Institute for Sustainable Construction and the School of Engineering and the Built Environment
An exciting opportunity has arisen to undertake a funded three year full-time PhD studentship within the Institute for Sustainable Construction and the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Edinburgh Napier University. The studentship will cover tuition fees to home/EU level, and will provide a standard living allowance (stipend), currently £13,590 per annum. Overseas students are eligible to apply, but will be liable to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees. Note that fees are subject to change annually throughout the programme of study.
These positions are available to start in January 2012.
Centre for Geotechnics
Peat and wind farm construction: geo-environmental consequences.
Further information available from: Dr John McDougall
The Scottish peat wetlands are experiencing unprecedented development in the drive to exploit wind in the renewable energy supply mix. They are also important carbon sinks with an ecology that is easily disrupted by construction activities.
The principal aim of this studentship is to explore the extent of decomposition and the geomechanical consequences induced by construction activities on the peat.
The successful candidate will undertake a novel programme of geotechnical laboratory testing on peat soils. He/she will work closely with colleagues at the James Hutton Institute, where a parallel programme of work looking at the carbon consequences of the same construction activity is underway.
The candidate should also demonstrate an awareness of the environmental issues surrounding current construction activities on the peat lands in Scotland and further afield.
IntelliBike: development of an intelligent tool for the monitoring of off-road cycle path running surface deterioration
Further information available from: Professor Charlie Fairfield
Highway pavement survey methodologies are primarily concerned with engineering assessments that relate specifically to motorised vehicles. This approach has neglected the need to consider the requirement to monitor the infrastructure from the cyclists’ perspective. Cyclists are more sensitive to uneven running surfaces, standing water (and ice in winter months), excessive or overhanging vegetation, poor sight-lines, congested bicycle-vehicle interfaces and debris on the running surface. In relation to highways, what might be a small pothole to a motorised vehicle may potentially be a cause of damage or an accident to a cyclist. However, if the vehicle collecting pavement condition data is a motorised vehicle, it is unlikely to be able to access cycle paths to identify issues that are potentially dangerous to cyclists.
Centre for Infrastructure Research and the Centre for Offsite Construction
& Innovative Structures
& Innovative Structures
Cost Analysis for Affordable Housing
Further information available from: Professor Brian Sloan
Affordable housing, due to the current economic and population pressure, will continue to be a growing sector for the foreseeable future. Developing and implementing efficient, sustainable construction techniques is critical to achieving the low carbon thresholds identified in the Sullivan Report and the now implemented Part 7 of the Building Standards in Scotland. The Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures (COCIS) is currently working extensively with industry partners to integrate a supply chain to deliver a low carbon affordable solution to meet these requirements, “FUTURE:affordable”.
The PhD research will seek to deliver a model for conducting cost analysis so that the cost impact of integrating new components, products, details or technologies can be determined.
The PhD student will have to have good communication skills and be capable of working closely with a range of building and construction professionals and academics in order to assist the evolution of a system solution which is viable in terms of cost structure.
Scottish Energy Centre
Energy and Intelligent Buildings
Further information available from: John Currie
The Scottish Energy Centre has undertaken pre-eminent work in the integration of smart metering technologies in buildings; particularly in relation to occupant behaviour. The rollout of smart meters will play an important role in Britain’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and help to meet some of the long-term challenges which will ensure an affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply.
Applications are being sought from graduates with an energy engineering, building services, or other appropriate discipline to undertake PhD research into the application of smart metering/in-home displays and their interaction with intelligent buildings.
Information on the wider activities of the Research Institute, its Centres and the School can be found at: www.napier.ac.uk/sebe/
Information on the application process is available at:www.napier.ac.uk/aboutus/vacancies/
