The Water4Change research programme addresses the complex challenges to urban water systems faced by fast-growing cities in India. India is a country which is rapidly growing into urban agglomerations showing infrastructure deficits and adaptation gaps in relation to current and future climatic, societal and economic change. The programme embraces water as a basic necessity for life that is both an agent and catalyst of positive transformative changes that are needed to pro-actively deal with and respond to these challenges. To facilitate long-term sustainability and resilience of urban water systems, the programme will co-create and mainstream an integrative, fit-for-purpose and adaptive water sensitive design framework in close collaboration with stakeholders in three Indian cities. The framework will be developed by synergistically connecting four realms – governance, built and natural environment, technology and infrastructure design and societal behaviours – for the delivery of transformative change. The project is co-funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Indian Government Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Cooperation India – the Netherlands programme.
You will work in this project in collaboration with Dutch partners Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft), Deltares, IRC Wash, and Indian partners from IIT Roorkee, IIT Gandhinagar, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, CEPT University Ahmedabad and Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) Calicut.
This position focusses on Earth Observation sensors and data, technology and infrastructure to manage water sensitive cities in India. Understanding the as-is situation is achieved by updating and enriching existing 2D/3D geo-information. Methods are to be analysed on how various geo-information datasets and sensor data can best be fused to exchange and gain information on water quantity and quality.
The specific tasks in this project are:
- Developing a conceptual and methodological framework for change detection in urban environments and infrastructure by the fusion of 2D/3D geo-information with Earth Observation sensors, including laser scanning and high resolution aerial and satellite images. This may be reached by producing deep learning algorithms to let the computer learn how to fuse different types of geo-information.
- Analysing the causes of the detected changes by understanding the influence of climate change, natural hazards and urban growth to the changes in urban environments and infrastructure. This supports project partners in choosing the optimal location for sustainable land use planning.
- Conducting field research and workshops in India and collaborating with other PhD researchers from India and The Netherlands.
- Publishing research findings in scientific journals, presenting the project at international conferences, cross-fertilizing the results with local and international scholars and practitioners
Your profile
- You must hold an MSc degree, obtained no more than 5 years ago, related to geo informatics, with excellent expertise in acquisition and processing of geo-information, and programming.
- Because of the involvement of various Dutch and Indian project partners it is required that you must be at ease communicating and discussing with these partners (in English). In joint meetings research results must be presented to them and next steps discussed.
- On average, you will spend about one month per year in India to perform field work and/or to collaborate with the Indian partners.
- Some limited contributions to education may be required.
Information and application
Additional information about this position can be obtained from Dr. Oude Elberink (email: s.j.oudeelberink@utwente.nl ) or from Prof. Vosselman (email: george.vosselman@utwente.nl ). You are also invited to visit our homepage.
Please submit your application before 7 October 2019 (choose “apply now” below). Your application must include:
- A cover letter (maximum 1 page A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications and motivations to apply for this position;
- A full Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained;
- A short description (maximum 1 page A4) of your MSc research.
Our offer
We offer you an inspiring multidisciplinary and challenging international and academic environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda.
You will be fulltime employed for four years. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement (CAO-NU) of the Dutch Universities.
- A starting salary of € 2,325.00 in the first year and a salary of € 2,972.00 in the fourth year gross per month;
- A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- A solid pension scheme;
- Minimum of 41 holiday days in case of full-time employment;
- Professional and personal development programs;
- Costs for moving to Enschede may be reimbursed.
The organization
The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.
The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation using remote sensing and GIS. The aim of ITC’s activities is the international exchange of knowledge, focusing on capacity building and institutional development in developing countries and emerging economies.