Point-Cloud-Based Structural Health Monitoring and Quality Control for Complex Heritage Morphologies (Ref: ABCE-EBE-ZH2)

About the Project

Heritage buildings often exhibit complex, irregular, and evolving geometries, making traditional inspection and monitoring methods inadequate. With the rapid improvement of terrestrial laser scanning, photogrammetry, and LiDAR technologies, point clouds offer unprecedented opportunities for digitally capturing full-shape geometry and tracking changes over time. This PhD project will develop advanced computational methods for automated analysis, comparison, and interpretation of large-scale point cloud datasets, enabling high-precision health monitoring, deformation tracking, and quality control for heritage buildings. The research will explore the unique challenges of heritage structures, including irregular morphologies, partial visibility, environmental constraints, and historical preservation requirements.

Research Goals:

1. Develop algorithms to detect, classify, and quantify shape changes, deformation, or damage from multi-temporal point clouds.
2. Design automated workflows for scan-vs-BIM, scan-vs-scan, and multi-scan comparison of complex architectural heritage.
3. Explore machine learning or geometric computing approaches for pattern recognition and anomaly detection.
4. Create robust metrics and digital protocols for heritage condition assessment and conservation decision-making.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:

Dr Zhiqi Hu z.hu2@lboro.ac.uk

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience are desirable. The ideal applicant will have a background in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geomatics, Computing, Structural Engineering, or related disciplines, demonstrate programming ability (Python, MATLAB, C++, etc.), and have experience with or interest in 3D geometry, point cloud processing, or computer vision. Familiarity with laser scanning or photogrammetry is beneficial but not required. Applicants passionate about digital heritage, structural behaviour, or advanced geometry processing are especially welcome.

English language requirements: Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: 30th June 2026

Start date: October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)