PhD Studentship: Geospatial Data for Property Information

Location: Computer Science, Streatham Campus, Exeter

The University of Exeter’s Department of Computer Science is inviting applications for a PhD studentship fully-funded by a large insurance company to commence on 23 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. For eligible students the studentship will cover Home or International tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 for 4 years full-time, or pro rata for part-time study. The student would be based in Computer Science in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy at the Streatham Campus in Exeter. The student will join the Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence based at University of Exeter.

Project Description:

This PhD project will aim to investigate to what extent we can use AI and spatial data science to create an enhanced property information database analysing a combination of geospatial data that are available online. We will investigate  whether openly available images, from either street view or satellites, can be analysed using computer vision techniques to detect properties relevant to buildings and their structure, such as the species of nearby trees, orientation of the building and its state of repair. We will also explore to what extent other data sets can provide contextual information on the history of a building and its changes over time, as well as information about the surroundings, such as built-up density.

This award provides annual funding to cover Home or International tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of at least £19,237 per year. 

The studentship will be awarded on the basis of merit for 4 years of full-time study to commence on 23 September 2024. The collaboration involves a project partner (a large insurance company) who is providing funding [and other material support to the project], this means there are special terms that apply to the project, these will be discussed with Candidates at Interview and fully set out in the offer letter. The collaboration with the named project partner is subject to contract. Please note full details of the project partner’s contribution and involvement with the project is still to be confirmed and may change during the course of contract negotiations.  Full details will be confirmed at offer stage. 

International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD.

About the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence

This PhD studentship is funded by a large insurance company but will be hosted by the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence: Data Science and AI for Sustainable Futures (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/eicdt/). The EI CDT provides PhD students from a range of academic backgrounds with the core skills required for a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers to apply data science and AI techniques to environmental challenges. Training is provided in data science, AI and statistics; in ethics, governance, and responsible innovation principles related to the use of big data and AI; and in a range of environmental challenge domains. After initial training, the student will develop their research proposal around the topic outlined in this advertisement. The EI CDT recruits students in cohorts to begin in September each year. The cohort-based training approach provides a supportive, diverse and stimulating peer group as well as enrichment and social activities.

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