Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) opens submissions for the 2025 Outstanding Thesis Award – “Spatial Business Bridge”
The European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) is proud to launch the second edition of its Outstanding Thesis Award, under the theme "Spatial Business Bridge", recognizing students whose academic research leverages geospatial technologies for meaningful business applications.
Following the enthusiastic response to the inaugural edition and the selection of Quddus Busari as the first awardee for his thesis on AI-powered tree structure analysis using aerial imagery and LiDAR, EAASI continues its mission to bridge academic research with the operational needs of the aerial surveying industry.
“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.”
Who Can Apply
The 2025 award is open to postgraduate students at the Master’s, Doctorate, or Post-Doctoral levels who have submitted their thesis or equivalent project report to a European university in 2023, 2024, or 2025.
Submission Deadline
Submissions are accepted until August 31, 2025.
Award Dotation
The winner of the EAASI Outstanding Thesis Award will receive:
- A €2,000 cash prize
- Full coverage to attend the EAASI Partner Summit 2025
- A certificate of recognition and trophy
- Inclusion in EAASI’s Hall of Fame
- Visibility and publication opportunities through EAASI’s industry channels
Award Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Innovative research in geospatial data from crewed airborne platforms
- Clear understanding of geospatial technology and its practical applications
- Demonstrated benefits of geospatial data for business decisions
- Strong real-world relevance and potential for implementation in business contexts
Looking Back: A Successful First Edition
The 2024 award went to Quddus Busari for his thesis titled "Building and Validating AI Machine Learning Algorithms for Tree Structure Characterisation from High-Resolution Aerial Images and LiDAR Data", developed in partnership with Bluesky International Ltd. His work contributed to the enhancement of the National Tree Map (NTM) and was praised for demonstrating clear commercial potential in environmental monitoring.
The panel—composed of top-tier academic and industry experts—emphasized how his interdisciplinary work sets a benchmark for the kind of impact-driven innovation the award seeks to celebrate.
Why It Matters
The EAASI Outstanding Thesis Award is part of the association’s wider strategy to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, helping to attract new talent, promote applied research, and advance technological progress within the aerial surveying sector.
This initiative is led by the Student and University Engagement Committee, chaired by Simon Musaeus, and reflects EAASI’s vision for a dynamic and future-facing geospatial industry.
For more information and to apply, visit: eaasi.eu/post/eaasi-launches-the-outstanding-thesis-award
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Incorporated in 2019, the European Association of Aerial Surveying Industries (EAASI) represents organizations within the European crewed aerial surveying market. EAASI’s mission is to promote the benefits of aerial surveying, improve awareness of aerial survey data, and maintain and promote best practices within the industry. Inspired by the success of MAPPS in the US, EAASI was established to provide a unified platform to advocate for the interests of the European aerial surveying industry and shape its future. Since its inception, EAASI has brought together over 50 companies, fostering collaboration among industry leaders, and championing the importance of aerial surveying across Europe. More information on EAASI can be found at https://www.eaasi.eu/ .
