PhD - Measurement and modeling of urban verticality in Africa

Thesis Topic How can urban verticalization be measured, mapped, and quantified in African contexts with limited data, at the city, neighborhood, and building scales? Tasks and responsibilities Build a harmonized database of urban verticality for the three cities (Dakar, Kigali, Luanda) since 2000; Develop a data processing pipeline to extract building heights at different points in time; Conduct targeted photogrammetric analyses and integrate geolocated crowdsourced images (Flickr, SenseCity) to supplement satellite data at the meso level; Compile “building profiles” (quantitative approach): measuring height, density, footprint, and temporal evolution for approximately 10 buildings per city. Required Profile Education Master’s degree (or equivalent) in geomatics, geography, data science, environmental engineering, quantitative urban planning, or a related field; Strong interest in African cities and sustainable urban development issues. Technical Skills Proficiency in remote sensing (satellite image processing, GIS, photogrammetry); Programming skills for geospatial analysis: Python (rasterio, geopandas, scikit-learn) or R; experience with Google Earth Engine is a plus; Experience with open-source tools (QGIS, GRASS GIS, GDAL) and spatial databases. Soft Skills Scientific rigor and autonomy in conducting research; Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural context; Excellent writing skills in English (the project’s primary publication language). Knowledge of French required. Knowledge of Portuguese, Wolof, or Kinyarwanda is an asset; Sensitivity to gender equity issues and North-South research dynamics. Application Applications (in French or English) must include: A cover letter (max. 2 pages) addressing the topic; A detailed curriculum vitae; Master’s degree transcript; A recent academic paper (master’s thesis, article, internship report) demonstrating skills in spatial analysis; Contact information for two academic references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The selection process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, i.e. EDAR or EDCE. Please check this page for additional information on admission.