PhD in 3D Geoinformation for Building Renovation Passports

Challenge: Tackle data fragmentation

Change: Streamline and standardize data pipeline

Impact: Easier, data-driven housing energy renovation

Job description

In the upcoming RenoDAT (“Accelerating Building RENOvation and Decarbonization Through DATa Integration”) project, an interdisciplinary consortium led by TU Delft will develop new research methods and implementation strategies to foster the digitalization of the built environment to accelerate the implementation of the Renovation Passport for buildings.

The project is a collaboration of universities, universities of applied sciences, governmental organizations and private companies and funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) within the “Digitalisation of Energy Renovations in the Built Environment” framework, The project aims to fill the knowledge gaps on data governance, ownership, privacy, and harmonization for data-driven energy renovation of the building stock.

The overarching goals are:

To contribute to speeding up the rate of housing renovation in order reach the climate goals in time.

To facilitate access to transparent, accessible, and comprehensive energy-relevant building data on the existing building stock.

To develop a data infrastructure that enables the collection, management, and sharing of such building data for Renovation Passports to support various energy renovation applications.

To connect to the ongoing developments at national and international scale that cover both spatial and non-spatial data, for example in terms of integration between BIM and 3D city models.

The 3D Geoinformation group ( at TU Delft will be involved in several technical tasks that will explore the challenges of coupling, enriching and integrating available public and private data sources that will underpin the Building Renovation Passport. In particular, our main tasks to be carried out in co-operation with the other project partners are:

Investigation and analysis of data requirements for the Building Renovation Passport, starting from the existing national and international legislation, policies and standards

Analysis of the gaps between existing data sources and those required by the Renovation Passport, in terms of type, format, accuracy, completeness, reliability, ownership, etc.

Development of data harmonisation and integration strategies supporting the Building Renovation Passport, covering both spatial and non- spatial aspects and considering existing standard data models and APIs and their possible extension or adaptation for the project goals

Development of solutions that build upon and extend the current data infrastructure, together with the other partners

Development and testing of a prototype application together with the other partners to compute the energy performance certificate of a building (unit) and couple it with energy simulation tools.

To support the research work of the TU Delft team, we have opened a 4-year PhD position in our 3D Geoinformation research group, section Urban Data Science, Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. This PhD candidate is expected to contribute to the above tasks.

Another PhD position will open for the RenoDAT project at TU Delft, in the section Real Estate Management, Department of Management of the Built Environment, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. Both PhDs will collaborate to contribute to the project overarching goals.

Job requirements

Applicants should:

hold an MSc in geoinformatics/geomatics, computer sciences or engineering (or in a related discipline);

have experience in data modelling, data integration, software development, management of data from BIM and semantic 3D city model (in particular: IFC and CityGML);

have good programming skills (e.g. in Python, SQL, Java, JavaScript, etc.);

have a good command of English (oral and written);

have an affinity with working in multi-disciplinary teams in an internationally oriented environment.

Knowledge of Dutch language is a plus but not required.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Architecture & the Built Environment

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €2901 per month in the first year to €3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact directly Dr. Giorgio Agugiaro ().

For more information about the selection procedure, please contact Stephanie Ip ().

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 15 June 2025 via the application button.

Your application dossier should contain:

A detailed CV, containing examples that prove your previous work related to the position (projects, experience, software, research, and publications if applicable).

A motivation letter (max 1 page) explaining your interest in the research topics to be addressed and describing how you fit in the advertised position.

Contact details of two references with contact information (recommendation letters from them are not required at this stage).

Apply via the application button and upload your CV and cover letter.

You can address your application to Giorgio Agugiaro.

After a first screening based on the application dossiers, a selection of candidates will be invited to an on-line interview. A short list of (max) 6 candidates will be invited to a second on-line interview. Interviews will take place in the second half of June or beginning of July. The desired starting date of the position is 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Please note:

You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.

For the final candidates, a knowledge security check will be part of the application procedure. For more information on this check, please consult Chapter 8 of the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. We carry out this check on the basis of legitimate interest.

Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.