Emerging and future technologies for visualisation

Applications are invited for a self-funded PhD.

The PhD will be based in the School of Creative Technologies, and will be supervised by Dr Mel Krokos.

Big data is routinely generated e.g. in the study and remediation of environmental geohazards such as landslides or volcanic ash dispersion. As an example, field-mapping needs to be supplemented by satellite imagery and data acquired from field-deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Numerical simulations are also deployed to quantify impacts, e.g. in overcoming the shortcomings of eruption cloud models as demonstrated by the Icelandic eruption of 2010.

Emerging technologies for high performance visualisation can provide outstanding aids for (often near real time) data exploration and detailed insight into complex regions of interest to support scientific discovery. There is a need for innovative visualisation mechanisms, e.g. for processing complex pipelines from UAVs, making meaningful comparisons of ash cloud models or integrating with real world observations (historic or current). This project will develop an integrated visualisation toolkit, underpinned by emerging technologies, the first step towards a new generation of high capacity tools for applied geoscientists.

We will build upon our previously developed cloud-based visualisation solutions for multidimensional data analysis and knowledge discovery of a priori unknown patterns / relationships in multivariate and complex datasets. We will extend our previously developed algorithms for high performance rendering based on customised volume ray-casting to harness heterogeneous environments involving multi-core processors and GPUs, e.g. the University of Portsmouth SCIAMA supercomputer. Such high performance visualisation solutions have the future potential to underpin field-work activities via mobile, augmented reality applications.

This PhD will be in the School of Creative Technologies in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) and will involve a multidisciplinary supervisory team drawn from CCI and the Faculties of Science and Technology. The work will be undertaken in collaboration with a European network of renowned academic and research institutions from Italy, Spain, Greece, Hungary and Switzerland, and there will be potential opportunities for student work placements within these institutions.

Fees and funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

Funding availability: Self-funded PhD students only. 

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the UK Government Doctoral Loan (UK and EU students only).

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Mel Krokos (mel.krokos@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project title and project code (CCTS4480220).

Please note, to be considered for this funded PhD opportunity you must quote project code (CCTS4480220) when applying.