Infrared thermography for civil infrastructure assessment: from laboratory studies to field deployment

Description

The Department of Civil and Water Engineering at Université Laval is seeking a PhD candidate to contribute to a research project focused on the application of infrared thermography for the non-destructive evaluation of civil infrastructure.

Infrared thermography offers significant potential for detecting internal defects in concrete structures. However, its effectiveness depends on heat transfer mechanisms, environmental conditions, and material properties. In particular, the thermal conditions preceding and accompanying an inspection can influence defect visibility, creating challenges for the interpretation of inspection results under field conditions.

The project aims to advance the understanding of these phenomena in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge acquired under controlled laboratory conditions to the inspection of civil infrastructure in real-world environments.

Research Objectives

Investigate the influence of thermal conditions, environmental factors, and concrete properties on the detectability of defects using infrared thermography. The project will combine experimental, numerical, and statistical approaches to better characterize defect detectability and improve the reliability of inspection result interpretation under field conditions.

Research Field

- Civil Engineering and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE)
- Infrared Thermography
- Heat Transfer and Numerical Modeling
- Instrumentation and Experimental Research
- Signal Processing and Data Analysis
- Statistical Analysis and Detection Reliability

Research Supervisor

Sandra Pozzer

Research Environment

Page available in French Department of Civil and Water Engineering

Located in Québec City, Université Laval is the oldest French-language university in North America. It welcomes approximately 47,000 students across 17 faculties and offers nearly 400 academic programs.

This project is part of ongoing research activities in non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and the durability of concrete infrastructure, drawing on the expertise of the Centre de recherche sur les infrastructures en béton (CRIB), the Institute for Intelligence and Data (IID), and the Laboratory for Vision and Digital Systems (LVSN).

Although French is the primary language of Université Laval, graduate-level research activities may be conducted in English.

Web Site

Financial Aid Available by Program of Study

Doctorate in Civil Engineering

Program description

Financial Aid Available*

Financial Aid Related to Research Project

PhD in Civil Engineering - Funding is available for a period of three years.

Program-Specific Financial Aid

Graduate Studies Awards

Milestone	Amount
Progression scholarship 1 - 7	7 x $1,600
Progression scholarship 8	$800
Total	$12,000

Université Laval: Student Financial Aid

Funding source	Amount
Leadership and Comittment Scholarship (Canadians & permanent residents)	$30,000
Citizens of the World Scholarship (International students)	$20,000 to $30,000
Mobility Grant for Out-of-Province Internships or Research Visits (in French)	$1,500 to $4,000
Graduate Scholarships from Granting Agencies	$25,000 to $40,000$
Online Directory of Graduate Scholarships (in French)	$500 to $50,000

Supplemental Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship Program: Entitles international students to pay Canadian student tuition fees, for overall savings of around $45,000.

_{* Amounts shown represent maximum financial aid available. Certain conditions apply. Subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact sponsoring organizations directly.}

Desired Profile

- Materials and metallurgical engineering
- Civil and Water Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering

Requirements and Conditions

- Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related field, completed or nearing completion.
- Knowledge of infrared thermography and/or heat transfer.
- Experience in experimental research, including instrumentation, data acquisition, or data analysis.
- Knowledge of signal processing and statistical analysis.
- Programming skills in Python, MATLAB, or equivalent.
- Strong autonomy, scientific rigor, and ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.
- Proficiency in either French or English.

Required Documentation

- Lettre de recommandation
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitæ
- Student transcript

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to send a brief email with the requested documents to irma@gci.ulaval.ca. The email subject line must follow this format: “Prospective IRT Doc_Name”.

Application Deadline

January 15, 2027

Find Out More

Sandra Pozzer
Département de génie civil et de génie des eaux
sandra.pozzer@gci.ulaval.ca