There is now an open PhD position in the Department of Civil Engineering that will be coupled with an externally financed research project entitled “A methodology to determine optimal water distribution network work programs (WATERWORKS)”.
PhD Position in the maintenance planning of a water distribution network
The objective of this work is to develop a methodology to be used to determine optimal work programs for a global drinking water system, including treatment plants, storage tanks, pumping stations, and the distribution network. This methodology will have the potential to be used by water network managers to take into consideration the many factors that are required in making decisions both now and in the future, along with the uncertainty associated with these factors, as to when, where and how to intervene on the network. It will include the development of standardized processes for the collection and administration of data and information.The project will be conducted in the Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management under the direction of Prof. Dr. Bryan T. Adey, and will involve regular interaction with the manager of the water distribution network.
The successful candidate for the PhD position will have a Master’s in civil engineering, environmental engineering or systems engineering and will have a keen interest in the modelling of network behavior, operations research and the management of infrastructure. It is beneficial if the successful candidate has an interest in information management systems. As the manager of the water distribution network is French speaking, the successful candidate must speak French fluently. The ability to speak and work in English or German is beneficial.
Application Deadline : 28 February 2015