Developing an Earth Observation-based operational platform to support the prevention, predicting and monitoring of natural hazards in the Archipelago of the Azores (Portugal)
CENTRE
IVAR – Instituto de Investigação em Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos
CENTRE DESCRIPTION
Located between Europe and the United States, the Research Institute of Volcanology and Risk Assessment (IVAR) is the leading Portuguese institution in volcanology. It is centered in the main town of the Azores archipelago, Ponta Delgada, which offers a high quality of life surrounded by an unspoiled lush nature.
Due to its geologic setting and location the Azores archipelago is exposed to important volcanic and seismic activity, as well as to the high recurrence of extreme meteorological phenomena, associated with landslide and flood events, responsible for some of the main catastrophes on the region. These factors makes the Azores a natural laboratory of excellence for the development of studies in Earth and Space Sciences with great impact in society.
In this setting, IVAR emerges as a multidisciplinary research unit within the Azores University, with a clear focus on natural hazards and risk assessment. The research team, however, is very diverse and encompass geologists, volcanologists, geological engineers, physicists, geophysicists, geodesics, geochemists, mechanical and electronic engineers, chemists, hydrogeologists, mathematicians, computer engineers, geographers, biologists and psychologists. The diversity of expertise applied to the same object fosters the exchange of knowledge and experiences that enrich the team and allow the development of real transdisciplinary research projects and technological developments that otherwise would hardly be possible to implement.
The organization of IVAR comprises 7 thematic lines planned as Scientific Units (SU), complementary within the multidisciplinary extents of volcanology and risks assessment: Physical Volcanology and Magmatism, Neotectonics and Ground Deformation, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Gas Geochemistry, Landslides and Floods, Medical Geology, Risks and Emergency Planning. All SUs are coherent units, endowed with the human and technical resources in order to meet the objectives of IVAR.
ADDRESS
AREA OF KNOWLEDGE
Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Panel
GROUP OF DISCIPLINES
Geology, Earth Sciences, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences, Mining, Geological Engineering, Oceanography, Hydrology
GROUP LEADER
Dr.José Manuel Rodrigues Pacheco
RESEARCH PROJECT/RESEARCH GROUP
IVAR scientific unit of Physical Volcanology and Magmatism that will host the project
http://www.ivar.azores.gov.pt/unidades-cientificas/Paginas/Vulcanologia-Fisica-e-Magmatismo.aspx
POSITION DESCRIPTION
-Research Project / Research Group Description:
The proposed Ph.D. project aims at developing and setting up a low cost, open-source, open-data, and Earth Observation-based operational platform able to cost-effectively support the prevention, forecasting, and monitoring of natural hazards in small oceanic islands, using the Archipelago of the Azores as case-study area.
The development of this Ph.D. project is based on three main strategic priorities: (1) robust and consistent bibliographical review, technical training and capacity development in Earth Observation applications in the fields of Natural Hazards and Civil Protection (especially in oceanic islands), and programming using open source technology (Javascript and/or Python); (2) the scientific and technological development, testing and validation of the operational platform which will allow advanced modeling approaches (e.g. Big Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence) based on open Earth Observation data (e.g. Copernicus, NASA/USGS, INPE, JAXA) and IVAR’s historical database of monitoring numerical/geographical data; (3) setting up, testing and presenting an Earth Observation-based decision-support system able to inform policy-makers and stakeholders in Spatial Planning and Civil Protection in the Archipelago of the Azores. Collaborative research and stakeholder involvement will ensure relevant and permanent assessment and validation of tasks throughout the project. Therefore relevant added values are expected and potentially able to be potentially applied in further European Union’s outermost/overseas territories and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
-Job position description:
The candidate will integrate IVAR’s scientific unit of Physical Volcanology and Magmatism, mainly focused on assess the progress of volcanic crises and to develop strategies for a real time volcanic hazard analyses as a crucial input for crises management. Taking advantage of the inter-disciplinary nature of IVAR, the student will closely work and collaborate with experts acting in diverse scientific fields.
We are looking for a motivated candidate that will develop its Ph.D. studies at the forefront of applied geosciences, by developing and setting up a low cost, open-source, open-data, and Earth Observation-based operational platform able to cost-effectively support the prevention, forecasting, and monitoring of natural hazards in small oceanic islands, using the Archipelago of the Azores as case-study area.
The selected student will combine, use, and apply natural hazards concepts, ground-based monitoring data, earth observation data, and artificial intelligence tools in an electronic platform-based environment.
The selected candidate should have an academic background in either geoinformatics (including remote sensing), geology, geography, geophysics, oceanography, meteorology, environmental science, computing science, engineering, or data science. Advanced geospatial data analysis and management skills, and previous academic/work experience (in projects, studies or applications) combining both natural hazards and geospatial technologies (especially remote sensing) are mandatory for this Ph.D. project. Basic/Intermediate knowledge of Python and/or Javascript programming languages is required. Excellent organization, prioritization and time management skills; written and oral proficiency in English; and capacity for scientific reasoning are also required for this Ph.D. project. Familiarity with open-source remote sensing, GIS and web-mapping technologies, as well as experience in technical/scientific writing, will be advantageous.
Ph.D. project below to be offered by IVAR at the University of the Azores (Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel Island, Azores Islands, Portugal) under INPhINIT/LA Caixa Ph.D. Fellowships funding program (https://obrasociallacaixa.org/en/investigacion-y-becas/becas-de-la-caixa/doctorado-inphinit/descripcion-del-programa).