Overview:
Flooding is one the world’s most damaging and disruptive natural hazards. In recent years there has been substantial scientific and technical progress in regional and global flood forecasting systems. These systems rely on large-scale hydrological models driven by weather forecasts to predict areas which are likely to flood. However, the lack of good quality local data is a major bottleneck which limits the extent to which these systems can enhance community resilience to flooding and inform local decision making. Resolving this deficiency is especially urgent as many flood prone regions have sparse river gauging networks, and globally, many of these networks are in decline. The advent of new, affordable, and robust technologies has the potential to reverse these trends. The hydrology group at Imperial College London has built a unique expertise in the development and implementation of robust, low-cost water level sensors, which are currently deployed in various locations around the world.
This project will further develop this expertise to investigate how data from such networks can be assimilated in global flood awareness systems to improve their accuracy at the local level, especially in data scarce regions. The project will combine the development of internet-of-things technology with advanced flood simulation modelling using state of the art scientific software. It will also evaluate the potential of nascent satellite missions to further enhance our knowledge of flooding at the local level. It will include fieldwork in the UK, Peru, and India, where the research team has significant experience and strong local partnerships.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with Riverlabs Ltd, a recently established start-up company spun off from the research group
Research group:
The student will be based in the Hydrology and Water Resources Laboratory at Imperial College London, which manages a large portfolio of research projects on the interface between hydrology, water resources management, and sustainable development. We are a dynamic and diverse team, currently consisting of 12 PhD students, research associates, project managers, and academic staff. The student will also work closely with our international partners, in particular a large development project funded by USAID and the Canadian Government to operationalize the use of nature-based solutions for water security in Peru.
Supervisor: Prof Wouter Buytaert https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/w.buytaert
Requirements:
• A good Upper Second or First Class Degree (or International equivalent) in engineering, environmental science, or a closely related discipline.
• A Masters level degree qualification.
• A good command of the English language, including report writing skills.
• A solid background in hydrology and water resources.
• Good knowledge and experience in programming (ideally R or Python).
Funding:
Funding for this studentship will be sought through departmental and College scholarship schemes, subject to open competition. These studentships can provide funding for 3.5 years including tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the standard UKRI London rate, ~£17,285 for the 2020/21 academic year. Full funding is available to Home students. The funding can also be used to partly support an international student.
Applications:
Applicants wishing to be considered for this opportunity should send the following application documents to Prof Wouter Buytaert:
1. Current CV including details of their academic record
2. Covering letter making explaining their motivation and suitability (1 page maximum)
3. Contact details of two academic referees
Application via the Imperial College Registry is not necessary at this stage. Applications will be regularly reviewed until the position is filled. Please contact Prof Buytaert for further details, informal discussions, and information about the project.
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