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General information
Offer title : PhD in geomatics and hydromorphology (M/W) (H/F)
Reference : UMR8591-NATTHO-001
Number of position : 1
Workplace : THIAIS
Date of publication : 24 July 2023
Type of Contract : PhD Student contract / Thesis offer
Contract Period : 36 months
Start date of the thesis : 1 October 2023
Proportion of work : Full time
Remuneration : 2 135,00 € gross monthly
Section(s) CN : Spaces, territories and societies
Description of the thesis topic
In order to regularly assess and monitor the hydromorphological state of watercourses, as well as to objectively identify and quantify potential alterations and their causes, France has set up various systems, including the Carhyce tool (Hydromorphological characterisation of watercourses). Carhyce is based on a standardised field protocol aimed at acquiring descriptive or quantitative data on the various hydromorphological components of watercourses: channel geometry, substrates, vegetation, etc. It is implemented on a stationary scale, in mainland and overseas France, for watercourses that can be surveyed on foot as part of the monitoring networks set up under the Water Framework Directive, or which have undergone restoration of their biophysical functions. The data acquired will be used to populate a vast national database, and to produce useful diagnostic metrics and indicators for assessing and monitoring river hydromorphology.
In addition, remote sensing data (satellite imagery, LiDAR, photogrammetry, etc.) have already demonstrated their value in understanding and monitoring the hydromorphological functioning of watercourses on a large scale. Today, the quality of the data that can be obtained, the ease with which it can be acquired and the performance of the processing mean that they can be used on a more routine basis to characterise watercourses (1) at fine and large scales (section scale), (2) with a high degree of accuracy and (3) for sectors that are usually not or not easily accessible using conventional field protocols (e.g. watercourses that are too deep).
In this context, the aims of this thesis project are:
1) to build a reproducible and automated geomatic protocol for extracting hydromorphological metrics (essentially hydraulic geometry) and riverbank vegetation, based on IGN HD LiDAR data currently being acquired throughout France;
2) to propose a framework for extending the scale of analysis and evaluation of the Carhyce station to the section of watercourse that supports it, or even to the entire length of the hydrographic network.
The project will therefore involve i) collecting and processing high-density LiDAR data (IGN HD LiDAR or equivalent) on a selected set of river sections of different styles; ii) developing a protocol for calculating metrics for describing both the hydraulic geometry of the channel and the riparian vegetation by improving existing methods; iii) to assess the quality of the data extracted in relation to the field data in the Carhyce database; iv) to apply the method to the entire length of the hydrographic network, while considering the scale of data aggregation.
Work Context
The doctoral student will be attached to the Physical Geography Laboratory (2 rue Henri Dunant, 94320 Thiais) and registered with the UPEC SIE Doctoral School.
We are looking for a candidate with a Master’s 2 or an engineering degree in geomatics, ecology or environmental sciences, who is motivated by doctoral research experience and who has :
– an advanced level in spatial data processing (GIS and statistical analysis)
– experience of programming for data analysis (R or Python)
– good knowledge of fluvial geomorphology
– rigour, precision and autonomy
– good writing and interpersonal skills
– good command of scientific English (read and written).
Applications should include a detailed CV; at least two references (people likely to be contacted); a one-page covering letter; a one-page summary of the Master’s dissertation; Master’s 1 and 2 or engineering school marks.)
