1 PhD position on Hydroinformatics - Remote Sensing of Fluvial Dynamics at the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology in Czech Republic | Charles University in Prague

Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Dept. of Physical Geography, Research Group of Hydrology, invite applications for 4-year PhD studentships in hydroinformatics with focus on fluvial dynamics.

The PhD position is aimed in research of changes in fluvial dynamics in montane streams, driven by climate change and forest distrurbance. The PhD research project is focused on application of drone-based (UAS) and field photogrammetry, experimental bed load tracking and hydrodynamic modelling as tools for analysis of fluvial processes in montane streams. The research is of multidisciplinary nature at the frontier of hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, hydroinformatics and remote sensing.

The goal of the project is to shift current knowledge on mechanisms, driving factors and limiting conditions of fluvial dynamics in montane streams and to test applicability of advanced technologies in remote sensing, detection, analysis and modelling of fluvial processes.

The research is based on coupling techniques of drone-based photogrammetry, digital gravelometry and bed load tracking to analyze the response of fluvial processes to flooding and changes in landcover, related to forest disturbance. An important objective of the research is to test and develop detection techniques and to analyze their limiting factors. It is thus expected that the candidate have advanded knowlegde in geoinformatics, that he/she is able to creatively use the advanced geoinformatic techniques and is self-motivated and enthusiastic in learning new approaches and technologies.

The study area is located in the headwater part of Sumava mountains (Czech Republic), where the monitoring techniques are applied and where is possible to benefit from preceding research results and from experimental data from the own network of automated monitoring of rainfall-runoff processes.

This topic is one of the key long-term research issues of the research group of Hydrology and stems on the ongoing research project, focused on the impact of forest disturbance in montane landscape on fluvial dynamics.

The PhD position is launched in the framework of the STARS supporting scheme with application deadline at March 20, 2014.