Graeme Dandy

Graeme Dandy

School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Graeme Dandy is an Emeritus Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Adelaide. He was employed by the University from 1979 until 2014 and was a Professor from 2000 to 2014. His research interests include the optimization of water resources and environmental systems and the use of artificial neural networks for forecasting water resources variables.

He is also a co-founder, director and technical consultant for Optimatics Pty Ltd., a software and consulting company based in Adelaide. Optimatics has undertaken more than 260 studies into the optimization of water supply and sewerage systems in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand and has saved hundreds of millions of dollars for water utilities and their customers worldwide.

My research interests are in the following fields:

  • Water resources planning and management
  • Optimisation of water resources and environmental systems using evolutionary algorithms
  • Decision support systems for environmental planning and risk management
  • Integrated urban water management
  • Forecasting water resources and environmental variables using artificial neural networks
  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2015 - 2025 Emeritus Professor University of Adelaide
    2000 - 2014 Professor University of Adelaide
    1996 - 2016 Technical Director Optimatics Pty Ltd
    1994 - 2000 Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    1983 - 1994 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    1979 - 1982 Lecturer University of Adelaide
    1976 - 1979 Research Fellow University of Melbourne
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2014 Award Water Professional of the Year Australian Water Association Australia -
    2013 Invitation Keynote speaker at MODSIM 2013 Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia -
    2013 Fellowship Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Australia -
    2013 Award Biennial Medal Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. Australia -
    2013 Award Premiers Water Medal South Australian Branch of the Australian Water Association Australia -
    2013 Award Lifetime achievement award International Conference on Water Resources and Environmental Research Germany -
    2011 Award Best paper award Environmental Modelling and Software Journal, Elsevier Netherlands -
    2010 Award Best presentation award Institution of Engineers Australia Australia -
    2010 Award Chairman's Award of the South Australian Industry Alliance South Australian Water Industry Alliance Australia -
    2009 Award Munro Orator National Committee on Water Engineering of Engineers Australia Australia -
    2007 Fellowship Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Australia -
    2004 Fellowship Fellowship in Environmental Hydraulics University of Hong Kong Hong Kong -
    2000 Fellowship Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Japan -
    1998 Fellowship Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia Institution of Engineers Australia Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1972 - 1976 Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA PhD
    1971 - 1972 University of Melbourne Australia MEng Sc
    1969 - 1970 University of Melbourne Australia BE (Civil Hons)
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2007 Graduate Cetificate of the Institute of Company Directors Australian Institute of Company Directors Australia
    1965 Associate Diploma in Civil Engineering Gordon Institute of Technology Australia

The following table lists research grants of $10,000 or more received solely or in partnership with other researchers:

 

 

Years

 

Amount

 

Funding Source

 

Title of Project

2014-17

$1,160,000

Bushfires and Natural Hazards RC

Decision support system for assessment of policy and planning investment options for optimal natural hazard mitigation

2012-14

$179,267

Goyder Institute

Improved modelling of the catchments and drainage network in the upper south east for management outcomes

2012-14

$189,484

Goyder Institute

Optimal water resources mix for metropolitan Adelaide

2011-15

$501,500

Goyder Institute

Development of an agreed set of climate projections for South Australia

2011-12

$198,058

Goyder Institute

Development and application of a decision support framework for the South East of South Australia

2011-13

$246,000

Goyder Institute

Managed aquifer recharge and urban stormwater

2010-12

$330,000

Water Quality Research Australia

Optimal control of chloramine in water distribution system

2009-12

$258,000

ARC Linkage, DWLBC

Early warning of cyanobacteria blooms in drinking water reservoirs by means of evolutionary algorithms

2006-10

$425,560

eWater CRC

New techniques for modelling, optimisation and decision support

2006-09

$601,187

ARC Linkage, DWLBC SA

Innovative Approach to the Optimal Management of Water Resources and Application to the Upper South East Region of South Australia

2006-07

$95,370

Centre for Natural Resource Management, SA

Sensitivity analysis of models used to predict the effects of policy decisions on salinity levels in the River Murray

2004-06

$312,000

ARC Linkage, MDBC, DWLBC

New approach to sensitivity assessment of complex simulation models for environmental management

2003-04

$130,000

ARC Discovery

New techniques for artificial neural network modelling in hydrology

2003-06

$181,000

CRC for Water Quality and Treatment

Decision support systems to maintain water quality

2003-06

$108,500

CRC for Water Quality and Treatment

Development of tools for improved disinfection control in distribution systems

2002-05

$45,500

CRC for Water Quality and Treatment

Reliability assessment of water quality in distribution systems

2002-05

$35,000

United Water and SA Water

Reliability assessment of water quality in distribution systems

2001

$12,000

ARC

Development of a methodology to optimise the operation of urban water distribution systems.

2000

$14,000

ARC

Development of a methodology for optimising the design and operation of aquifer storage and recovery systems that use streamflow.

2000

$14,000

Australian Academy of Science and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Fellowship to visit Kyoto University and Kyushu University to carry out collaborative research into decision support systems for managing water resources.

1999-2001

$76,500

ARC SPIRT, United Utilities

Forecasting blooms of blue-green algae in the River Murray using artificial neural networks

1998

$12,000

ARC

Development of a general optimisation model for sewage effluent reuse incluing aquifer storage and recovery

1997

$20,000

SA Water

Commercial copy of  ARCVIEW and ARCINFO for research purposes

1997

$12,000

ARC

Development of a comprehensive optimisation model for regional water resources planning including water reuse options

1996-99

$213,351

LWRRDC

An evaluation of the applicability of genetic algorithm technology to flow management of open-channel gravity systems

1996

$15,000

ARC

Optimum design of urban water distribution systems including water quality considerations

1995

$10,000

ARC

Asset replacement strategies for water distribution networks 

1995

$72,010

Murrumbidgee Irrigation

Optimisation of replacement of irrigation channels by pipes using genetic algorithms 

1994

$42,300

EWS

Optimal rehabilitation of irrigation pipe network systems by genetic algorithms 

1991-94

$133,400

ARC

Development of a methodology for optimum pricing and capacity expansion of urban water supply systems

1992-93

$22,100

ARC

Genetic algorithms for optimal expansion of pipe networks 

1990

$32,000

EWS

Investigating the use of expert systems for water treatment plant operations

1990

$36,406

AWRAC & EWS

Reliability - cost trade-offs for multiple reservoir systems

1989

$11,300

URG

Investigating the use of expert systems and knowledge engineering for water treatment plant operations

1988

$32,400

AWRAC & EWS

Evaluating the use of multisite models for flow forecasting

1987

$62,000

AWRAC & EWS

Optimum operating policies for multiple reservoir systems

1986

$13,000

EWS

Low flow analysis of the River Murray using synthetic hydrology

 

Key:                        ARC                        =  Australian Research Council

                                AWRAC                 =  Australian Water Research Advisory Council

                                DWLBC                  =  SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation

                                EWS                        =  Engineering and Water Supply Department of SA (now SA Water)

                                LWRRDC               =  Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation

                                MDBC                    =  Murray Darling Basin Commission

                                URG                       =  University of Adelaide Research Grant

No teaching is being undertaken at the present time.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-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 Co-Supervisor Assessment of Urban Flood Risk by Using AI and Socioeconomic Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohammadreza Hassanvand
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2012 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Optimal Water Allocation and Scheduling for Irrigation Using Ant Colony Algorithms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Duc Cong Hiep Nguyen
    2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Improved Evolutionary Algorithm Optimisation of Water Distribution Systems Using Domain Knowledge Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Weiwei Bi
    2012 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Multiobjective Planning and Design of Distributed Stormwater Harvesting and Treatment Systems through Optimization and Visual Analytics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Michael Di Matteo
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Optimal Sequencing of Water Supply Options Incorporating Sustainability and Uncertainty Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Eva Hooi Ying Beh
    2009 - 2014 Principal Supervisor An adaptive multi-objective framework for the scheduling of environmental flow management alternatives using ant colony optimization Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Joanna Margaret Szemis
    2009 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Frameworks for Assessing and Improving Urban Water Supply Security Planning under Climate Change Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Fiona Paton
    2007 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Impacts of an Altered Water and Salinity Regime on the Condition of Wetlands in the Upper South East of South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Abigail Goodman
    2007 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Fully Integrated Modelling of Surface-Subsurface Flow Processes: Quantifying In-Stream and Overland Flow Generation Mechanisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Partington
    2003 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Water Distribution System Optimization Using Metamodels Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Darren Broad
    2003 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Developing Artificial Neural Network Models for Water Quality Modelling and Prediction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Robert May
    2003 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Genetic Algorithm Parameter Setting for Water Distribution System Optimisation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Matthew Gibbs
    2001 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Monitoring and Modelling Chlorine Levels along the Myponga Trunk Main Master of Engineering Science Master Full Time Miss Lamia Salhane
    1998 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Forecasting Water Resources Variables Using Artificial Neural Networks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Gavin Bowden
    1998 - 2002 Principal Supervisor Development of a Decision Support System for Optimum Selection of Technologies for Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Nirmala Dinesh
    1997 - 2002 Principal Supervisor Development of a Water Management Model for the Evaluation of Streamflow for Aquifer Storage and Recovery Master of Engineering Science Master Part Time Ms Julianne James-Smith

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