PhD Candidate Infrastructure monitoring and NaTech disaster response with drones and machine learning
The University of Twente aims to be an organisation that effectively deploys diversity, talent, and capabilities in the labour market, for both now and in the future. In the framework of our diversity and inclusiveness policy, we strongly stimulate people with a (work) disability to apply.
The University of Twente is committed to providing a working environment where everyone is valued, respected, and supported to progress. Our priority is to ensure that no one is disadvantaged based on their ethnicity, gender, culture, disability, LGBTQ+ identities, family and caring responsibilities, age, or religion. We encourage everyone who shares these values to apply.
The project is part of a large-scale research project funded through the Horizon Europe funding scheme of the European Commission, entitled “Hazard assessment and risk management of natural hazard-triggered Technological (NaTech) emergencies with cross-collaboration opportunities” (HARMONI). The project is led by IDENER (Spain) and has 13 participating organisations from 7 European countries.
The overall aim of HARMONI is to develop a platform for improved prevention, monitoring, and response to NaTech disasters, such as flooding or earthquakes that affect critical infrastructure installations. This will include a detailed assessment of existing methods to address such risks, and on how to achieve a better use and exchange of existing protocols and data. The project includes the use of Digital Twins to simulate cascading disaster effects, as well as satellite and sensor data, looking specifically at 6 different use cases across Europe. In addition to the detailed innovative analysis of existing methods and protocols, ITC will focus on the monitoring and response parts, building on many earlier projects revolving around the use of UAV/drones, computer vision and machine learning, change and damage detection, and multi-data integration, such as of UAV-based radar data, which one of the other project partners will acquire. One focus area will be on the role of reinforcement learning, also linking to ongoing collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The work builds specifically on earlier FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects (INACHUS)[www.inachus.eu], PANOPTIS and INGENIOUS.
It will be your responsibility to lead the comprehensive review of existing infrastructure risk assessment and standard operating procedures, with special focus on NaTech situations; to develop approaches for the use of UAV with different typologies (including very small/simple devices, but also drones with more/better sensors) to provide mapping and change detection of varied and complex infrastructure installations, including of interior spaces; and to develop a computer vision and deep/reinforcement learning approaches to combine and integrate imagery from the UAV, but also satellite imagery or data from other environmental sensors.
Besides this, you will work on scene understanding using RGB and possibly thermal and radar images, including based on object detection and image segmentation, and collaborate effectively with other technical partners who will work with UAV-based radar systems or on system integration and Digital Twins, and on the development of effective decision support systems, where appropriate including cross-border coordination. You also need to align with the work of partners from social science& humanities (SSH), such as on decision making or integration of existing human expertise int the technical systems, and ensure that ITC’s developments are appropriately tested and integrated into the HARMONI platform in different pilot experiments. Preparation of project deliverables (reports, etc.) is also necessary, as is the extensive desk study analysis in the beginning, hence very good analytical and writing skills are also needed.
Information and application
For more information, you can contact Prof Norman Kerle (n.kerle@utwente.nl) or Prof Francesco Nex (f.nex@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.
Please submit your application before 1 October 2025, including:
- A motivation letter (maximum 2 pages A4) emphasising your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position.
- Curriculum Vitae (including a list of all courses attended, grades obtained, the names and contact information of two references and – if applicable – a publication list).
For questions about working and living in the Netherlands, please consult the official website of the Netherlands Government or the website of the Expat Centre East Netherlands.
Screening is part of the selection procedure.
The project will begin on 1 January 2026, and we would like you to start working as soon as possible to have time to prepare before the project starts. Job interviews (likely via Teams) are planned for early/mid October.
About the organisation
The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation. Our mission is capacity development, where we apply, share and facilitate the effective use of geo-information and earth observation knowledge and tools for tackling global wicked problems. Our purpose is to enable our many partners around the world to track and trace the impact – and the shifting causes and frontiers – of today’s global challenges. Our vision is of a world in which researchers, educators, and students collaborate across disciplinary and geographic divides with governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutes, businesses, and local populations to surmount today’s complex global challenges and to contribute to sustainable, fair, and digital societies.
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