Post-Doctoral/Engineering Position

Development of a processing toolkit for change detection &
dynamics in geospatial datasets

Context

The European Institute for Marine Studies (IUEM) at University of Western Brittany (UBO) is opening a position for a post-doc/engineer to work on a European research project related to change detection & dynamics in geosciences: IQmulus (http://www.iqmulus.eu) (FP7?ICT?2011?318787), A High-volume Fusion and Analysis Platform for Geospatial Point Clouds, Coverages and Volumetric Data Sets. It is a 4?year Integrating Project (IP) in the area of Intelligent Information Management within ICT 2011.4.4 Challenge 4: Technologies for Digital Content and Languages. The project started on November 1, 2012, and will finish October 31, 2016.

Subject

The first year of the work will mainly deal with computer programming in order to develop a processing toolkit to detect any change in multi-temporal datasets (DEM/DTM/DSM and optical images). The data will come from various kinds of sensors: aerial/mobile/terrestrial LiDAR, multibeam echosounder, DGPS, infrared camera etc.

This work will include the following service developments:

• Extraction of 2D displacements maps between diachronic datasets, and quality factor assessment including accuracy/uncertainty maps for correlation results.
• Analysis of the elevation differences between the 2 DEM/DTM/DSM and construction of the 3D displacement field.
• Comparison of 2 datasets after extraction of morphological features, accounting for the time lapses between observations.
• Characterization of changes: 1/ differences between the datasets (stable/changed areas) based on their quality description, 2/ discrimination between progressive changes (coast erosion/dilatation, desertification/reforestation etc.) vs. abrupt changes (landslides etc.), 3/ determination of surface change vs. surface motion vs. surface deformation.
• Extraction of key parameters for object dynamics characterization (landslide depth/rate, sediment transport budget etc.).
• Connection with toolkits developed by other partners of the IQmulus project and in close link with the change detection toolkit (e.g. transformation matrix for data registration, data fusion etc.).

Profile

The candidate should have a PhD or engineering diploma with qualifications in Mathematics, Computing Science, or Physics, and a strong knowledge in Geomatics, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing or Image Processing.

• Solid knowledge in programming languages (C/C++, Matlab) and software development is mandatory.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills are required.
• Good background in Earth Sciences (Geology, Geomorphology, Geodesy or related discipline) or prior knowledge and experience in the field of Change Detection & Dynamics processes (measurement and monitoring of the Earth) will be an asset.
• The candidate should have very good spoken and written English. Knowledge of French would be useful.
• Project management experience (reporting, leading meetings etc.) and strong organizational skills are fully expected.

Organization

Applicants should submit a zip file with the following documents (in PDF):

• detailed CV,
• statement of interest,
• writing example (e.g. publication or manuscript),
• at least two recommendation letters.

Applications should be sent to Christophe Delacourt (christophe.delacourt@univ-brest.fr) and Romain Cancouët (romain.cancouet@univ-brest.fr).

Deadline: 1^st November 2013

Beginning of the job: 2^nd December 2013

Duration of the job: up to 30 months (initial appointment will be for a period of one year and may be extended depending on the candidate performance and research results)

Location of the job: Domaines Océaniques laboratory of IUEM in Plouzané (near Brest), France. The successful applicant will be based at IUEM working primarily with Christophe Delacourt and in collaboration with other partners of the IQmulus project. Participation in regular meetings in Europe as well as monthly videoconferences is required.

Salary: wages will depend on the experience of the candidat.