PhD Study : Space2Breathe – leveraging air-pollution sensing enabling smart city residents to live healthier.

Summary

Ambient air pollution is the world’s leading environmental health risk and a pervasive threat to urban healthy living (Brook et al., 2017; Wells et al., 2018). Globally, air pollution causes more than 33% of deaths from strokes, lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 25% of deaths from ischaemic heart disease. It is estimated that particulate air pollution causes at least 40,000 deaths per year in the United Kingdom and costs the national economy £16 billion annually (The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, 2017).

Internationally, pollution quelling measures are unlikely to produce measurable effect before 2050 (Kitous et al., 2017). Consequently, a reduction in exposure to air pollutants is the recommended course of action for those at risk of exposure (Halliwell et al., 2015; Kim et al., 2015; Brook et al., 2017), such as in an urban environment. Pervasive computing solutions can be used to gather sensor data indicating pollution level factors within an urban environment (Kumar et al., 2015; Alsamhi et al., 2018). Further modelling can determine risk and exposure related to an individual occupying an area. The output from this model may then be leveraged to inform at risk individuals to circumvent harmful exposure.

There are several solutions which aspire to achieve this outcome, however, they have a range of detractors which include:

-Inability to accurately model air-based pollutants in a high-resolution manner

-Reliance on models which require expensive sensing solutions, limiting applicability

-Absence of algorithms to accurately route individuals’ paths in a manner which adequately avoids harmful pollutants

-Incorporation of models which do not adequately incorporate topographical elements and pollutant dispersal

This project aims to draw on novel approaches to high resolution, near real-time modelling of urban air pollution using combinations of data sources from ground and satellite-based sensors and computational modelling of pollution aggregation and dispersion in an urban landscape.

These models and data sources would be leveraged by the candidate to explore several research avenues which may include:

i.Enhancement of current real time, high resolution air pollution models through additional data sources

ii.Exploration of the use of low-cost sensing elements to provide data to augment pollution mapping models.

iii.Investigation into producing a predictive model to forecasting health impacts of localised pollution

iv.Approaches to model exposure of individuals over time though their location history

v.Examination of methods of transport and effect on exposure levels

This project will leverage unique resources provided by the partner organisations. Ulster University will provide embedded sensing technologies, computing infrastructure and physical laboratory environments present within the School of Computing. Belfast City Council will offer access to data from sensors embedded within its smart city fabric and a platform to extend and deploy additional sensing elements. The Urban Healthy Living project will provide space-based sensing data and an associated augmented model incorporating ground-based sensing elements.  Several local health trusts will provide data and expertise to supplement findings. This project is aligned with a larger initiative which the partners have proposed.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living