Internship | Geospatial analysis for military decision-making

About this position

Within military operations, tactical decisions are made to achieve specific goals during the mission. Tactical decision-making is performed at various layers (from brigades to platoons or even single soldiers) and contains key aspects like terrain analysis, fire support and maneuver, enemy assessment etc. Tactical decisions in ground operations always depend on the terrain (e.g. terrain features, obstacles, options for cover and concealment). Tactical decision makers therefore use information from geospatial analyses. These analyses are usually performed by Intel analysts. The focus of this internship is the development of (AI-assisted) support for geospatial analysis.

What will be your role?

In this internship you will work on the underlying algorithms of a decision support prototype for military mission planners. In collaboration with our 3D-terrain modellers, you will work on the definition of a framework for geospatial analysis tooling. You will work out examples for geospatial products based on highly detailed terrain information and on the requirements from military decision makers. Valuable geo-spatial products could e.g. be (1) determining whether a piece of forest is so dense that it is not possible to drive through with vehicles, or (2) determining the number of explosives and mines required to create a blocking effect on a specific road. We encourage you to bring in your knowledge and creativity to solve these questions. Location-aware computing, machine learning and model-based could be interesting approaches.

Your internship will take place within the department of Intelligence & Decision Support (IDS). We are a new team of +/- 30 professionals who are passionate about applied research that make the Netherlands more safe and secure. We develop innovative solutions in our expertise areas of intelligence and (AI-based) decision support for the Dutch armed forces and national security partners. We're excited to welcome you to our diverse team.

What we expect from you

You enjoy developing innovative solutions to technically challenging problems and have the right mix of intellectual curiosity and pragmatism. You can show a great deal of autonomy and have a structured approach in your work. In addition to that, you can deal with uncertainties and a broad scope during the project. Moreover:

• You are following a master in a relevant field, for example applied mathematics, operational analysis, artificial intelligence, data science, knowledge engineering, etc.
• You are interested in geo-spatial analysis, and have some experience using geo-libraries in the language of your choice.
• You are comfortable with using/contributing to existing tooling by using Git and calling/exposing APIs.
• Good communication skills in English and/or Dutch.
• You have an affinity with the military domain.

What you'll get in return

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

TNO as an employer

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society.