A PhD studentship in modelling the performance of SUDS is
available at Heriot-Watt/Edinburgh universities, Scotland, beginning
in October 2001. Please bring the studentship to the attention of
any suitably qualified candidates. The closing date for applications
is 4 July 2001. Informal enquiries about the studentship should be
made to Dr Steve Wallis ([log in to unmask]) or Dr Kate Heal
([log in to unmask]) and further information is given below.
Regards
Kate Heal
-----------------------------
PhD Studentship
Heriot-Watt University/Edinburgh University
Prediction of the whole life performance of
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems in
Scotland
Background
The use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
is becoming popular in order to reduce flooding and
water pollution in urban areas. Under pressure from the
environment agencies in the UK, swales, retention
ponds, filter strips and porous surfaces are now the
preferred structures for dealing with run-off from new
developments such as housing estates, business parks,
industrial estates etc. The advantage of SUDS compared
to traditional, positive drainage systems is that run-off
can be attenuated, stored and receive some treatment at
source, thus reducing the impact on receiving
watercourses. This helps to prevent local flooding,
pollution and associated environmental impacts. Despite
the popularity of SUDS there is relatively little
knowledge available to inform designers and developers
on the reliability of their performance throughout their
design life.
Recently, an extensive database of short-term
performance of SUDS in Scotland has been assembled
by a consortium of Scottish Universities. Performance
indicators monitored include flow attenuation, water
quality improvement, sedimentation and clogging.
However, predictions of the long-term performance of
SUDS in Scotland are required. It is not feasible to wait
for say, twenty years, of performance monitoring to be
completed because predictions are needed now. Hence, a
different approach is required to predict whole life
performance – an approach based on mathematical
modelling. This PhD studentship will utilise the
performance data assembled by the Scottish Universities
consortium to develop models for predicting whole life
performance of SUDS in Scotland. The modelling will
combine regression, statistical and process-based
approaches.
Further information
The studentship is being fully funded (£9k per year for
fees & maintenance) by the Scottish Water Authorities
and will be based at Heriot-Watt University,
commencing in October 2001. Supervision will be
provided primarily from Dr Steve Wallis (Heriot-Watt
University) and Dr Kate Heal (Edinburgh University), but
close links will be maintained with all the members of
the consortium, including SEPA and the Water
Authorities. Candidates with (or expecting to be
awarded) MSc degrees or 1st Class or Upper Second
Class Honours degrees in the following (and related)
disciplines are invited to submit an application:
Environmental Science, Environmental Management,
Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering.
Applications, including a CV and details of 2 referees
should be submitted to Dr Steve Wallis (Dept. of Civil &
Offshore Engineering, Heriot-Watt University,
Edinburgh, EH14 4AS). The closing date is July 4th
2001. Informal enquiries can be made to either contact
persons given below.
Enquiries to: Dr Steve Wallis, email
{
HYPERLINK mailto:[log in to unmask]
}
[log in to unmask]
, tel +44 (0)131 451 3149
Dr Kate Heal, email { HYPERLINK mailto:[log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ,
tel +44 (0)131 650 5420
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Dr Kate Heal
Institute of Ecology & Resource Management
The University of Edinburgh
Darwin Building
Mayfield Road
Edinburgh EH9 3JU
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: +44 (0)131 650 5420
Fax: +44 (0)131 662 0478
http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/ierm/people/academic/heal.htm
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