EPSRC PhD in Civil Engineering – Enhanced hydrodynamic flood modelling through multi-source remote sensing

Interested in the impact of flooding and methods to quantify such hazards? This project explores methods to model flooding using the latest advances in remote sensing and computational modelling. Conventional techniques of measuring river cross-sections and characterizing in-channel sediment and riparian vegetation for model input provide limited detail and are resource-demanding. New technology permits high-resolution, low-cost surveys by remote sensing, using lidar systems and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. This project aims to uncap the potential of hydrodynamic modelling by combining data from UAVs for characterisation of channel reaches and bathymetric lidar for cross-sections, through: assembling multi-source datasets of channel and floodplain topography; developing big data approaches to optimise information extraction; combining data into formats for models; and observational validation. You will develop skills in UAV operation, field survey, lidar processing and algorithm development, and hydrodynamic modelling.