[spectre] Virtual reality - geomatics PhD studentship at Newcastle

[Norman]

Dear Spectres

Please distribute this to persons who may be interested - pretty technical and/ but with some lively scientists in a highly interdisciplinary environment.

Best wishes
Sally Jane Norman 
Culture Lab - Newcastle



PhD Studentship
Virtual Reality representation of uncertainty in Earth Systems Engineering model predictions
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, jointly funded by the Informatics Research Institute and the School of Civil Engineering and Geomatics. 

A three-year PhD studentship is available at the School of Civil Engineering and Geomatics starting 1st October 2006, supervised by Dr Mike Walkden, Dr Patrick Olivier and Professor Jim Hall. The studentship will be linked to the ‘Sustainable Coasts’ research programme of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research (http://www.tyndall.ac.uk) and will work on the output of Tyndall’s coastal simulator. 
The project aims to develop Virtual Reality (VR) techniques for the representation of the uncertainty in predictions of coastal erosion and flooding in order to improve understanding by decision makers, stakeholders and the public.
Tasks will involve: 
· developing a basic understanding of the Tyndall coastal research programme and the flood and erosion modules of Tyndall’s coastal simulator,
· reviewing literature concerned with visual analytics, risk/hazard communication, uncertainty analysis, flood modelling and erosion modelling, 
· constructing simple deterministic visualisations of the flood and erosion output in quasi 3-dimensions (Q3D) on a PC and in 3 dimensions (3D) using the IRI VR suite. VR technical support will be provided by the IRI, 
· preparation of Q3D and 3D visual representation of uncertainty, exploring issues of scale and representation of economic risk,
· demonstration of the most promising 3D and Q3D methods to selected groups and assess their perception of the uncertainties and risks through structured interviews and questionnaires. 

The student appointed for this task should be mathematically and computationally proficient with some programming experience, and will be engaged in an exceptionally interdisciplinary environment opening onto the University's Cultural Quarter through links between IRI and Culture Lab, Newcastle's newly opened digital hub for practice-based creative research.

Eligibility
The studentships comprise a tax-free maintenance payment of around £12k per annum for three years (equivalent to more than £15k before tax), plus automatic payment of university fees, but as such are available only to EU citizens. Students from other locations may also apply but will only be eligible for part funding.

Applications received before the end of July 06 will be guaranteed consideration. Applications should be made through the online booking system at: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/applicationforms.phtml

Further particulars and background information can be obtained from:
http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/postgrad/phd_projects/
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/iri/
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/environment/
http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/research/water/index.htm
For informal information please contact Dr. Mike Walkden at mike.walkden at ncl.ac.uk