research institutes. These focus on
nanotechnology, information technology, biomedical
technology and technical medicine, governance,
behavioural sciences and geo-information science and
earth observation. The research institutes combine
scientific excellence with a sharp eye for knowledge
valorization (the process of translating newly
developed knowledge into economic activity) and
social applications. They are highly successful in
generating spin-off businesses.
Science depends on developing talent. The large
number of research environments at the University of
Twente makes it an attractive destination for
researchers. There are opportunities for junior and
senior researchers alike. The Twente Graduate School
and the tenure track positions both attract new
research talent. Dedicating extra space and money to
developing excellence has proved to be an excellent
strategy. Twente’s research output and citation rates
are well above the national average.
For more information www.utwente.nl/en/research

UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE
FACULTY OF GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION (ITC)
PO Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands
T: +31 (0)53 487 44 44
F: +31 (0)53 487 44 00
E: info@itc.nl
I: www.itc.nl and www.utwente.nl
Information on ITC’s research and graduate programme
Research Coordinator, ITC
Office hours: 9:00 am – 17:00 pm (Central European Time) Monday to Friday
T: +31 (0)53 487 45 34
F: +31 (0)53 487 44 00
E: research@itc.nl
More detailed information about ITC’s research and graduate programmes
can be found on our web pages at www.itc.nl/research
www.itc.nl/research
© Faculty ITC - University of Twente
ITC 1500-01062012