{UAH} Implications of forest degradation / Ground Penetrating Radar Antenna Design

Implications of forest degradation and restoration for carbon storage and sequestration in Vietnam

Background
The deforestation and degradation of natural forests is a large source of carbon dioxide emissions and a substantial driver of climate change. Whilst deforestation (the complete removal of forests) is relatively easy to observe, forest degradation (caused by logging, slash-and-burn agriculture and fuel wood extraction) is much more difficult to quantify. Losses of carbon from tropical forest degradation have been relatively poorly researched and may be seriously underestimated. At the same time the regrowth of degraded forests sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The importance of forest degradation and regrowth have not been well assessed at the regional scale.

This studentship will explore the impacts of forest degradation with a specific focus on lowland tropical forests of Vietnam. The studentship will involve extended periods of field work in Vietnam to quantify above-ground carbon stocks across a gradient of forest degradation. Data from the field will be combined with satellite data to develop understanding at the regional scale. The studentship is a partnership with the international NGO the World Land Trust (WLT). Understanding from the studentship will contribute to the conservation of tropical forests through informing the development of a forest carbon conservation scheme being developed by the WLT in Vietnam.

Objectives
The aim of this studentship is to improve our understanding of tropical forest degradation with a specific focus on lowland forests in Vietnam. Specifically, the studentship will:

a) Quantify the impact of tropical forest degradation on above-ground carbon stocks.
b) Improve understanding of the drivers of tropical forest degradation.
c) Explore the potential for forest protection and restoration to sequester carbon.
d) Explore the use of satellite remote sensing to detect and quantify forest degradation and restoration.
e) Contribute the science-base required for development and monitoring of a certified forest carbon conservation scheme based around avoided forest degradation and subsequent restoration.

Project area
The studentship will focus on the Khe Nuoc Trong forest (Fig. 1), a 20 000 hectare area of Annamese Lowland Forest in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam (Fig. 2). The forest has high conservation value and has been designated an Important Bird Area and Key Biodiversity Area. The site consists of a spectrum of forest degradation, from relatively undisturbed forests to areas of severely degraded forest, that have been subjected to repeated selective logging. Officially protected since 2008, the forest continues to experience widespread illegal logging. The local forest department are now working with the local NGO the Viet Nature Conservation Centre (VNCC) and international NGO the WLT to improve forest protection financed through a forest carbon conservation scheme. The studentship will establish and monitor above ground forest carbon stocks across a gradient of forest degradation.

Funding Notes:

The studentship is a partnership with the World Land Trust (WLT), an international conservation NGO which works to protect the world's most biologically important and threatened habitats. Through working closely with overseas project partners, WLT has been instrumental in the protection of over 200 000 hectares of threatened tropical forests. Collaboration between Dr Spracklen and the WLT dates to 2003, and has included work to establish forest carbon projects in Ecuador and Paraguay.
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Optimisation of Ground/Penetrating Radar Antenna Design using Finite-Difference Time-Domain Modelling and Laboratory Trials

With the aid of an existing numerical modelling framework the porject's key objective is to develop a novel bespoke ground penetrating radar antenna desing that can be used to faithfully transmit and receive signals to and from near surface targets. The antenna needs to offer excellent broadband performance with quick ring-down characteristics and minimal interference with unwanted objects often found in challenging complex near surface environments.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a powerful investigative technique for obtaining accurate information about the location of possible targets buried in the shallow subsurface. The method is of particular relevance in the detection of antipersonnel landmines.

Although GPR is a very powerful and versatile tool the complexity of information obtained after a GPR survey often prevents us from obtaining the maximum information contained in the GPR data. This complexity arises not only from the fact that GPR responds to a variety of targets but also because GPR transducers operate in close proximity to the ground which dynamically affects their properties and influence the received signals significantly. In addition, the subsurface media introduce a number of variable effects on the GPR signals from strongly attenuating their responses to altering the shape of GPR wavelets. To fulfil the potential that GPR has as an investigative tool we need to significantly improve our understanding of GPR operation in varied soil environments and be able to accurately model and predict its response and performance using different antenna designs.

Numerical modelling of GPR signals is the best and, for complex interactions, the only way to develop our understanding of GPR performance under specific conditions and study ways to improve signal quality and GPR transducer design for more powerful and efficient instruments. In particular the well-established Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) approach is computationally efficient and very powerful to allow us to capture the complexities of a complete GPR model and perform computations in reasonable time scales.

The primary objective and challenge of the proposed research work is to design a novel bespoke GPR antenna that can be used to faithfully transmit and receive signals to and from the intended targets offering excellent broadband performance with quick ring-down characteristics and minimal interference with unwanted objects often found in its complex operating environment. This is an interesting and challenging task, which could result in a step change in our ability to detect targets and reduce false alarm rates. Such GPR antenna design and development has to take into account the details and constrains imposed from the demanding operational environment.

The project will benefit directly from an already developed efficient modelling framework that allows us to faithfully model GPR responses when operating in complex environments. It is envisaged that testing of a prototype of the final design of the developed GPR antenna will be done at Dstl.

The selected candidate must start by 1st October 2015.
To apply, please click on the "Apply Now" button and select the "Infrastructure and the Environment" Research Area.

Funding Notes:

The funding covers fees and a stipend of £15,006 per year for 42 months.

Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
Experience with MATLAB and/or numerical python and C programming is desirable and familiarity with work in a UNIX computing environment would be an asset as well as any experience in computational electromagnetics. The candidate should be able to demonstrate independence and curiosity and be able to lead the project forward.

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Bwanika Nakyesawa Luwero

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