Université du Québec à Rimouski

Homepage: https://www.uqar.ca/

In Canada, rockfalls are one of the main geohazards encountered along transport infrastructures. The Laboratoire de Géomorphologie et de Gestion des Risques en Montagne (LGGRM) team has demonstrated that these rock instabilities are often triggered by meteorological processes such as freeze-thaw cycles or heavy rainfall. These rock failures are typically preceded by slight deformations of millimetre to centimetre amplitude. To anticipate rockfalls and improve preventive hazard management, it is essential to understand the mechanisms by which these pre-rupture deformations develop. Extensometers can be used to correlate these deformations with meteorological conditions. This type of instrument can be used to monitor supposedly unstable blocks, but cannot be used to detect unstable blocks. Recently, LGGRM acquired a ground-based mobile radar interferometry system (GPRI) to detect these millimetric deformations over large areas of rock faces. Four study sites have been selected: the rock faces of Forillon and Mont-Saint-Pierre in eastern Quebec, Joffre Peak in British Columbia and the rocky slopes of Grise-Fiord in Nunavut.

PhD1. Using ground-based radar interferometry (GPRI) for the detection and early warning of rockfalls

Objectives : 1) Determine the GPRI’s ability to detect pre-rupture deformations in different morpho-structural contexts (rupture mode, rockwall heterogeneity, acquisition distance and angle, etc.); 2) Compare the ability of different remote sensing systems (drone photogrammetry, LiDAR, GPRI and InSAR) to identify and quantify pre-rupture deformations; and 3) Use strain rates measured with GPRI to anticipate the failure of unstable rock masses identified by remote sensing systems.

PhD2. Assessing the influence of meteorological processes and global warming on the development of rock instabilities

Objectives: 1) Identify and characterize unstable rock masses; 2) Measure pre-failure strain rates; and 3) Evaluate the effects of meteorological conditions and global warming on pre-rupture deformations.

Working environment and team. The student will carry out the project under the supervision of Francis Gauthier (LGGRM) at the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR). The student will also work closely with David Didier (ELNAR, UQAR), Catherine Cloutier (Ministère des Transports et Mobilité Durable), Jeffrey Crompton (Geological Survey of Canada), Renato Macciotta (University of Alberta) and François Charbonneau (Natural Resources Canada). Financial support of $112k over 48 months will be offered to the student.

Academic background and skills. The desired candidate should be about to complete or have completed a master’s degree in physical geography, geology, geological engineering, civil engineering, geomatics, remote sensing or a related field and be skilled in GIS, spatial analysis and programming with Python, R or Matlab. Fluency in French is a plus.

To exchange information or apply (before February 14, 2025): francis_gauthier@uqar.ca or +1-418-723-1986 ext. 1014