# Thomas H. Kolbe

> German geoinformation scientist and university teacher

**Wikidata**: [Q50624209](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50624209)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-h-kolbe

## Summary
Thomas H. Kolbe is a German geoinformation scientist and computer scientist who serves as a university professor. He is best known for his academic leadership and teaching in geoinformatics, holding full professorships at Technische Universität Berlin and the Technical University of Munich and serving in leadership roles in German geospatial professional bodies.

## Biography
- Born: 1968
- Nationality: Germany
- Education: Master of Science, Technische Universität Dortmund (1988–1993); Doctor of Natural Sciences, University of Vechta (1993–1999); also educated at University of Bonn and Hittorf-Gymnasium
- Known for: Academic leadership and research in geoinformatics and geoinformation science
- Employer(s): Technical University of Munich (full professor since 2012-09-01); Technische Universität Berlin (full professor, 2006–2012); University of Vechta (research associate, 1997–1999); (University of Bonn listed among employers/affiliations)
- Field(s): Geoinformatics, computer science

## Contributions
The available records show Thomas H. Kolbe as an active academic leader and researcher in geoinformatics. He has held full professorships that anchor research and teaching programs: at Technische Universität Berlin from 2006 until 2012, and at the Technical University of Munich since 2012 (appointment start 2012-09-01). He served as chairperson of the Runder Tisch GIS (starting May 2014), a professional forum linked on his institutional page. Kolbe’s publication and research outputs are indexed in major bibliographic systems: DBLP (dblp_author_id: k/ThomasHKolbe), Scopus (scopus_author_id: 6701754379), and Dimensions (dimensions_author_id: 011643603143.54), and he appears under multiple authority files (ISNI 0000000118481699; VIAF 169612042; GND 1036146685), indicating a documented body of scholarly work. He is a member of professional organizations such as DGPF and RT GIS. These roles and identifiers document concrete outcomes: leadership of university research groups, a sustained publication record indexed in bibliographic databases, and stewardship in national geospatial professional networks.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Thomas H. Kolbe?
A: Thomas H. Kolbe is a German computer scientist and geoinformation scientist who is a full professor and university teacher specializing in geoinformatics.

### Q: Where does Thomas H. Kolbe work?
A: He is a full professor at the Technical University of Munich (appointed 2012-09-01). He previously held a full professorship at Technische Universität Berlin (2006–2012) and was a research associate at the University of Vechta (1997–1999).

### Q: What is his academic background?
A: Kolbe earned a Master of Science from Technische Universität Dortmund (1988–1993) and a Doctor of Natural Sciences from the University of Vechta (1993–1999). He was also educated at the University of Bonn and Hittorf-Gymnasium.

## Why They Matter
Thomas H. Kolbe’s significance stems from his sustained leadership in academic geoinformatics and his role in professional geospatial networks in Germany. By holding full professorships at major German technical universities, he has directed research, supervised students, and shaped curricula in geoinformatics, ensuring the training of new researchers and practitioners in the field. His chairperson role at the Runder Tisch GIS and membership in bodies such as DGPF place him in positions that coordinate discourse between academia, practitioners, and professional communities. The presence of his work in bibliographic and indexing services (DBLP, Scopus, Dimensions) and multiple authority identifiers (ISNI, VIAF, GND, Library of Congress) reflects a documented scholarly output that feeds into teaching, standards of practice, and further research. Without such academic leadership and published scholarship, institutional programs and professional cooperation in German geoinformatics would have one less senior contributor guiding research agendas and community coordination.

## Notable For
- Full professor at the Technical University of Munich, appointed 2012-09-01.
- Full professor at Technische Universität Berlin (2006–2012).
- Doctor of Natural Sciences, University of Vechta (1993–1999); Master of Science, Technische Universität Dortmund (1988–1993).
- Chairperson of Runder Tisch GIS (position held starting May 2014).
- Indexed author in major bibliographic systems: DBLP (dblp_author_id k/ThomasHKolbe), Scopus (6701754379), and Dimensions (011643603143.54); authority identifiers include ISNI 0000000118481699 and VIAF 169612042.

## Body

### Education
- 1988–1993: Master of Science, Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät Informatik.
- 1993–1999: Doctor of Natural Sciences, University of Vechta.
- Also listed as educated at the University of Bonn and Hittorf-Gymnasium.

### Academic Career
- 1997–1999: Research associate, University of Vechta.
- 2006–2012: Full professor, Technische Universität Berlin (appointment period indicated in records).
- 2012-09-01–present: Full professor, Technical University of Munich (listed with qualifier "full professor", appointment start 2012-09-01).
- Work locations include Berlin and Munich.

### Leadership and Professional Memberships
- Held the position of chairperson (position held with start time May 2014); associated reference points list Runder Tisch GIS.
- Member of DGPF (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photogrammetrie, Fernerkundung und Geoinformation).
- Member of RT GIS (Runder Tisch GIS).

### Scholarly Record and Identifiers
- DBLP author identifier: k/ThomasHKolbe.
- Scopus author ID: 6701754379.
- Dimensions author ID: 011643603143.54.
- Authority and library identifiers: ISNI 0000000118481699; VIAF 169612042; GND 1036146685; Library of Congress authority nb2011007544; WorldCat entity E39PBJvhvMtdjwJkYhGqXqgYfq.
- Website: https://www.asg.ed.tum.de/en/gis/our-team/staff/prof-thomas-h-kolbe/ (English page).

### Languages and Citizenship
- Languages: German and English.
- Citizenship: Germany.

### Other factual notes
- Given names: Thomas Heinrich; family name: Kolbe.
- Sex/gender: male.
- Roles recorded: computer scientist, university teacher, ordinary professor.
- Sitelink count and Wikipedia language presence: listed with a German-language Wikipedia entry.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.asg.ed.tum.de/en/gis/runder-tisch-gis-ev/)
2. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1456-0423/education/9635007)
3. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1456-0423/education/9635002)
4. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1456-0423/employment/9634896)
5. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1456-0423/employment/9634957)
6. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-1456-0423/employment/9635063)
7. Virtual International Authority File