Aaron Zecchin

Dr Aaron Zecchin

Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences

School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering

Research Interests

I have a strong interest and passion for research in the field of fluid line network dynamics. I am actively undertaking research in the development and analysis of partial differential equation solvers, and the analysis of two-dimensional and fluid-structure interaction effects within pipe flow. I research Laplace-domain characterisations of hydraulic networks, and the utilisation of these characterisations for simulation and model identification. I am also working on the use of sparse linear solvers for the fast steady-state simulation of pipe networks.

I  work in the broad area of system identification, and I am active in its theoretical and practical application to the condition assessment of hydraulic systems. In particular, I have focused on the use of statistical frequency- and time-domain methods for both parameter estimation and fault detection within pipeline networks.

 In addition to the areas mentioned above, I also have an active interest in evolutionary algorithms, or more generally, population-based metaheuristics such as genetic algorithms, ant colony optimisation, particle swarm optimisation, differential evolution and the dynamically dimensioned search algorithm Within this field, my interest is in not only the application of these algorithms to engineering and environmental problems, but also the analysis and quantification of the convergence behaviour of such algorithms.

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2015 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2015). Improving the efficiency of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms through decomposition: An application to water distribution network design. Environmental Modelling & Software, 69, 240-252.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS28
    2014 Li, X., Zecchin, A., & Maier, H. (2014). Selection of smoothing parameter estimators for general regression neural networks - applications to hydrological and water resources modelling. Environmental Modelling & Software, 59, 162-186.
    DOI Scopus52 WoS45
    2014 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2014). An efficient hybrid approach for multiobjective optimization of water distribution systems. Water Resources Research, 50(5), 3650-3671.
    DOI Scopus38 WoS33
    2014 Marchi, A., Salomons, E., Ostfeld, A., Kapelan, Z., Simpson, A., Zecchin, A., . . . Asadzadeh, M. (2014). The Battle of the Water Networks II (BWN-II). Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 140(7), 04014009:1-04014009:14.
    DOI Scopus124 WoS88
    2014 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2014). Coupled binary linear programming–differential evolution algorithm approach for water distribution system optimization. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 140(5), 585-597.
    DOI Scopus31 WoS26
    2014 Gong, J., Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., & Lambert, M. (2014). Frequency response diagram for pipeline leak detection: comparing the odd and the even harmonics. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 140(1), 65-74.
    DOI Scopus47 WoS36
    2014 Gong, J., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2014). Detection of localized deterioration distributed along single pipelines by reconstructive MOC analysis. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(2), 190-198.
    DOI Scopus64 WoS47
    2014 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & White, L. (2014). Parameter identification in pipeline networks: transient-based expectation-maximization approach for systems containing unknown boundary conditions. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(6), 04014020-1-04014020-12.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS17
    2014 Zheng, F., & Zecchin, A. (2014). An efficient decomposition and dual-stage multi-objective optimization method for water distribution systems with multiple supply sources. Environmental Modelling & Software, 55, 143-155.
    DOI Scopus52 WoS46
    2014 Zheng, F., Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., & Lambert, M. (2014). Noncrossover dither creeping mutation-based genetic algorithm for pipe network optimization. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 140(4), 553-557.
    DOI Scopus14 WoS11
    2013 Gong, J., Simpson, A., Lambert, M., & Zecchin, A. (2013). Determination of the linear frequency response of single pipelines using persistent transient excitation: a numerical investigation. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 51(6), 728-734.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS6
    2013 Lee, P., Duan, H., Vitkovsky, J., Zecchin, A., & Ghidaoui, M. (2013). The effect of time-frequency discretization on the accuracy of the transmission line modelling of fluid transients. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 51(3), 273-283.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS7
    2013 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., Zecchin, A., & Deuerlein, J. (2013). A graph decomposition-based approach for water distribution network optimization. Water Resources Research, 49(4), 2093-2109.
    DOI Scopus43 WoS32
    2013 Gong, J., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2013). Single-event leak detection in pipeline using first three resonant responses. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 139(6), 645-655.
    DOI Scopus74 WoS63
    2013 Zecchin, A., White, L., Lambert, M., & Simpson, A. (2013). Parameter identification of fluid line networks by frequency-domain maximum likelihood estimation. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 37(1-2), 370-387.
    DOI Scopus52 WoS46
    2013 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2013). A decomposition and multistage optimization approach applied to the optimization of water distribution systems with multiple supply sources. Water Resources Research, 49(1), 380-399.
    DOI Scopus41 WoS36
    2013 Zheng, F., Zecchin, A., & Simpson, A. (2013). Self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm applied to water distribution system optimization. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 27(2), 148-158.
    DOI Scopus81 WoS68
    2013 Gong, J., Simpson, A., Lambert, M., Zecchin, A., Kim, Y., & Tijsseling, A. (2013). Detection of distributed deterioration in single pipes using transient reflections. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 4(1), 32-40.
    DOI Scopus61 WoS48
    2012 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., & Simpson, A. (2012). Inverse laplace transform for transient-state fluid line network simulation. Journal of Engineering Mechanics-ASCE, 138(1), 101-115.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS7
    2012 Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., Maier, H., Marchi, A., & Nixon, J. (2012). Improved understanding of the searching behavior of ant colony optimization algorithms applied to the water distribution design problem. Water Resources Research, 48(9), 1-16.
    DOI Scopus40 WoS35
    2012 Zecchin, A., Thum, P., Simpson, A., & Tischendorf, C. (2012). Steady-state behavior of large water distribution systems: Algebraic multigrid method for the fast solution of the linear step. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 138(6), 639-650.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS17
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). Dynamically expanding choice-table approach to genetic algorithm optimization of water distribution systems. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 137(6), 547-551.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS9
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). A combined NLP-differential evolution algorithm approach for the optimization of looped water distribution systems. Water Resources Research, 47(8), W08531-1-W08531-18.
    DOI Scopus115 WoS87
    2011 Vitkovsky, J., Lee, P., Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., & Lambert, M. (2011). Head- and flow-based formulations for frequency domain analysis of fluid transients in arbitrary pipe networks. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 137(5), 556-568.
    DOI Scopus34 WoS27
    2010 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & White, L. (2010). Frequency-domain modeling of transients in pipe networks with compound nodes using a Laplace-domain admittance matrix. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 136(10), 739-755.
    DOI Scopus25 WoS22
    2009 Tolson, B., Asadzadeh, M., Maier, H., & Zecchin, A. (2009). Hybrid discrete dynamically dimensioned search (HD-DDS) algorithm for water distribution system design optimization. Water Resources Research, 45(12), 1-15.
    DOI Scopus113 WoS88
    2009 Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., Lambert, M., White, L., & Vitkovsky, J. (2009). Transient Modeling of Arbitrary Pipe Networks by a Laplace-Domain Admittance Matrix. Journal of Engineering Mechanics-ASCE, 135(6), 538-547.
    DOI Scopus37 WoS27
    2007 Zecchin, A., Maier, H., Simpson, A., Leonard, M., & Nixon, J. (2007). Ant colony optimization applied to water distribution system design: Comparative study of five algorithms. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 133(1), 87-92.
    DOI Scopus109 WoS85
    2006 Maier, H., Zecchin, A., Radbone, L., & Goonan, P. (2006). Optimising the mutual information of ecological data clusters using evolutionary algorithms. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 44(5-6), 439-450.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS10
    2006 Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., Maier, H., Leonard, M., Roberts, A., & Berrisford, M. (2006). Application of two ant colony optimisation algorithms to water distribution system optimisation. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 44(5-6), 451-468.
    DOI Scopus160 WoS114
    2005 Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., Maier, H., & Nixon, J. (2005). Parametric study for an ant algorithm applied to water distribution system optimization. IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, 9(2), 175-191.
    DOI Scopus157 WoS127
    2003 Maier, H., Simpson, A., Zecchin, A., Foong, W., Phang, K., Seah, H., & Tan, C. (2003). Ant colony optimization for design of water distribution systems. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 129(3), 200-209.
    DOI Scopus441 WoS323

  • Book Chapters
    Year Citation
    2007 Zecchin, A., Maier, H., & Simpson, A. (2007). Case study based convergence behaviour analysis of ACO applied to optimal design of water distribution systems. In F. Chan, & M. Tiwari (Eds.), Swarm Intelligence: Focus on Ant and Particle Swarm Optimization (pp. 419-446). Vienna, Austria: I-Tech Education & Publishing.

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2012 Gong, J., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2012). Distributed deterioration detection in single pipes using the impulse response function. In Proceedings 14th Water Distribution Systems Analysis Conference Vol. 1 (pp. 702-719). Adelaide, SA: Engineers Australia.
    Scopus5
    2012 Gong, J., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2012). Distributed deterioration detection in single pipelines using transient measurements from pressure transducer pairs. In Proceedings of the11th International Conferences on Pressure Surges (pp. 127-140). UK: BHR Group.
    Scopus6
    2012 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2012). A performance comparison of differential evolution and genetic algorithm variants applied to water distribution system optimization. In World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012: Crossing Boundaries, Proceedings of the 2012 Congress (pp. 2954-2963). Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus14
    2012 Zheng, F., Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., & Keall, D. (2012). A performance comparison between genetic algorithms and differential evolution variants for water network optimisation. In WDSA 2012: 14th Water Distribution Systems Analysis Conference, 24-27 September 2012 in Adelaide, South Australia Vol. 2 (pp. 956-965). Adelaide, Australia: Engineers Australia.
    2012 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2012). A new NLP-DE hybrid optimisation model for water distribution system optimisation. In 14th Water Distribution Systems Analysis Conference Vol. 1 (pp. 66-76). Barton, A.C.T.: Engineers Australia.
    Scopus1
    2012 Gong, J., Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., & Simpson, A. (2012). Signal separation for transient wave reflections in single pipelines using inverse filters. In World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012: Crossing Boundaries (pp. 3275-3284). Albuquerque, New Mexico: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus3
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). Performance study of differential evolution with various mutation strategies applied to water distribution system optimization. In World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (2011 : Palm Springs, California, USA) (pp. 166-176). USA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus12
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). Optimal rehabilitation for large water distribution systems using genetic algorithms. In OzWater 2011 Conference Proceedings (pp. 1-11). Adelaide, SA: Australian Water Association.
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). Parametric analysis of differential evolution algorithm applied to water distribution system optimization. In Proceedings of Computing and Control for the Water Industry 2011 Vol. 3 (pp. 1-6). United Kingdom.
    Scopus5
    2011 Gong, J., Lambert, M., Zecchin, A., & Simpson, A. (2011). Frequency response measurement of pipelines by using inverse-repeat binary sequences. In Proceedings of Computing and Control for the Water Industry 2011 Vol. 3 (pp. 1-6). United Kingdom.
    Scopus3
    2011 Zecchin, A., & Lee, P. (2011). Sufficient conditions for the passivity of numerical unsteady friction operators for transient pipe flow. In Proceedings of the 34th IAHR World Congress (pp. 1-9). Australia: Engineers Australia.
    2011 Zheng, F., Simpson, A., & Zecchin, A. (2011). A method for assessing the performance of genetic algorithm optimization for water distribution design. In Water Distribution Systems Analysis 2010 (pp. 771-785). Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus4
    2009 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., & Simpson, A. (2009). Damage detection of operating transmission mains with measured boundary conditions. In S. Starrett (Ed.), World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009 Vol. 342 (pp. 1-11). Kansas City, Missouri: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI
    2009 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & Arbon, N. (2009). Numerically efficient transient-state model for a pipeline based on the Fourier-Crump inverse Laplace transform. In 33rd IAHR Congress: Water Engineering for a Sustainable Environment (pp. 6066-6073). Vancouver, British Columbia: International Association of Hydraulic Engineering & Research.
    2008 Zecchin, A., Simpson, A., & Lambert, M. (2008). Von Neumann stability analysis of a method of characteristics visco-elastic pipeline model. In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Pressure Surges (pp. 333-347). CD: BHR Group.
    Scopus2
    2008 Tolson, B., Esfahani, M., Zecchin, A., & Maier, H. (2008). A new algorithm for water distribution system optimization: Discrete dynamically dimensioned search. In Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008 Vol. 316 (pp. 1-10). CD: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus2
    2006 Zecchin, A., Lambert, M., Simpson, A., & White, L. (2006). Laplace-domain comparison of linear models of a reservoir-pipe-valve system with a leak. In 8th Annual Water Distribution Systems Analysis Symposium 2006 (pp. 1-100). 1801 Alexander Bell Dr., Reston, VA 20191: American Society of Civil Engineers.
    DOI Scopus3
    2005 Zecchin, A., White, L., Lambert, M., & Simpson, A. (2005). Frequency-domain hypothesis testing approach to leak detection in a single fluid line. In S. Dragan (Ed.), Proceedings of the eighth International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry CCWI 2005: Water Management for the 21st Century Vol. 1 (pp. 149-154). Exeter, UK: University of Exeter, Centre for Water Systems.
    Scopus3
    2004 Leonard, M., Maier, H., Simpson, A., Zecchin, A., Roberts, A., Berrisford, M., & Nixon, J. (2004). Hydraulic risk assessment of water distribution systems. In H. Chanson, & J. Macintosh (Eds.), Proceedings of the 8th National Conference on Hydraulics in Water Engineering 2004 (pp. CD-ROM 1-CD-ROM 8). CD-ROM: The Institution of Engineers Australia.
    2003 Zecchin, A., Maier, H., Simpson, A., Roberts, A., Berrisford, M., & Leonard, M. (2003). Max-min ant system applied to water distribution system optimisation. In D. Post (Ed.), Integrative modelling of biophysical, social, and economic systems for resource management solutions (pp. 795-800). IAS, ANU, Canberra: The Modelling and Simulation Soc of Aust and NZ Inc.
    WoS19
Large Research Grants
Project Title Funding Body Years Amount
High-resolution pipeline condition assessment using hydraulic transients Australian Research Council (Discovery Project) 2017 - 2019 $499,000
Improved decision support for natural hazard risk reduction Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre 2017 - 2020 $880,000
Cost Effective Pipeline Condition Assessment Using Paired Pressure Sensor Arrays Australian Research Council (Discovery Project) 2014 - 2017 $430,000
Decision support system for assessment of policy & planning investment options for optimal natural hazard mitigation Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre 2014 - 2017 $1,055,000
Combining transient micro-reflections and multi-sensor arrays for condition assessment of buried pipes Australian Research Council (Linkage Project) 2013 - 2016 $285,000

 

  • C&ENVENG 4018 (7018) Environmental Systems Dynamics (previously Environmental Engineering and Design IVA)
  • C&ENVENG 3079 (7079) Water Engineering and Design III
  • C&ENVENG 2071 Water Engineering II

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Integrated Data-Driven Prediction Modeling Technique to Forecast Water Resources Variables under climate change conditions for Sustainable Water and Environmental Management Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Maedeh Enayati
    2023 Principal Supervisor A Comprehensive Elastic Water Column Model for Water Distribution System Analysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Morteza Imani
    2023 Principal Supervisor Assessment of Urban Flood Risk by Using AI and Socioeconomic Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohammadreza Hassanvand
    2021 Co-Supervisor Network Calming for Enhancing Pipe Condition using Smart Sensors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Valerie Alexandra Anna Berta Satzinger
    2021 Co-Supervisor Quantitative Framework to Enable the Sustainable Renewable Energy Transition Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jing Tian
    2021 Co-Supervisor System Risk Modelling in Critical Water Infrastructure - Decision Support for Assessing and Mitigating Cyber Threats. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Cael James Angus Keenan
    2021 Co-Supervisor An integrated modelling approach for the planning of collaborative and adaptive wildfire risk-reduction activities Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Douglas Arthur Gordon Radford

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor A coupled approach to regional flood and land-use modelling to determine the impact of land-use-change and mitigation strategies on flood risk reduction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Eike Michael Hamers
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Understanding the Problem Structure of Optimisation Problems in Water Resources Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Siwei Zhu
    2016 - 2021 Principal Supervisor A Systematic Investigation of Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms Applied to the Water Distribution System Problem Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Peng Wang
    2014 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Pipe Wall Condition Assessment and Leak Detection using Paired Pressure Sensors with Hydraulic Transient Analysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms He Shi
    2014 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Foresight for Risk - Using Scenarios for Strategic Risk Assessment and Management of Emergent Disaster Risk Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Graeme Angus Riddell
    2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Condition Assessment for Water Distribution Pipelines Using Inverse Transient Analysis and the Reconstructive Method of Characteristics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Chi Zhang
    2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Developing a (Semi) Automatic Calibration Procedure for Cellular Automata Based Land-use Models Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Charles Peter Newland
    2011 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Improving Partial Mutual Information Based Input Variable Selection for Data Driven Environmental and Water Resources Models Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Xuyuan Yuan Li
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Leak Detection and Condition Assessment for Water Distribution Pipelines using Fluid Transient Waves Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jinzhe Gong
    2010 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Advanced Hybrid Approaches Based on Graph Theory Decomposition Modified Evolutionary Algorithms and Deterministic Optimisation Techniques for the Design of Water Distribution Systems Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Feifei Zheng
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83133027
  • Email: aaron.zecchin@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134359
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering North, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Environmental Engineering
Connect With Me
External Profiles