Stella Pytharouli

Dr Pytharouli has a Civil Engineering background and more than 15 years of experience in the monitoring and analysis of structural and ground deformations. Since joining Strathclyde her research has been directed towards two main inter-related research themes: (1) the characterisation of the subsurface and (2) early warning systems for slope instability. The focus has been on the potential of nanoseismics, i.e. the monitoring (using an array of four seismometers) and analysis (based on advanced signal processing techniques) of either weak seismic events (-3 < Magnitude < 3), or just seismic noise, to be used within the remit of the above two research themes.

Her First EPSRC grant (EP/K005812/1) explored the potential of nanoseismics in imaging flow pathways (faults or fractures) in the subsurface. Her second grant (UKCCSRC/EPSRC funded) as a Principal Investigator has been on 3D imaging of large scale flow pathways at a CO₂ injection site (Aquistore, Canada). She is currently leading the microseismic monitoring WP in EPSRC funded Prosperity Partnership Smart Pumps for Subsurface Engineering, with the Weir Advanced Research Centre. In addition, she is continuing her research on slope stability, integrating microseismic monitoring with advanced geodetic monitoring (terrestrial and aerial) and automatic classification algorithms.  She is currently the first supervisor of two PhD students. She is the 2nd year Adviser of Studies for the undergraduate courses offered in the Department and the Departmental Outreach Coordinator. She teaches the undergraduate module of Land Surveying and Mapping and delivers a 1-day course on land surveying principles as part of the post-graduate module Survey, Preliminary studies and Investigations in Architectural Heritage.