The Department offers a BSc in Building Science (Bouwkunde) and MSc programmes in Architecture, Building and Planning, Building Services and Construction Management and Engineering. Research is design and application oriented, based on fundamental scientific insights and methods. The project is funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission Theme FP7-ICT-2009-4: ICT for Environmental Services and Climate Change Adaptation. The DDSS research program has about 30 scientific staff (including 15 PhD researchers) of different disciplinary background from across the world. Project description: The project is part of the program UncertWeb. This project will implement an application to model activity-travel patterns of people in a city to demonstrate service chaining in the presence of uncertainty. In particular, the focus will be on a chain of models linking land-use change (or other policies) to changes in activity-travel patterns of individuals, which in turn will be linked to emission and exposure models. All these models involve uncertainties in terms of data and in the various models. The uncertainty-enabled model Web will be used to trace the propagation of uncertainty through this series of linked models. The core model is Albatross, a detailed model that has been developed by TUE for simulating how individuals use the environment. Albatross was developed for the Dutch Ministry of Transport and simulates activity-travel patterns of individuals in time and space at high resolution. Target variables include variables that are relevant from an air quality modelling perspective: the number of persons exposed to high air pollutant levels, classified by individual characteristics (gender, working/non-working, age) and activities (sporting, non-sporting) for a given area and a period of time, and variables that can be used as air quality model inputs: the number, speed and type of cars as a function of area and time. Time-activity simulations take place by representing the behaviour of a part of the population by agents in the computer, where this part is large enough to reflect variability in the population. The representation is used to predict time-activity patterns, and derived characteristics such as traffic congestion. Uncertainty in such predictions arrive from (a) limits due to limited representation of the target population, (b) limits due to incomplete and approximate modelling of behavioural decisions, and (c) when the model is used in predictive mode, from uncertainty in external factors in decision making, such as short-term weather conditions. Profile of the candidate: The candidate should possess a master degree and a good background in research methods, statistical analyses and computer programming. Further requirements: – Demonstrated interest in scientific research – Proficiency in English writing and speaking – Highly motivated to conduct academic research – Team spirit Salary: The duration of the project is for 3 years. The gross monthly salary increases from 2.042, – Euro in the first year to 2.492, – Euro in the third year. In addition, the TU/e has an excellent package of attractive benefits for employees, a child-care facility, and a modern sports complex. Assistance for finding accommodation can be given. Application Deadline 01-09-2010 Read more: http://scholarship-positions.com/phd-researcher-the-uncertainty-enabled-model-web-netherland/2010/08/04/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ScholarshipPositions+%28International+Scholarships+and+Financial+Aid+Positions%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail#ixzz0xVrcJDgp