Internship | Knowledge Graphs / master thesis for assessing aging infrastructure assets

About this position There are major challenges in the technical industry waiting to be solved in the coming years. Think about the structural safety of structures; climate adaptation; renovation and replacement of infrastructure; the energy transition; material re-use; offshore constructions; and digitalisation. For example, the effect of increasing traffic intensity and vehicle loads on current, sometimes outdated infrastructure, new types of fuels for shipping and the effects on the integrity of the structure, the effect of the energy transition on the way we deal with sustainability in the design or re-use of structural elements or materials, or the design of increasingly larger offshore wind turbines. These are major social issues that TNO does not shy away from, but rather tackles them by combining many different areas of expertise in in-depth, independent research. This way TNO is at the basis of the implementation of technological innovations.

In your thesis project you will be focussing on end of life rule checking for supporting prioritization of Replacement and Renovation Decision Making of Rijkswaterstaat through knowledge graphs

This topic is providing a digital solution to tackle four challenges: Ageing Infrastructure, Missing Overview of Large Population of Infrastructure Objects in relation to their object-type-specific failure mechanisms, Scattered data and limited utilization and understanding of technical data to strategic asset management, Limited re-use of existing experiences and knowledge on past failures.

The solution we work towards is creating a Rule-Based Model that is based on knowledge graphs. There are system components such as schemas, instantiation, rule-sets, rule-checking and visualization. Schemas include ontology design to capture semantic domain knowledge as well as linking and re-using existing ontologies. Schemas will be used for automatic instantiation of objects with open-source framework such as Apache Jena or RDF Lib. Rule-sets will be based on SPARQL, SHACL will be used for rule prototyping, and a GraphDB will be used for rule checking and visualization. Any experience with the abovementioned topics and also with UI connected to GraphDBs is additionally appreciated.

We offer a graduation position to students that:

• Follow a master program in STEM such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, (applied) physics or mathematics, computer science, or similar.
• Have an investigative and critical attitude, you want to know why certain phenomena occur and determine its effect.
• Like to cooperate with others and are creative.
• Live in The Netherlands.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and preferably Dutch language (B1 level).

Of course, for each topic described above we may expect additional knowledge and skills depending on the research topic.

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.

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. Read more about TNO as an employer.

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. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • 1) you are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • 2) the internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.
• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.