PhD in Satellite Monitoring of Environmental and Climate Risks

PGR-P-2517

Key facts

Type of research degree: PhD
Application deadline: Friday 30 April 2027
Project start date: Friday 1 October 2027
Country eligibility: International (open to all nationalities, including the UK)
Funding: Non-funded
Supervisors: Professor David Connolly
Schools: School of Civil Engineering

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Summary</h2>

Satellite monitoring and Earth Observation technologies are transforming how engineers and environmental scientists monitor, inspect, and manage global climate hazards. This research theme focuses on using satellite data, remote sensing, Synthetic Aperture Radar, multispectral imaging, and artificial intelligence to analyse environmental change and protect key resources. Core areas of investigation include rapid impact mapping of flooding and disasters to optimize emergency response and asset protection. The theme also covers large scale tracking of drought, erratic rainfall, temperature spikes, and declining soil moisture to protect global food security. Additionally, it addresses the monitoring of forestry and green spaces through satellite vegetation indices to track deforestation, afforestation, and carbon capture compliance. Research within this theme can be adapted to suit a wide range of backgrounds, allowing you to develop a tailored line of inquiry. By integrating spaceborne data with environmental modelling, this theme aims to deliver scalable solutions for tracking and mitigating severe climate risks across the planet.

<h2 class="heading hide-accessible">Full description</h2>

<h3 data-path-to-node="4">Detailed Description</h3> The compounding impacts of climate change demand a transition towards proactive, macro scale environmental monitoring systems. Traditional ground based environmental observations are often geographically limited and cannot provide the rapid, continuous data needed to manage systemic global risks. This research theme addresses this limitation by using spaceborne remote sensing technologies to observe and model complex environmental dynamics across vast territories. Within this research theme, you will explore how multi temporal satellite observations can provide critical data for disaster management and resource conservation. For flooding and catastrophic weather events, this involves processing high resolution radar and optical imagery to perform rapid impact mapping, which allows emergency teams to safeguard vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure assets. For agricultural zones experiencing climate stress, the research uses multispectral sensors to track soil moisture depletion, rising surface temperatures, and erratic rainfall patterns over whole regions. Furthermore, the theme examines global forestry dynamics, using advanced vegetation indices to monitor changes in forest canopy cover, track carbon sequestration compliance, and detect unauthorized deforestation. You will develop the computational frameworks needed to turn raw satellite observations into reliable indicators for environmental safety and climate adaptation. <h3 data-path-to-node="7">Why This Research is Important</h3> Natural catastrophes, prolonged droughts, and unchecked deforestation present existential threats to global stability, food security, and infrastructure resilience. When extreme flooding events hit urban or rural areas, the lack of real time situational intelligence delays emergency responses and increases asset damage. Similarly, unmapped agricultural drought can devastate crop yields and destabilize food supplies before mitigation measures can be deployed. This research theme is critical because it introduces scalable, objective, and non invasive methods to monitor these vulnerabilities from space. Using satellite technology enables civil authorities and environmental managers to supervise vast geographical assets simultaneously. By tracking environmental degradation and catastrophe impacts early, decision makers can implement targeted interventions, allocate relief resources efficiently, and verify global carbon compliance. This research directly supports international efforts to build a more secure, informed, and climate resilient world. <h3 data-path-to-node="10">Example PhD Research Topics</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="11"> <li> Rapid satellite impact mapping of major flooding events for optimized disaster response </li> <li> Spaceborne tracking of soil moisture anomalies and temperature spikes to predict agricultural drought </li> <li> Using multi temporal satellite vegetation indices to monitor global deforestation and afforestation </li> <li> Integrating Earth Observation datasets with predictive climate models for regional risk tracking </li> <li> Machine learning frameworks for automated catastrophe detection in large scale satellite imagery </li> <li> Evaluating spaceborne carbon capture compliance monitoring across diverse forestry assets </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="12">Methods and Techniques</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="13"> <li> Processing of multispectral and hyperspectral satellite imagery for environmental monitoring </li> <li> Synthetic Aperture Radar analysis for flood extent mapping and surface water tracking </li> <li> Time series analysis of satellite vegetation indices for tracking environmental degradation </li> <li> Application of artificial intelligence and computer vision to satellite data for automated hazard mapping </li> <li> Geographic Information Systems for spatial analysis and environmental risk modeling </li> <li> Data fusion approaches combining spaceborne observations with ground based sensor networks </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="14">Suitable Academic Backgrounds</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="15"> <li> Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering </li> <li> Remote Sensing, Geomatics, or Geographic Information Systems </li> <li> Earth Sciences, Geography, or Hydrology </li> <li> Computer Science, Data Analytics, or Artificial Intelligence </li> <li> Applied Mathematics, Physics, or Agricultural Science </li> </ul> <h3 data-path-to-node="16">FAQ</h3> <ul data-path-to-node="17"> <li> Can I propose my own PhD topic? Yes, the themes above are a guide only. </li> <li> Can I bring my own funding? Yes, I welcome applicants who are funded through government scholarships, employers or self funding. </li> <li> Do I need funding before contacting you? You should have at least identified your planned funder and commenced your application. </li> <li> Can I study interdisciplinary topics? Yes. Many of my current research interests combine multiple disciplines. </li> <li> When can I start? Start dates are in spring and autumn. Full details dates are available elsewhere on the University website. </li> </ul> Useful links <ul> <li data-path-to-node="15,0,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">University Profile</a> </li> <li data-path-to-node="15,1,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidconnolly/" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">LinkedIn</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,2,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jzkpu9IAAAAJ&hl=en" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Google Scholar</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,3,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Connolly-7" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ResearchGate</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,4,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3950-8704" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">ORCID</a></li> <li data-path-to-node="15,5,0" style="margin-left:8px"><a href="https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35098220800" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Scopus</a></li> </ul>

<h2 class="heading">How to apply</h2>

To apply for this project you will need to make a formal application for research degree study through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University website</a>. You will need to create a login ID with a username and PIN. • For Application type please select Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate. • The admission year for this project is 2027/28 Academic Year. • You will need to select your Planned Course of Study from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select PHP Civil Engineering Full Time. • The project start date for this project is 1 October 2027, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research. • Please state clearly in the Research Information Section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is PhD in Satellite Monitoring of Environmental and Climate Risks as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/civil-engineering/staff/1204/prof-david-p-connolly">Professor David Connolly</a> as your proposed supervisor . Please state clearly in the Finance section, the funding that you are applying for, if you are self-funding or externally sponsored. More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">here</a>. You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. We will assess applications continuously as we receive them. We welcome and strongly encourage any potential applicants to contact the supervisor(s) for an informal discussion, prior to applying, and recommend submitting your application early. If you are applying with external sponsorship or you are funding your own study, please ensure you provide your supporting documents at the point you submit your application: <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date including the grading scheme</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul> If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below). As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">Entry requirements</h2>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

<h2 class="heading heading--sm">English language requirements</h2>

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<h2 class="heading">Funding on offer</h2>

This is a non funded PhD project. Applicants are expected to be self funded or to secure external funding. You can find out more about our Funding Opportunities on our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/">Postgraduate Research Opportunities</a> website. Important: Please note that all costs associated with your arrival at Leeds (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source.

<h2 class="heading">Contact details</h2>

For further information about your application, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a> For further information about this project, please contact Professor David Connolly by email to <a href="mailto:D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk">D.Connolly@leeds.ac.uk</a>