EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems
The EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a publicly-funded doctoral training partnership between Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham, established in 2019 to train PhD researchers in geospatial systems, IoT, Big Data, and AI. The four-year programme ran five cohorts through 2023 and is no longer accepting applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNewcastle University & The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems does
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Geospatial Systems is a publicly-funded doctoral training programme established in 2019 as a partnership between Newcastle University (administrative lead) and the University of Nottingham, with primary funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). It delivers a 1+3 PhD structure: a one-year MRes in Geospatial Data Science followed by three years of PhD research, training graduates from disciplines including computing, engineering, geography, geomatics, environmental sciences, and mathematics in IoT, Big Data management, AI, and spatial analytical methods across five research themes (Spatial Data Capture & Interpretation, Spatial Statistics & Mathematical Methods, Big Data Spatial Analytics, Spatial Analysis & Modelling, Visualisation & Decision Support).
The CDT's research infrastructure includes Newcastle's Urban Observatory (UK's largest open urban sensor platform with 300+ IoT environmental sensors, CCTV, and social media feeds), the Spatial Analytics and Modelling Lab (SAM), Newcastle Earth Observation research laboratory (NEOlab), the Nottingham Geospatial Institute, and N/LAB (a centre of excellence in international analytics with behavioural datasets covering ~100 million people globally). Proprietary methodologies developed through PhD research include a Digital Twin framework for Port of Tyne operations, multi-scale geospatial data models for incident response, deep hierarchical learning for national-scale point cloud classification, GNSS-R soil moisture estimation via Artificial Neural Networks, and LLM-based synthetic population generation for agent-based simulations.
The programme operated from 2019 through 2023 across five cohorts and is no longer accepting applications; existing cohorts continue to completion. Students are fully funded via EPSRC studentships (fees, UKRI living allowance estimated minimum £18,550, and £22,000 Research Training Support Grant) with industry co-sponsorship from partners including Ordnance Survey (four sponsored PhDs), Dstl, UK Hydrographic Office, ECMWF (Code for Earth initiative), Airbus Defence & Space, Sustrans, Northern Gas Networks, Microsoft, RICS, and AGI. The CDT has no commercial revenue stream; it is an academic training partnership within the UK university system, administered through Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham, with no independent ownership or external commercial investment.
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems
- Legal name
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Geospatial Systems
- Website
- https://geospatialcdt.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a publicly-funded doctoral training partnership between Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham, established in 2019 to train PhD researchers in geospatial systems, IoT, Big Data, and AI. The four-year programme ran five cohorts through 2023 and is no longer accepting applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Doctoral Research Training
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI)
Keywords
Where EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newcastle University & The University of Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- EPSRC Studentship Funding: The CDT is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for PhD studentships. Successful applicants receive full fees, annual living allowance (UKRI rate, estimated minimum £18,550), and Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £22,000 for consumables, travel, conferences, and placements.
- Industry Partnership Funding: Industry partners sponsor specific PhD projects and studentships, providing additional funding for collaborative research with organisations such as Ordnance Survey, Airbus Defence & Space, and Dstl.
- Research Grants: CDT researchers and supervisors secure external research grants from UKRI, EU Horizon programmes, and other funding bodies for collaborative research projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | EPSRC Funded Studentship (Home Students) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a doctoral training centre offering a four-year structured PhD programme (1+3 model: one-year MRes in Geospatial Data Science followed by three years of PhD research) delivered jointly by Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham. The programme trains PhD researchers across five research themes (Spatial Data Capture & Interpretation, Spatial Statistics & Mathematical Methods, Big Data Spatial Analytics, Spatial Analysis & Modelling, and Visualisation & Decision Support) covering IoT, Big Data, and AI-based geospatial methods. Funded students receive full fees, a living allowance and a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £22,000.
Product overview
The EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a doctoral training program, not a product company. It offers a structured 4-year PhD program combining an MRes in Geospatial Data Science followed by PhD research. The program is delivered jointly by Newcastle University and University of Nottingham, providing training across five research themes: Spatial Data Capture & Interpretation, Spatial Statistics & Mathematical Methods, Big Data Spatial Analytics, Spatial Analysis & Modelling, and Visualisation & Decision Support. The CDT provides industry-informed cohort training including innovation, enterprise, leadership, and Responsible Research and Innovation, with substantive Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MRes in Geospatial Data Science A one-year Master of Research programme in Geospatial Data Science that forms the first year of the CDT's 1+3 PhD structure, providing foundational training in geospatial methods, data science and research skills before transitioning to independent PhD research. Targeted at graduates from computing, engineering, geography, geomatics, environmental sciences, mathematics and statistics backgrounds.
- PhD in Geospatial Systems A four-year doctoral research programme training world-leading geospatial engineers and scientists, informed by industry partners and focused on IoT, Big Data Management and AI-based analytical methods to address economic, societal and environmental challenges. Delivered jointly by Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham across five interdisciplinary research themes.
Quantifiable outcome
- £11 billion annual economic benefit to UK predicted from open geospatial data revolution
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature4 records
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ordnance SurveycoreNational mapping agency sponsoring PhD researchers (Anna Klimkowska, Kristina Wolf, Nasia Apostolopoulou, Tom Goldring) and hosting annual research workshops at Southampton headquarters. Provides access to MasterMap and national mapping data.
- Newcastle UniversitycorePrimary host institution for CDT. Provides facilities including Geospatial Engineering group, Urban Observatory, Spatial Analytics and Modelling Lab (SAM), and Newcastle Earth Observation research laboratory (NEOlab).
- University of NottinghamcoreSecondary host institution. Provides facilities including Nottingham Geospatial Institute, N/LAB analytics centre, and research expertise across multiple departments.
- Sunderland Software CityminorIndustry partner engaged with CDT for graduate recruitment and industry collaboration in geospatial sector.
- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)minorProfessional body partner providing industry links and professional development opportunities for CDT graduates.
- Northern Gas NetworksminorUtility company partner collaborating on research related to geospatial infrastructure and network management.
- Association for Geographical Information (AGI)minorProfessional association partner supporting geospatial industry engagement and career development.
- UK Hydrographic OfficecoreGovernment body providing research collaboration and data for David Gregg's PhD on hydrodynamic modelling of coastal areas and estuaries.
- SustransminorCharity partner collaborating with Chris Larkin on active travel network research and cycling infrastructure analysis.
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)minorHost of Code for Earth initiative where CDT students (Kaitlyn Reiss, Nadia Skifa) developed NLP chatbot for weather datacubes under Stream 2: Machine Learning for Earth Sciences.
- CopernicusminorEU Earth observation programme supporting Code for Earth initiative at ECMWF.
- Destination EarthminorEU initiative supporting Code for Earth, developing Weather Extremes digital twin used by CDT students.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Ordnance Survey: Great Britain's national mapping agency and a core strategic CDT partner (sponsoring 4+ PhDs and hosting research workshops). Included as a peer given its central role in the CDT's industry ecosystem and overlapping geospatial remit.
- Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research: UK research consortium for climate change of which CDT Director of Student Development Dr Alistair Ford is a member. Comparable as a UK research consortium providing thematic overlap in climate-related geospatial research.
- UK Hydrographic Office: Government agency partnered with the CDT on hydrodynamic modelling of coastal areas, estuaries and harbours. Comparable as a research partner operating in adjacent geospatial/marine domains.
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): Host of the Code for Earth initiative where CDT students developed the NLP chatbot 'Polly' for weather datacubes. Comparable as a major international research partner at the intersection of geospatial data, AI, and earth system science.
Broad incumbents
- British Geological Survey: UK's principal geoscience research organisation and a world-leading provider of geological data. Comparable as a major UK geoscience research body covering overlapping subsurface and earth observation domains.
- Alan Turing Institute: UK national institute for data science and AI, headquartered at the British Library. Comparable as a UK national research organisation in adjacent fields that competes for the same EPSRC talent pipeline and doctoral training funding.
- Satellite Applications Catapult: UK government-backed innovation centre for satellite and geospatial applications. Comparable as a well-funded UK geospatial innovation hub that competes for industry partnerships and talent in the same domain.
Direct peers
- Newcastle University Urban Observatory: Host of the UK's largest open Urban Observatory with 300+ IoT environmental sensors, CCTV data feeds and social media inputs — the primary data infrastructure that the CDT draws on for its Spatial Data Capture research theme.
- EPSRC CDT in Modern Statistics and Statistical Machine Learning (Imperial College London): Parallel EPSRC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training with a similar 1+3 model and cohort-based training structure. Comparable as a structurally analogous EPSRC CDT in an adjacent quantitative discipline competing for the same doctoral talent pool.
- N/LAB (University of Nottingham): Centre of excellence in international analytics at the University of Nottingham, co-directed by CDT training lead Dr James Goulding. Operates the 100-million-person behavioural datasets used by the CDT and represents the closest research peer within the same host institution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems social profiles
Digital presenceEPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems
What does EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems do?
The EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a doctoral training centre offering a four-year structured PhD programme (1+3 model: one-year MRes in Geospatial Data Science followed by three years of PhD research) delivered jointly by Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham. The programme trains PhD researchers across five research themes (Spatial Data Capture & Interpretation, Spatial Statistics & Mathematical Methods, Big Data Spatial Analytics, Spatial Analysis & Modelling, and Visualisation & Decision Support) covering IoT, Big Data, and AI-based geospatial methods. Funded students receive full fees, a living allowance and a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £22,000.
Is EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems a public or private company?
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems founded?
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems based?
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems is headquartered in Newcastle University & The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. EPSRC Studentship Funding is the primary driver. The others are industry Partnership Funding and research Grants.
Who are EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems's main competitors?
Others on record are Ordnance Survey, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UK Hydrographic Office and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Broad incumbents are British Geological Survey, Alan Turing Institute and Satellite Applications Catapult. Direct peers are Newcastle University Urban Observatory, EPSRC CDT in Modern Statistics and Statistical Machine Learning (Imperial College London) and N/LAB (University of Nottingham).
Does EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems.
What industry is EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems in?
EPSRC CDT in Geospatial Systems's product category is Doctoral Research Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAI, Earth Science & Geoscience Programs. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.