Welcome to the Water & Environmental Engineering Research Group
Introduction
The Water and Environmental Engineering Research
Group includes seven tenured full-time academic staff. The
staffing profile reflects the strength of the group,
with 1 Professor, 4 Associate Professors and 2 Senior
Lecturers. The research carried out by this research
group is innovative and covers areas of sustainable
water resources and infrastructure modelling and management
ranging from hydrology to hydraulics, open channels
to pipelines, hidden Markov models to Artificial Neural
Networks and the modelling and management of water
supply infrastructure to that of natural water resources.
Significant achievements and highlights of the group
in the development and application of innovative techniques
for sustainable water resources and infrastructure
modelling and management include:
- Development of Genetic Algorithm optimisation for water distribution system
design (Simpson and Dandy). This has resulted in highly cited publications and
a spin-off company called Optimatics.
- Development of pipeline condition assessment techniques (Simpson and Lambert).
A PhD student in this area was awarded the Lorenz G. Straub Award for the best
hydraulics PhD thesis internationally. This research has produced a substantial
number of publications in top international journals and the research team has
been successful in obtaining multiple discovery and industry linkage ARC grants.
There is considerable commercial potential for this research and the research
group is credited with the development of several new diagnostic techniques.
- Development and application of Artificial Neural Networks in hydrology and
water resources management (Maier and Dandy). A large number of highly cited
and innovative international journal publications have emerged from this group.
ARC Discovery grants and linkage grants have also been obtained.
- Development of innovative techniques for the modelling of bottom roughness
and morphological changes in coastal environments (Walker and Lambert). The work
of one PhD student in this area has recently been published in the prestigious
Journal of Geophysical Research and another PhD student has recently been offered
a Post-doctoral position at Kings College, London.
- A national award, the Warren Medal, was recently awarded to two papers by
Associate Professor Trevor Daniell on innovative research on new thinking in the
development of sustainable systems.
- Development of the non-parametric hidden Markov method to identify climate
states (Lambert and Metcalfe). This novel approach overcomes many of the current
drawbacks with the use of hidden Markov models in climate state identification.
Members of the Water and Environmental Engineering
group currently supervise 23 PhD students. The group
is a solid performer nationally, with a strong publication
record and grant income. The research strengths
of this group are distinctive and unique in Australia.
Internationally we are recognised as a strong research
group in
- The development and application of evolutionary algorithm and artificial neural
network techniques to water and environmental engineering
- Pipe system condition assessment and monitoring using fluid transients
All the academics involved in this group have new
research areas to explore and see a need to
- Improve
our scale and focus in the area of sustainable management
of water resources, such as water re-use, water recycling,
dual reticulation systems, rainwater use, efficient
water use practices, efficient pumping of water, stormwater
treatment and reuse and wetlands. This is a substantial
research growth area.
- Build
additional research capacity in the research areas
of nominated strength using post-doctoral and early
career researchers.
Aims and Objectives
- To
develop and apply innovative techniques for sustainable
water resources and infrastructure modelling and management.
- To
be world leaders in our areas of research.
- To
communicate research findings in high quality books,
journals and appropriate major thematic conferences.
- To
grow the number of research staff and HDR students
in the group.
- To
provide an exciting, world-class research training
environment.
- To
increase the staff profile in identified strategic
and growth areas.
- To
develop strong research collaborations with other researchers
and industry partners.
- To
promote and facilitate the adoption of research outcomes
by industry and the profession.
Group Members
Contact
Water & Environmental Engineering Research Group
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
SA 5005
AUSTRALIA
Email
Tel: +61 8 8303 5451
Fax: +61 8 8303 4359
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