Internship Experience at Monash University, Indonesia through DAAD: Mapping Green Spaces with Google Earth Engine
Quirin Ball (white shirt) with the research assistant team and Professor Alex Lechner
In July, Monash University, Indonesia has a special visit for around 3 months from Quirin Ball, who recently graduated from the geography program in Universität Augsburg in Germany. He applied for the internship under Professor Alex Lechner’s supervision, A Professor in Master of Urban Design, through DAAD funding before planning to continue his master degree. He then chose to have the opportunity to intern at Monash University, Indonesia, where the project focused on harmonizing open, community-sourced data with remote sensing imagery to generate a high-resolution map of green spaces. Through this project, he said he gained hands-on experience in applying Google Earth Engine (GEE) and coding within the platform to process and analyse geospatial data.
The primary aim of his internship was to support the GIS team while learning new technical skills. One of the biggest challenges he faced was using GEE for the first time. He also encountered difficulties accessing governmental data, which was significantly more challenging compared to Germany. Additionally, navigating Indonesia’s vast landscape and sometimes weak infrastructure meant that transportation could be time-consuming.
Quirin stated that he chose this internship for several reasons. The project itself, with its emphasis on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and urban transformation, closely aligned with his academic background in urban studies, which was a significant part of his Bachelor’s degree. He was also drawn to the opportunity to enhance his GIS skills while exploring Jakarta’s urban landscape, a city that he has long been interested in from a scholarly perspective. Moreover, Monash University, Indonesia's strong reputation in research and academic excellence was a major factor.
Quirin Ball presenting his work in front of research assistant team and Professor Alex Lechner
Throughout his time at Monash, he found himself immersed in a supportive and vibrant academic community. "The team I worked with was incredibly friendly and collaborative, and I had the chance to attend various workshops and conferences that expanded my understanding of current research topics. For example, I gained insight into the Banten project and further honed my skills in GIS and coding. I also gained insight on how research works since I never did research in bachelor study." Said Quirin.
Finally, he stated the time that he spent at Monash University, Indonesia was highly rewarding. The university exceeded his expectations with its state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to cutting-edge research. The collaborative environment fostered strong teamwork, and he felt privileged to contribute to such an innovative project. Indonesia, with its diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes, further enriched her experience. He would like to visit more for another time.
Quirin's work in applying Google Earth Engine (GEE) and coding to process and analyse geospatial data.
In conclusion, his internship not only helped him develop new GIS skills but also provided him with valuable insights into the research process and the practical challenges of urban mapping in a developing country context. Quirin works during the internship could be found in the his github.