Hi!
I want to apply to the MSc Geomatics at TU Delft, and even though I feel very confident with what I've written, I wish to read second opinions. Thank you in advance!
Official instructions from TU Delft:
-A clear and relevant essay in English (1,000 - 1,500 words) addressing the following:
-Your motivation for choosing this MSc programme
-Why you are interested in TU Delft and what you expect to find here
-If this MSc programme has specialisations, which specialisation interests you the most and why?
-Describe your hypothetical thesis project: what kind of project would you prefer? What would you want to explore? please limit your answer to three possible topics
Summarize in a maximum of 250 words your BSc thesis work or final assignment/project. Please include information about the workload.
Ever since I began my bachelors in Architectural studies, I've had an ever growing interest in how cities work. Courses like territorial planning, history and urban theory, alongside my placements across different cities of México studying Urban Planning helped me understand there's much more that can be done to improve and create better cities for their communities, from designing efficient public transportation systems, to developing functionally stunning common areas.
Through my professional experiences designing buildings throughout North America, Spain and the Caribbean in both public and private sectors, helped me realize that an architect can only address so much in the bigger picture when it comes to the cities' functions and its connectivity, intensifying my desire to prepare for the next step in my career.
To quote Dr. Gastón Gutierrez Rosete: "One does not love what is not known, and One does not defend what is not loved", is with this mindset I will use as a cornerstone for entering the MSc Geomatics for the Built Environment at TU Delft, as my objective is to apply architectural design, urbanism and spatial data science to help cities in developing countries make evidence based decisions about urban mobility and housing.
My interest for this programme comes from various places. Having a technical major in a creative setting that is the Faculty of Architecture I found to be very exciting, reflecting that the programme is not afraid to experiment and think differently.
I am drawn to TU Delft not only for its international reputation and the success of its graduates, but also for its advanced research facilities, and for the close relationships and support I've seen students have with professors, as well as a multicultural and diverse group of students, aspects I truly value. I also admire the city's deep commitment to sustainability, especially its cycling culture as I've always loved bikes. I believe living and studying in such an environment would be a daily learning experience for me.
I am particularly interested in how the programme integrates advanced data analytics, programming, and geospatial modelling to tackle real-world urban challenges. Topics such as Geo-database management systems, geoweb technology, geo-information governance and applied spatial analysis for sustainable urban development directly align with my goals, but I am especially excited about the electives below, as they will provide me with advanced technical tools to fully launch my career objectives.
The Machine learning for the built environment elective is especially helpful as it would enable me to quantify the relationship between accessibility and perceived safety in Latin American cities, the Algorithms and data structure elective will teach me how to make better choices when tackling spatial problems by understanding how to choose the right algorithm and the right data structure for the issue given; and the Supercomputing for big data elective will give me an edge when it comes to evaluating solutions in real world practices through the processing of complex data sets using algorithms such as Spark and Hadoop.
These electives are not traditionally offered in urban planning programs, yet I consider them essential as it would strengthen my ability to translate urban complexity into quantifiable models. Understanding how to structure data and apply the right algorithms to spatial problems will be fundamental to my research and professional trajectory.
I'm deeply interested in how transportation systems can shape the way people live their cities, which is why I want to research their connectivity through more efficient and sustainable systems, regenerating urban areas, and creating policies that promote social justice.
I'd be highly interested in collaborating in the future with governmental organizations to create solutions like implementations of BRT corridors and cable cars in Colombia and Brazil, which have shown an overall positive impact in how people commute everyday, as well as a decrease in perception of insecurity.
As my hypothetical thesis projects, I would like to explore the following two ideas:
1. "Developing Interactive Maps for Flood-Prone Areas".
Create a web-based platform using public access data and IA along other data gathering programs to illustrate places where flooding incidents have occurred, as well as probable locations where it could happen using open source programs such as QGIS, Python and photogrammetry data.
As transportation systems need to rely on clean and safe roads, and floods are one of the main problems that most cities have and will continue to worsen due to climate change, this project would be carried out in collaboration with public agencies and local institutions. The goal is to contribute to safer cities while reducing maintenance costs by preventing future flood-related damage.
2. "Increase Perception of Safety through New Transportation Systems in Developing Countries".
This research would explore how alternate transportation systems such as cable cars and public bikes could help cities in developed countries with high insecurity levels. Using AI and IoT for data collection, and tools like Python and QGIS for Visualization, I would evaluate route efficiency and socio-spatial impact.
My undergraduate thesis project was focused on affordable housing, in which I designed a five-story mixed-use building with 32 apartments and four commercial units, using local materials and renewable energies to reduce acquisition and maintenance costs, balancing quality and quantity. This work was done in the last academic year of my studies. In those 2 semesters we had 9 classes in total, 6 of which were solely for thesis research in 3 areas: Design, Theory and Technology.
The first semester we debated project ideas in large discussion groups between professors and students. Students were given tight deadlines for the entirety of the year, which taught me how to manage pressure while staying organized, skills I've interiorized that helped me navigate real world projects effectively.
At the end of my architectural studies though, I opted for a Graduate Certificate in Construction Planning, Management and Cost Control, mainly because I wanted to gain knowledge on construction techniques and good practices, as I was assisting as a construction site architect for a Science Center building at the time.
Beyond academics and professional work, I have served as coordinator of the Architecture Student Union in my university (UEPA, UAS) throughout my university studies, organizing international architectural congresses with renowned architects from Mexico and abroad to give lectures, while also organizing workshops on photography, design, drawing and plastic arts. I was a class representative and member of the student committee at the Faculty of Architecture, where I successfully advocated for a regulation change allowing students who failed a course to regularize their studies without restrictive measures.
I'm a proactive person, using my free time to focus on my passion for music, playing drums and in music production. I love going out for a walk to have a cup of coffee while sketching the city, and in my spare time I'm always on FreeCodeCamp learning programming languages.
I am confident that my curiosity and diverse perspectives I have developed through my personal and professional experiences will enable me to thrive at this institution.
I want to apply to the MSc Geomatics at TU Delft, and even though I feel very confident with what I've written, I wish to read second opinions. Thank you in advance!
Official instructions from TU Delft:
-A clear and relevant essay in English (1,000 - 1,500 words) addressing the following:
-Your motivation for choosing this MSc programme
-Why you are interested in TU Delft and what you expect to find here
-If this MSc programme has specialisations, which specialisation interests you the most and why?
-Describe your hypothetical thesis project: what kind of project would you prefer? What would you want to explore? please limit your answer to three possible topics
Summarize in a maximum of 250 words your BSc thesis work or final assignment/project. Please include information about the workload.
Ever since I began my bachelors in Architectural studies, I've had an ever growing interest in how cities work. Courses like territorial planning, history and urban theory, alongside my placements across different cities of México studying Urban Planning helped me understand there's much more that can be done to improve and create better cities for their communities, from designing efficient public transportation systems, to developing functionally stunning common areas.
Through my professional experiences designing buildings throughout North America, Spain and the Caribbean in both public and private sectors, helped me realize that an architect can only address so much in the bigger picture when it comes to the cities' functions and its connectivity, intensifying my desire to prepare for the next step in my career.
To quote Dr. Gastón Gutierrez Rosete: "One does not love what is not known, and One does not defend what is not loved", is with this mindset I will use as a cornerstone for entering the MSc Geomatics for the Built Environment at TU Delft, as my objective is to apply architectural design, urbanism and spatial data science to help cities in developing countries make evidence based decisions about urban mobility and housing.
My interest for this programme comes from various places. Having a technical major in a creative setting that is the Faculty of Architecture I found to be very exciting, reflecting that the programme is not afraid to experiment and think differently.
I am drawn to TU Delft not only for its international reputation and the success of its graduates, but also for its advanced research facilities, and for the close relationships and support I've seen students have with professors, as well as a multicultural and diverse group of students, aspects I truly value. I also admire the city's deep commitment to sustainability, especially its cycling culture as I've always loved bikes. I believe living and studying in such an environment would be a daily learning experience for me.
I am particularly interested in how the programme integrates advanced data analytics, programming, and geospatial modelling to tackle real-world urban challenges. Topics such as Geo-database management systems, geoweb technology, geo-information governance and applied spatial analysis for sustainable urban development directly align with my goals, but I am especially excited about the electives below, as they will provide me with advanced technical tools to fully launch my career objectives.
The Machine learning for the built environment elective is especially helpful as it would enable me to quantify the relationship between accessibility and perceived safety in Latin American cities, the Algorithms and data structure elective will teach me how to make better choices when tackling spatial problems by understanding how to choose the right algorithm and the right data structure for the issue given; and the Supercomputing for big data elective will give me an edge when it comes to evaluating solutions in real world practices through the processing of complex data sets using algorithms such as Spark and Hadoop.
These electives are not traditionally offered in urban planning programs, yet I consider them essential as it would strengthen my ability to translate urban complexity into quantifiable models. Understanding how to structure data and apply the right algorithms to spatial problems will be fundamental to my research and professional trajectory.
I'm deeply interested in how transportation systems can shape the way people live their cities, which is why I want to research their connectivity through more efficient and sustainable systems, regenerating urban areas, and creating policies that promote social justice.
I'd be highly interested in collaborating in the future with governmental organizations to create solutions like implementations of BRT corridors and cable cars in Colombia and Brazil, which have shown an overall positive impact in how people commute everyday, as well as a decrease in perception of insecurity.
As my hypothetical thesis projects, I would like to explore the following two ideas:
1. "Developing Interactive Maps for Flood-Prone Areas".
Create a web-based platform using public access data and IA along other data gathering programs to illustrate places where flooding incidents have occurred, as well as probable locations where it could happen using open source programs such as QGIS, Python and photogrammetry data.
As transportation systems need to rely on clean and safe roads, and floods are one of the main problems that most cities have and will continue to worsen due to climate change, this project would be carried out in collaboration with public agencies and local institutions. The goal is to contribute to safer cities while reducing maintenance costs by preventing future flood-related damage.
2. "Increase Perception of Safety through New Transportation Systems in Developing Countries".
This research would explore how alternate transportation systems such as cable cars and public bikes could help cities in developed countries with high insecurity levels. Using AI and IoT for data collection, and tools like Python and QGIS for Visualization, I would evaluate route efficiency and socio-spatial impact.
My undergraduate thesis project was focused on affordable housing, in which I designed a five-story mixed-use building with 32 apartments and four commercial units, using local materials and renewable energies to reduce acquisition and maintenance costs, balancing quality and quantity. This work was done in the last academic year of my studies. In those 2 semesters we had 9 classes in total, 6 of which were solely for thesis research in 3 areas: Design, Theory and Technology.
The first semester we debated project ideas in large discussion groups between professors and students. Students were given tight deadlines for the entirety of the year, which taught me how to manage pressure while staying organized, skills I've interiorized that helped me navigate real world projects effectively.
At the end of my architectural studies though, I opted for a Graduate Certificate in Construction Planning, Management and Cost Control, mainly because I wanted to gain knowledge on construction techniques and good practices, as I was assisting as a construction site architect for a Science Center building at the time.
Beyond academics and professional work, I have served as coordinator of the Architecture Student Union in my university (UEPA, UAS) throughout my university studies, organizing international architectural congresses with renowned architects from Mexico and abroad to give lectures, while also organizing workshops on photography, design, drawing and plastic arts. I was a class representative and member of the student committee at the Faculty of Architecture, where I successfully advocated for a regulation change allowing students who failed a course to regularize their studies without restrictive measures.
I'm a proactive person, using my free time to focus on my passion for music, playing drums and in music production. I love going out for a walk to have a cup of coffee while sketching the city, and in my spare time I'm always on FreeCodeCamp learning programming languages.
I am confident that my curiosity and diverse perspectives I have developed through my personal and professional experiences will enable me to thrive at this institution.
