In 2016 Žiga Stopinšek completed his second-cycle master’s degree course at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science. His master’s thesis entitled “Segmentation and reconstruction of cultural heritage from a photogrammetrically obtained cloud of points” earned him the Faculty Prešeren Prize, and soon after at the firm Agilicity he also won the Rector’s Prize for the top innovation of 2017, placing himself among the finalists in the Slovenian Startup selection for 2017. We talked to him about his master’s degree and about these achievements.

1. What was it that made you decide to pursue a master’s degree?

Even when I enrolled my undergraduate course, I was sure that later on I would continue my studies at a higher level. During my education I had a few doubts about whether I even needed additional qualifications, since I got the feeling that employers are interested mainly in what you know and what you have already done. Later I realised that I was interested in vastly different fields, and that in truth I did not even know what exactly I wanted to do with my life. Master degree studies became attractive since they offered me numerous courses in expert fields. So I saw master’s studies not just as an opportunity for additional education, but also as a possibility for getting to know a wide range of different disciplines in computer science.

2. What can you tell us about your experience as a master’s student? How does it differ from undergraduate courses?

The master’s course seemed to me much more interesting and dynamic, mainly owing to the elective technical courses. The lectures, too, struck me as noticeably higher quality, since the lecturers were presenting areas that they were also involved in as researchers. The compulsory courses (mathematics, programming, computer systems and algorithms) were a pleasant surprise, since they helped me enhance the knowledge that I now use every day. Second-cycle studies allowed much closer collaboration with the assistants and professors, in my case Prof Dr Franc Solina, who during my course enabled me to attend scientific conferences throughout Slovenia and abroad, to attend international summer schools and to collaborate with experts in a wide variety of disciplines.

3. Recently you won first place in the competition for the Rector’s Prize for the top innovation at the University of Ljubljana. You created the project “Interactive regulation of the form of construction” together with employees of the Faculty of Computer and Information Science and the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana. What problem does your innovation solve and how did work on this progress?

Our innovation significantly eases the work of urban planners, meaning that they can work more efficiently and thus make well-informed decisions faster. Currently we are developing and marketing the software Modelur, which supplements the traditional instruments for regulating forms of construction. For this we have buyers from all over the world, mainly from the USA. After issuing the first complete version of the programme, we will tackle the creation of interactive spatial plans for cities.

We have been developing the concept and programme over several years, since we have limited time owing to work and study obligations. The work might appear a bit chaotic, since we are always addressing several issues at the same time, but I think that the distribution of work we have is purely startup in nature. Each person does what is needed in that moment. Personally I devote most time to communication between the programme “motor” and the user interface, and to ensuring the development and unimpeded operation of the licence server.

4. In 2016 you received the Faculty Prešeren Prize, the highest faculty award for student achievement, for your work entitled Segmentation and reconstruction of cultural heritage from a photogrammetrically obtained cloud of points. Tell us something about this.

The topic of computer support for archaeology has been part of my life ever since I first encountered it in writing my bachelor’s thesis. Owing to my seminar work on underwater communication between divers, Prof Dr Franc Solina invited me to have a talk with the underwater archaeologist Miran Erič. The two of them convincingly inspired me with the challenges of 3D documentation and archaeological interpretation of the physical environment. In my master’s thesis I therefore focused on the issue of how to convert vast quantities of data produced by 3D documentation (we are talking about millions of points) into a compact form of deformed superellipsoids (described by just a few dozen parameters) that are suitable for further computer and expert interpretation.

5. What are your plans for the future?

In the short term I want to travel as much as possible, and I am planning four destinations a year. I am certain that Zemanta and Agilicity promise a lot of interesting things, and I am also involved in some other smaller projects that hold great promise in my opinion. In the long term I am thinking about working abroad. During my time as a student, sadly I did not go on an exchange, which I see as a missed and lost opportunity.

Find out more information on master’s degree courses at the Faculty of Computer and Information Science and on admissions at the website Prospective students. If you have additional questions, please write to us at masters.studies@fri.uni-lj.si or call +386 1 479 8123.