How much public space does a city really have, and who actually gets access to it?

The ISCM Public Space Living Lab is developing a Public Space Atlas to map, measure, and understand public space across Vietnamese cities. The Atlas combines spatial data, planning information, field validation, demographic and environmental indicators, and local knowledge to identify where public space is available, where deficits exist, and where future interventions may be needed.

We are looking for interns who can combine urban research with GIS and spatial analysis. You will be part of a small research team working across Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Long, and Nha Trang, with each intern assigned a primary city workstream.

Role Overview

The Research & Spatial Analysis Intern will support the development of the Public Space Atlas through urban research, GIS, spatial data management, spatial analysis, and interpretation.

This is a hybrid research and GIS role. Interns are expected not only to process data and produce maps, but also to understand the research question behind the analysis, identify appropriate data and methods, assess data quality, and explain what the results mean.

What you will do

• Research public space, land use, demographics, mobility, infrastructure, climate, environment, and urban planning conditions relevant to the assigned city.

• Review Vietnamese planning documents, government data, technical reports, and other local sources.

• Identify, collect, clean, organise, and document spatial and non-spatial datasets.

• Use QGIS to prepare, manage, and analyse public-space data.

• Maintain consistent GIS databases, file structures, metadata, and data inventories.

• Work with vector and raster data, including GeoJSON and GeoPackage formats.

• Manage coordinate systems and projections, including WGS84 and VN-2000 where relevant.

• Conduct spatial analysis such as public-space distribution, provision and deficit, walking catchments, accessibility, population density, land use, mobility, and environmental or climate indicators.

• Integrate field assessment and community survey results into Atlas datasets.

• Identify discrepancies between mapped information, planning data, and observed conditions.

• Interpret spatial results and identify patterns, inequalities, data gaps, and priority areas.

• Prepare clear analytical maps, diagrams, short methodology notes, and research summaries.

• Prepare web-ready spatial outputs and coordinate with the team on digital Atlas integration.

What you will learn

Interns will gain practical experience in:

• City-scale GIS and spatial research workflows

• Public-space accessibility and deficit analysis

• Spatial data cleaning, management, documentation, and quality control

• Working with Vietnamese planning and urban datasets

• Integrating field research with GIS and spatial analysis

• Population, mobility, land-use, climate, and environmental analysis

• Translating research questions into spatial indicators and methods

• Preparing clear analytical maps and web-ready GIS data

• Interpreting and communicating spatial findings for urban planning and public-space research

Who we are looking for

Current students, recent graduates, or early-career candidates in:

• Urban Planning

• Geography

• Urban Design

• Architecture

• GIS / Geospatial Science

• Landscape Architecture

• Environmental Planning

• or a related field

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Practical experience using QGIS

• Knowledge of spatial analysis and spatial data

• Ability to organise, clean, and interpret data

• Strong research and analytical skills

• Good attention to detail and systematic working habits

• Ability to work independently and meet agreed deadlines

• Ability to communicate research findings clearly

• Vietnamese language ability for working with local planning documents, regulations, datasets, and other sources

QGIS and spatial analysis are mandatory.

English proficiency is an advantage, particularly for reviewing international technical references and communicating within the PSL team.

Additional experience with Google Earth Engine, remote sensing, raster processing, geocoding, data visualisation, Adobe Illustrator/InDesign, or urban field research is an advantage.

Time Commitment

This position can be conducted remotely and does not require the intern to be based in Ho Chi Minh City.

Interns are expected to attend scheduled online coordination meetings, maintain regular communication with the PSL team, and complete assigned research and GIS tasks according to agreed deadlines and data-management standards.

What You Will Gain

• Hands-on experience developing a city-scale Public Space Atlas and digital platform

• Exposure to real-world urban analysis, spatial planning, and research methodologies

• Experience working with multidisciplinary spatial datasets and urban indicators

• Opportunity to contribute to research that can inform planning and public-space investment decisions

• Mentorship and guidance from the Public Space Living Lab team

• A certificate of completion upon successful participation in the internship

• Research and portfolio experience relevant to future professional or postgraduate opportunities

• Access to a growing academic and professional network

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send the following materials to the official ISCM email:

iscm@ueh.edu.vn

• CV

• One work sample that clearly demonstrates your GIS and spatial assessment skills. This may be a map, spatial analysis, GIS-based research output, studio/research project, or other relevant work showing how you have used GIS to assess or interpret spatial conditions.

The work sample should allow the selection team to understand both your technical GIS ability and your capacity to interpret spatial information.

Suggested email subject: PUBLIC SPACE ATLAS INTERN | RESEARCH & SPATIAL ANALYSIS