PhD studentship: Machine Learning-driven Fusion of Drone-mounted Ground-penetrating Radar and Smart Meter Data for Advanced Leak Detection in Water Networks

Award summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided. 

Overview

The UK loses over 3 billion litres of water daily due to leaks, causing environmental degradation and economic strain. Existing detection methods fail to address the issue effectively, being both costly and unreliable. This project proposes an innovative solution by integrating drone-mounted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) with smart meter data to transform leak detection. Drones equipped with GPR will identify underground anomalies, while smart meter data will refine localisation for greater precision. Machine learning (ML) algorithms will analyse these datasets to deliver a scalable, cost-effective system, validated through field trials and enhanced by contributions from four industrial partners. More details about the project can be found here.

Number of awards: 1

Start date: 1^st October 2025

Award duration: 4 years

Sponsor: EPSRC  

Supervisors:

Dr Oktay Cetinkaya (Lead supervisor) 

Prof Rishad Shafik (Secondary supervisor) 

Eligibility criteria

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (such as mathematics or theoretical physics) is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification is not required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss.  

For EPSRC DLA applications we are following the EDEPI competency-based framework. Please read and complete this document as your Personal statement, and upload this with your application. Applications which do not include this document will not be considered. Further details can be found here.

Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8060F. 
• Select 'PhD Electrical and Electronic Engineering (full time)' as the programme of study

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:   

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) – Use this template.
• The studentship code DLA2515 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field. 
• When prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.

You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.

Contact details:

Dr. Oktay Cetinkaya oktay.cetinkaya@newcastle.ac.uk. You can also contact: doctoral.awards@ncl.ac.uk for independent advice on your application.

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