Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle - Detecting and analysing awkward postures using wearable sensors

Location

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus (Australia) and Coventry University (United Kingdom)

Research topic

This is a doctoral cotutelle project between Deakin University (Australia) and Coventry University (United Kingdom).

The successful PhD Student will be awarded a scholarship from Coventry University with the supervision team being drawn from Deakin University and Coventry University. The PhD Student will graduate with two testamurs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program. The program is for a duration of 3.5 years and scheduled to commence in September 2023.

The PhD Student is anticipated to spend up to 12 months of the total period of the program at Deakin University, with the remainder of the program based at Coventry University.

The project aims to use wearable sensors to detect and analyse awkward postures in construction workers. This will aid to control the risk of musculoskeletal disorders as one of the most significant risks affecting the construction sector. The final aim of the project is a dynamic and non-invasive method for monitoring and controlling the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in near real-time.

Project aim

Construction industry has one of the highest rates of work-related injury or illness. In Australia and UK, the construction industry has the third-highest fatality rate of any industry (Safe Work Australia, 2020; Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2021). The construction fatality rate in 2020 was higher than the 5-year average in both countries. This indicates that the industry has reached saturation with respect to the traditional injury prevention strategies and new safety innovations are needed. Wearable sensors can provide a viable innovative technology to improve workplace health and safety in the construction sector. This research aims to adopt wearable sensors to manage the risk of musculoskeletal disorders as one of the most significant risks affecting construction sector in Australia and UK. The aim is a dynamic and non-invasive method to detect and analyse awkward postures in near real-time and control the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

The PhD research aims to adopt wearable sensors/accelerometers to detect and analyse awkward postures and control the risk of musculoskeletal disorders as the most significant illness in the Australian and UK construction sector. The aim is a dynamic and non-invasive method for monitoring and controlling the risk in near real-time.

The research will address the below questions:

Can we develop an ergonomic hazard assessment model using wearable sensors/accelerometers which would be best suited to the context of construction work, and can outperform the existing models?
Can we develop an On-site real-time alert system to prevent the negative consequences of ergonomic hazards?

The objectives of this study are as follow:

Develop a real-time motion capture system using wearable sensors/accelerometers that enable workers' self-awareness of ergonomically hazardous operational patterns using accelerometers for different construction activities
Develop an automatic risk postures assessment and real-time warning system
Develop an alert system to send customized alerts to workers exposed to an unacceptable level of risk

Important dates

Applications close 5pm, Saturday 27 May 2023

Please be aware that screening for this advert will commence immediately and the scholarship may be awarded prior to the closing date.

Benefits

This scholarship is supported by Coventry University, is available over 3.5 years and includes:

Stipend of £17,000 per annum
A Tuition Fee Waiver
Travel Support Package including one return economy airfare to Deakin University to support residency period in Australia
Student visa and health insurance costs for period of residency at Deakin University in Australia

Deakin University will also provide a full tuition fee waiver for a duration of up to 4 years.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you must:

meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Coventry university, including English language proficiency requirements
be enrolling full time
be able to physically locate to both Coventry University (UK) and Deakin University (Australia)

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page and Coventry’s research entry criteria page for further information.

How to apply

Applicants should firstly contact Dr Farnad Nasirzadeh or Dr Chandan Karmakar to discuss the project. After discussing your application with the Deakin Supervisor, you will be required to submit an Expression of interest directly with the relevant Faculty.

If successful, you will be invited by Deakin University to lodge a formal HDR application to Deakin.

The successful applicant will also be required to lodge a separate PhD application to Coventry University via the Coventry University application page.

Please be aware that screening for this advert will commence immediately and the scholarship may be awarded prior to the closing date.