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KU Leuven

PhD in geomatics: damage detection in historic masonry using computer vision and AI

2025-03-01 (Europe/Brussels)
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About the employer

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.

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There is a vacancy for a PhD researcher in the Geomatics research group of the Department of Civil Engineering of KU Leuven. The candidate will be active in the CHAI project (Cracking Built Heritage with AI) in collaboration with the Materials and Constructions section of the department. In this project we research how to improve structural analysis and damage prediction of built masonry heritage by enriching structural models with data from AI-enhanced digital surveying and damage mapping.
The position starts March 1st 2025 and is for four years (two + two years after good evaluation).

The Geomatics group’s laboratory is based on the KU Leuven Campus in Ghent, which is located at the center of Belgium, in the heart of Europe. The research group targets practical applications in the field of construction and surveying and focuses on data capture, processing and interpretation for the creation of semantically rich databases i.e., BIM and GIS and the analysis of the built environment. The emphasis is on the processing of geometry such as point cloud data and mesh data, and on information extracted from imagery taken from the built environment.

The research at the Geomatics group, headed by prof. Maarten Vergauwen and prof. Maarten Bassier, is rapidly expanding. The group currently already has about 15 researchers, both working on individual research topics and international projects. In particular, related to this project, there is expertise in machine learning for geospatial applications, remote sensing, and the creation of intelligent databases.

The research group also has strong ties to industry and the research community. Within KU Leuven the group has contacts, relevant to this project, with the Departments of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), Computer Science and Civil Engineering, and externally with the universities of Liège, Stockholm and Rome. Internally, two postdocs of the group work on a project about damage inventory in sewer systems using image and point cloud analysis. The group’s laboratory is well equipped with state-of-the art Lidar and photogrammetric hard and software and powerful processing units which the candidate can use for research.
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Project

  • You will work on the group’s CHAI project with the Materials and Constructions section of the department. You will collaborate closely with the PhD student in this section.
  • You will develop advanced methods for damage detection and extraction in historic masonry buildings and structures from images and point cloud data, using novel AI-based methods.
  • You will conduct your own research in the CHAI project but will also collaborate with your fellow PhD students and postdocs in the group to enhance your own research via cross-pollination.
  • You will assist in the group’s teaching duties
  • You will (co-)author scientific papers and publish your research in conferences and high-level (A1) international, peer-reviewed journals.

Profile

  • You have a master's degree in engineering, computer vision, geomatics or similar, obtained with an overall grade of at least distinction (cum laude).
  • You are eager to program and implement solutions, often combining commercial software with open-source APIs.
  • Experience in pattern recognition, machine learning, artificial intelligence, image interpretation, and digital acquisition techniques is an asset.
  • You have an excellent English proficiency, both in speaking and writing. Knowledge of Dutch is an asset.
  • You are willing to work in an interdisciplinary team and co-manage Master students.
  • You have an inquisitive and creative mind, as well as good problem-solving skills. You can work independently and generate results.
  • Important note: your motivation letter (see below) should contain the reason(s) why you are interested in this particular position, as well as facts or examples that demonstrate that you satisfy the listed requirements.

Offer

  • A contract of 4 (2+2) years as a PhD researcher of KU Leuven
  • Membership of a rapidly advancing research group, as part of a motivated interdisciplinary team, with an extensive international network
  • Your project will be in collaboration with the Materials and Constructions section of the department, the Raymond Lemaire International Center for Conservation (RLICC), and  with input from international contacts from Stockholm, Liège and Rome.
  • Membership of KU Leuven, one of the largest research universities of Europe and the most innovative university of Europe (ranked first in Reuters ranking)
  • The possibility to take part in international conferences and collaborations and to become a multidisciplinary researcher
  • A competitive salary and benefits. Furthermore, PhD researchers are supported in their career by the university and can follow countless courses to improve their skills.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Maarten Vergauwen, mail: maarten.vergauwen@kuleuven.be.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Job details

Title
PhD in geomatics: damage detection in historic masonry using computer vision and AI
Employer
Location
Oude Markt 13 Leuven, Belgium
Published
2025-01-13
Application deadline
2025-03-01 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
2025-03-01 23:59 (CET)
Job type
PhD
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About the employer

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.

Visit the employer page