Thomas Blaschke is a Full Professor for Geoinformatics and Head of the Department of Geoinformatics, Z_GIS, University of Salzburg. His research interests include methodological issues of the integration of GIS, Earth observation and image processing for human–environment interaction. Prior positions comprise several lecturer, senior lecturer and professor positions in Germany, Austria, and the UK. His academic achievements include >500 publications with an H-index of 97. He is an elected corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and active in transfer and spin-off activities. Functions in scientific organisations and advisory boards include ESA, the Copernicus programme, ISPRS International Policy Advisory Committee or the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals.