Trees, Streets, Pollution, Wind

EPSRC DTA studentship

Applicants are sought for a fully funded EPSRC PhD studentship in collaboration between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and The Bartlett school of Graduate Studies at UCL.   The interdisciplinary nature of the project should suit students from a wide range of numerate backgrounds, (eg atmospheric sciences, chemical, bio-chemical, mechanical or civil engineering, environmental engineering, applied mathematics, physics), who are passionate about applying their research to the human environment. 

The stipend is currently £14,622  and funding is available for 3.5 years.

 

Airflow and Urban Pollution Around Trees

The effect of trees on air flow and pollution dispersion in the urban environment are currently poorly understood, since the shape and foliage of trees present great complications in predicting the turbulent atmospheric flow around and through trees on a local scale.   Trees can increase humidity, decrease temperature and alter air flow in the surrounding micro-climate.   It is not clear how these biological processes are affected by airflow around trees and whether the overall pollutant absorption would increase or decrease. 

The project aims to begin an investigation into these issues, towards suggesting applications of the research to urban design and planning.

A variety of cutting edge fluid flow modelling tools can  be used to explore air flows around trees:

  • Physical modelling in the hydraulics laboratory, using 3-D models of trees in a water flume or a wind tunnel, using measuring and modelling techniques such as LDV, PIV, 3-D imaging and 3-D rapid prototyping.
  • CFD numerical modelling of the flow.
  • For a suitable configuration of trees and streets in London, environmental variables such as temperature, airflow, humidity and pollutants will be monitored at street level and for different seasons. The field study is carried out to calibrate the physical and numerical modelling.

Application Procedure:

 

Suitable applicants should send a cover letter and CV as soon as possible to  l.malki-epshtein@ucl.ac.uk and b.croxford@ucl.ac.uk. 

  

 

Eligibility:

 

This studentship is funded by EPSRC under the DTA scheme.   The academic requirement is the equivalent of at least an upper second first degree.   All British citizens are eligible. 

EU citizens are eligible only if they have resided in the UK for at least the last three years.  

Non-EU citizens are not eligible (unless they have indefinite leave to remain – permanent residence status  from the UK Home Office and home-fees paying status from UCL).   

If in doubt about this please contact the department.