PhD Opportunity: Autonomous Robotic Technology for Integrated Geophysical Survey (ARTIGH)

About the Project

Project Overview

Beneath our cities lies a vast and aging network of pipes, cables, tunnels, and foundations. Accurate mapping and condition assessment of this buried infrastructure is critical for preventing costly and dangerous utility strikes, planning maintenance, and ensuring public safety. In the UK alone, inaccurate location of underground assets costs the economy approximately £2.4 billion annually through direct and indirect costs of utility strikes.

ARTIGH aims to revolutionize geophysical survey by developing an autonomous robotic solution with:

• Geophones
• Electromagnetic survey tools
• In-situ soil measurement capabilities

The system will autonomously navigate challenging unstructured environments, deploy and retrieve sensors, and collect comprehensive subsurface data. Machine learning and data fusion methods will be developed to combine information from multiple sensors, enabling the detection and differentiation of various infrastructure types-including non-metallic pipes that are difficult to identify with traditional methods.

Research Activities

• Robotic Platform Development: Adapt commercial robotic platforms (e.g., Husky, Boston Dynamics Spot, Unitree Go2) for multi-sensor field surveys.
• Sensor Integration: Design and test precision geophone deployment systems with controlled pressure application.
• Autonomous Navigation: Develop navigation and survey planning algorithms for GPS-denied, obstacle-rich environments.
• AI and Data Fusion: Implement machine learning models to combine multi-sensor data for enhanced infrastructure characterization.
• Testing: Utilise the National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF) for realistic, controlled trials.

Candidate Requirements

• Strong academic record (2:1 or above) in Robotics, Mechanical/Civil Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields.
• Experience in robotics, programming (Python/ROS), or sensor integration is desirable.
• Motivation to pursue cross-disciplinary research and develop advanced technical skills.
• Ability to self-fund tuition and living expenses for the duration of the PhD.

Supervision Team

• Dr. Wonjun Cha (Civil Engineering, w.cha@bham.ac.uk)
• Dr. Amir Hajiyavand (Engineering and Physical Sciences)
• Dr. Mehran Eskandari Torbaghan (Engineering and Physical Sciences)

Why Join ARTeMIS at Birmingham?

• Work in a world-class research environment with access to unique facilities (NBIF, Robotics Lab, National Highway).
• Gain expertise in robotics, AI, geophysics, and field operations.
• Collaborate with leading academics and industry partners.
• Develop technology with significant real-world impact and commercial potential

For further information or to express your interest, please contact

Dr. Wonjun Cha – w.cha@bham.ac.uk