Student Assistant / Master Thesis - GIS-Based High-Resolution Urban Mapping

• Run urban climate simulations using the mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and/or the Standalone Urban Energy/Climate Model (SUECM) for test sites Berlin, Barcelona, and Montreal.
• Utilize UMEP plugins in QGIS or Python-Implementations to generate high-resolution maps of Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) and solar potential.
• Develop standardized data exchange protocols between simulation outputs and GIS-ready spatial formats.
• Integrate WRF/SUECM data with the UMEP plugins to assess pedestrian thermal comfort in complex urban geometries.
• Conduct sensitivity analyses on how urban geometry affects thermal comfort.

What you contribute

• Enrollment in Geoinformatics, Urban Planning, Environmental Engineering, Meteorology, Building Physics or similar disciplines.
• Proficiency in QGIS and the UMEP toolset (or a strong willingness to learn).
• Experience with Python, particularly for processing geospatial and raster data (or a strong willingness to learn).
• Understanding of urban biometeorology (PET/UTCI) and energy balance principles.
• Ability to work independently on complex data integration tasks.

What we offer

• A research-focused role (6-12 months, or longer) contributing to an international project.
• Hands-on experience with cutting-edge GIS tools for urban climate resilience.
• Supervision from experts in urban physics, meteorology and geoinformatics.
• Access to a collaborative platform linking Fraunhofer IBP in Germany and Concordia University in Canada.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (www.fraunhofer.com) is one of the world’s leading organizations for application-oriented research. 74 institutes develop pioneering technologies for our economy and society - more precisely: 30 000 people from technology, science, administration and IT. They know: Anyone who comes to Fraunhofer wants to and can make a difference. For themselves, for us and for the markets of today and tomorrow.