YOUR TASKS

You will be working on a 1-year research project in collaboration with the Flemish drinking water utility De Watergroep. The project focusses on the development of a framework for automatic calibration and uncertainty analysis of digital twins for leak detection in drinking water networks. Your specific tasks include:

• Conduct a literature review on state-of-the-art calibration methodologies.
• Make an inventory among international drinking water utilities of the application and calibration of hydraulic models.
• You will develop an open python package for automatic calibration of EPAnet drinking water network models. This framework will include:
  • Sensitivity analysis to determine the most important sources of uncertainty in a calibration exercise (ex. pipe roughness factors);
  • Definition of physical constraints on the calibration algorithm (ex. flow-pressure relation);
  • Implementation of a parameter optimization algorithm (ex. genetic algorithms);
  • Identifiability analysis on the estimated model parameters.
• If needed based on the identifiability analysis you will look into model reduction strategies such as skeletonization.
• You will develop a methodology for the propagation of important sources of uncertainty in a hydraulic model.
• You will apply and test your methodology to a case-study in the north-east of Belgium. 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• You have a master’s degree or a PhD degree in bio-science engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering or similar.
• You have good knowledge of optimization algorithms and uncertainty analysis.
• You have experience with (mathematical) modelling & modelling software such as Python.
• You have good knowledge of hydraulic modelling of drinking water networks. Experience in EPAnet is a plus.
• You are a quick learner and are able to conduct independent research.
• You are fluent in English, both speaking and writing.
• You are motivated and dedicated.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a contract of either scientific staff or postdoctoral researcher (depending on your diploma) of a 1-year duration.
• Your contract will start on 1/09/2020 at the earliest.
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master’s degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate). Click here for more information about our salary scales.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 35 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).

All information here.