Environmental Sensing & Inverse Problems

Open-Source Root-ERT Modeling Pipeline

Modular, reproducible framework for root-soil electrical modeling: from root architecture generation (C-Rootbox) through water uptake (R-SWMS) to 3D FEM electrical simulation (PyGIMLi/Gmsh).

Period: 2016–2020
Where: UCLouvain — PhD Research
Role: PhD Researcher & Software Developer
Methods: Python/C++, FEM/Gmsh, HPC/Parallel Computing

Objective: Create reproducible, modular framework for root-soil electrical modeling.

Full Pipeline:

Root Architecture (C-Rootbox)
        ↓
Water Uptake (R-SWMS)
        ↓
3D Mesh Generation (Gmsh + Python)
        ↓
Electrical Forward Model (PyGIMLi)
        ↓
ERT Inversion & Analysis
        ↓
Visualization (ParaView, Matplotlib)

Key Features:

Automatic mesh generation from root architectures
Coupled hydro-electrical data exchange
Scalable from rhizotron to field
HPC-ready parallelization

Open Science Contribution:

Shared datasets for benchmarking
Contributed code to PyGIMLi community
Trained 5+ students in framework usage

Repository: Available for collaboration (contact for details)