Fully-funded PhD Studentship in semantic data models for built environment applications

28 July 2016

The UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering invites applications for a fully-funded (UK/EU fees plus stipend) 4-year PhD studentship funded by EPSRC.

PhD Studentship in semantic data models for built environment applications

Supervisors: Dr Dimitrios Rovas, Lecturer in Building Physics, UCL IEDE, and; Dr Ljiljiana Marjanovic-Halburd, Senior Lecturer in Facility and Environment Management, UCL IEDE.

Stipend: approx £16,000 & UK/EU fees

Start Date: Fall 2016

Funding Duration: 4 years

Eligibility: You need to meet residency requirements. For more information, please follow this link.

You will also have to meet the UCL's English Language requirements

Overview:

Parallel to the development of the world-wide web the vision and associated technologies for the publishing of data have evolved and the web of data has emerged for sharing structured data sets. Even though fundamental technological components are available like, for example, the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Web Ontology Language (OWL), there is still an evolving discussion on relevant vocabularies and the ability to easily export, publish and make discoverable such data sets; technological barriers include issues related to: knowledge representation, data fusion, integration and standardization, data quality and validation. In addition to technological barriers, there are issues related to data ownership, attribution and usage that currently are not adequately addressed.
For built environment applications, a number of open vocabularies are emerging for data sharing: these include the ifcOWL ontology based on the ISO 16739:2013 standard, the SAREF ontology, SimModelOWL and others. The possibility of use of such information in linked-data contexts, where information from multiple domains can be linked using semantic linking tools, allowing for more effective data exploration and data ingestion can have a transformative potential for built environment research. Data requirements exported by national regulations (e.g. EU Public procurement directive 2014/24) will increase the availability of data in open formats.
The PhD studentship will commence with a gap analysis and documentation of barriers on technical and non-technical aspects that include: comparison and evaluation of expressiveness of open vocabularies for data publishing, publishing data and attribution using different license models, technologies supporting data and privacy sharing and protection, all with a view to the built environment applications. Following the initial gap analysis, the work will select appropriate use cases and research on ways to removing technological barriers. Of particular interest is the development of data ingestion methodologies, data completeness characterisation, and quality checking tools. This is very good opportunity for talented students to work with a network of academics in the built environment field giving unparalleled access to data, knowledge and professional contacts.

Person Specification:

The project is well-suited to a highly-quantitative individual with at least some computing skills. Candidates should, as a minimum, have a strong (min 2:1 honours) first degree in engineering, computer science, or related disciplines. For those applicants with a first or 2:1, possession of a master's degree in engineering, computer science, or related disciplines is highly desirable. Candidates without a master's degree may be admitted in exceptional cases where suitable research experience can be demonstrated.
The successful candidate is expected to possess the following qualities:
•   Excellent analytical and computing skills.
•   Self-motivated researcher willing to develop personally and professionally.
•   Ability to use own initiative and prioritize workload.
•   Good interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written).
•   Strong organizational skills.
•   Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail in his/her working methods.

Funding:

The four-year EPSRC studentship consists of UK/EU fees, a stipend of approx £16,000 per annum (indexed in-creases in subsequent years), plus an additional £1,000 per annum to spend on research-related expenses. The stipend is tax free (conditions apply).

*Eligible applicants will for entry into the 2016/17 academic year

*Please see EPSRC's guidance on eligibility criteria for funding

Application Procedure

A two-stage application procedure is in place.

Stage 1
In Stage 1, you are required to submit the following pre-application documents:

(1) CV;

(2) Academic Transcripts;

(3) a 1-page personal statement outlining motivation, interest and eligibility for the post;

(4) Name and contact details of those providing an academic reference for you – references will not be taken at this stage; and,

(5) (optional) copies of the two most important pieces of research work you have completed. Please state clearly your contribution in case of jointly authored work.

All Stage 1 application documents should be emailed to Mae Oroszlany at e.oroszlany@ucl.ac.uk

Informal enquiries on the content of the studentship research topic can be made to Dr Dimitrios Rovas (d.rovas@ucl.ac.uk).

Please note that if English is NOT your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the UCL's English Language requirements

The closing date for the receipt of completed Stage 1 applications is: Sunday, 18 SEPTEMBER 2016.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview, which will take place shortly after stage 1 application deadline.

Stage 2
Following the interview, the successful candidate will be invited to make a formal application to the UCL PhD programme. Further guidance will be provided.

Any offer made will be subject to references and proof of meeting the UCL English language requirements.

Expected start date: Autumn 2016