Title: Landslide hazard assessment: integration of multi-source remote-sensing data and development of probabilistic models at regional and local scales
A Ph.D fellowship is available financed by the European Community within the Marie Curie Initial Training Network 'Changes'. The objective of the fellowship is to advance the development and use of remote-sensing techniques for landslide characterization and to integrate the information into probabilistic models for hazard assessment at several spatial scales.
Research will focus on the development of (1) techniques for satellite and ground-based remote-sensing data analysis for a multi-dimensional characterization of landslide dynamics, and (2) of probabilistic models for hazard assessment over several spatial and temporal scales.
The work will include the following tasks:
- Application and improvement of a methodology for characterizing the dynamics of active mass movements using a multi-technique approach combining direct and remote measurements of displacement (GPS, extensometers, correlation of airborne and terrestrial images, satellite and ground-based SAR interferometry, airborne and terrestrial laser scanning), with the objective of creating series of displacement / runout maps;
- Development of a probabilistic framework for landslide hazard assessment (source area and runout analyses, intensity-frequency analyses) making extensive use of the available multi-source monitoring datasets and of physically-based hydrological and mechanical models.
- Development of a generic method for uncertainty estimation and for the validation of the assessment making use of the remote-sensing data.
The study sites will be the Barcelonnette Basin in the South French Alps, the Corvara di Badia region in the Italian Dolomites and the Buzau region in Romania where detailed databases and catalogues of multi-sources images are already available and organized.
The position is a research-only post, with no teaching obligations. CNRS will provide substantial support in a stimulating environment, and we expect the successful candidate to undertake high quality original research in his/her specific field.
Location: The work will be carried out at the School and Observatory of Earth Sciences (EOST), University of Strasbourg (UdS, France). Some months of secondment are scheduled at the CNR-IRPI in Padova (Italy) and at IGRA-Bucharest (Romania) as part of the transfer of knowledge activities within the network.
Supervision: The Ph.D will be formally supervised by Dr. Jean-Philippe Malet, Dr. Cécile Doubre and Prof. F. Masson at EOST / Strasbourg. At CNR-IRPI and at IGRA, the persons in charge will be Dr. Alessandro Pasuto, Dr. Paola Reichenbach and Prof. Dan Baltenau. The Ph.D will be enrolled in the doctoral school in Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Strasbourg. The Ph.D. thesis may be submitted in English.
Requirements: Recently obtained M.Sc. or 4-yr diploma degree in any earth sciences. Candidates with backgrounds in remote sensing data and technologies, and interest in process-based and stochastic modelling are strongly encouraged to apply. Interest in quantitative earth sciences and for mountain environments are also recommended. Experience in programming language (e.g. C++, C, Matlab or IDL), knowledge of GIS and use of Linux OS are requested.
Eligibility: As requested by the EC, applicants can not seek the position in her/his country of origin or residence.
Starting date: March/April 2011 (some flexibility is possible).
Conditions of employment: The appointment will be given in accordance with the French labour laws. Salary will be based on the French grid for PhD positions, corresponding to about 1700 € per month. The studentship duration is 36 months with a possible extension of 12 months. The applicant will benefit from supplementary allowances that will enable him/her to spend a substantial amount of his/her time at the secondment institute. These allowances are a mobility allowance which amount depends on the family charges of the applicant, a Career Exploratory Allowance and one visit per year to the home country.
Contact persons: Interested persons should contact and send their application (curriculum vitae, short statement of research interest and addresses of three referees) to Dr. Jean-Philippe Malet (jeanphilippe.malet@eost.u-
Please note that the application deadline is 15 February 2011, so interested applicants should establish contact as soon as possible.
Source: EarthWorks-Jobs.com
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