ARR Seminars

Published on January 23, 2012 in Engineers Australia and Industry Information. 0 Comments Tags: , .

This announcement is a repost from the AR&R team.

Speaker: Grantley Smith, UNSW Water Research Laboratory (WRL)

Grantley Smith is a Senior Engineer at the University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory. He has over 20 years’ experience in hydrological processes as they relate to flow forecasting floodplain hydraulics, and floodplain management. Prior to joining the WRL in 2009, Grantley was NSW State Manager for DHI Water and Environment where he helped pioneer the use of 2D hydrodynamic models for floodplain inundation. He is currently Chair of the Water Panel for the Sydney Division of Engineers Australia.

Project 15: 2D Modelling in Urban Areas

The presentation will provide an overview of recent research undertaken as part of Project 15 of the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision and funded by the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and WRL. The research project investigated the application of 2D models in urban areas, with a particular focus on the representation of buildings and other floodplain flow obstacles in numerical models.

A PDF flyer is available.

Project 10: People and Vehicle Stability in Floods

This presentation reviews the early work, collates and discusses subsequent experimental testing, empirical expressions and safety guidelines derived from these studies. The entire data-set of relevant experimental results is re-analysed and tolerable flow conditions related to human and vehicle safety and safe working conditions are presented.

A PDF flyer is available.

Perth
Date: Monday, 13 February 2012
Time: 12.00pm
Place: Auditorium Engineers Australia
712 Murray St, West Perth
RSVP: Not Required
Cost: Free

Hobart
Date: Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Time: 12.15pm (light lunch provided)
12.30pm to 2.00pm Seminar
Place: Old Woolstore Theatrette
1 Macquarie Street, Hobart
RSVP: To Catherine Reading 6234 2228 or HIDDEN EMAIL by no later than
Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Brisbane and Melbourne Seminar dates to be advised

7th International Conference on WSUD

Published on January 17, 2012 in Conferences and Industry Information. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The final annoucements and details are going around for the 7th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design but as its scheduled for the 21-23 February 2012 you’d better check it out quickly.

Understanding the nexus between sustainable urban water management and the vitality, liveability and prosperity of urban communities is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st Century. Many urban communities are now faced with rising temperatures, longer and more severe droughts, more frequent and devastating floods and increased levels of water borne pollutants; all of which diminish the liveability of our urban areas and degrade our natural environments.

Our cities and communities need to become water sensitive; where water is managed within our urban areas to provide maximum value for a range of functions and users, including the natural environment. A water sensitive city is resilient and is able to cope with extended periods of drought and intense rainfall. A water sensitive community appreciates the scarcity and value of potable water supplies and supports the use of other water sources to enhance amenity, minimise heat island effects and improve their quality of life.

Building a water sensitive community cannot be achieved with traditional urban water management approaches alone. To meet to this challenge, an integrated approach is necessary; we should strive to effectively link the myriad design and implementation cultures of the different disciplines involved in urban water management.

2012 Darcey Lecture: Confirmed for February 23

Published on December 15, 2011 in General Information and IAH. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The Panel is pleased to announce that, once again, it is co-hosting the travelling Darcy Lecture Series with the NSW Branch of the IAH. The date of the presention is set for Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Sydney City with the final venue details to be confirmed closer to the event.

This year’s lecture will be given by S. Majid Hassanizadeh, Ph.D professor of hydrogeology, Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University and will talk on either “Capillarity in Porous Media, on Micro- and Macroscale, Revisited” or “Transport of Viruses in Partially Saturated Soil and Groundwater”.
Continue reading ’2012 Darcey Lecture: Confirmed for February 23′

MDBA Has Released the Draft Plan for Comment

Published on November 28, 2011 in General Information. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority last night released its draft plan for comment, which is available at:

http://www.mdba.gov.au/draft-basin-plan/draft-basin-plan-for-consultation

WSRG: Stormwater Harvesting, Reuse and Water Strategy

Published on November 22, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Western Sydney Regional Group of EA is running a technical presentation that may be of interest to members of this list. It is titled: Stormwater Harvesting, Reuse and Water Strategy and will be given at the University of Western Sydney (Kingswood Campus), 2pm to 5pm on 30th November 2011. A map of the venue, together with full details, is available in PDF format.

There will be two speakers, namely:

  1. Mr. Geoff Douglas, Project Manager CBD Works Willoughby City Councils
  2. Dr. Bhakti Devi, Manager – Water Strategy, City of Sydney Council

Who will speak on:

(1) Chatswood Integrated Stormwater Management Scheme
Chatswood Integrated Stormwater Management Scheme was developed for a number of reasons including leading the community in water savings, reducing the impact of flooding, to provide a source of non potable water for local businesses, and in providing a possible first step in a council vision for a non-potable ring main around Chatswood. This project has major local and global significance in proving that significant potable water savings can be made by using available stormwater for office building and other business needs.

(2) City of Sydney Water Strategy
City of Sydney is currently developing a water strategy which is comprehensive in scope and scale. The strategy is therefore called Decentralised Water Master Plan. The master plan aims to identify all opportunities that exist within City of Sydney council area for improving water efficiency, improving stormwater quality and increasing the use of recycled water. Dr Devi’s presentation will provide the context and an overview of the master plan. It will also cover the baseline mapping which forms its foundation and the opportunities that can be seen emerging from it.

Panel AGM Confirmed for Ventuno, Hickson Road Walsh Bay

Published on November 4, 2011 in Panel Event. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The Sydney Division Water Engineering Panel is please to confirm that its Annual General Meeting will be held at:

Ventuno
Hickson Road Walsh Bay
Evening
6th December 2011

Reservations are essential for this venue.


View Larger Map

November Presentation: Downscaling Climate Projections for Impact and Adaptation Applications in NSW

Published on November 4, 2011 in Panel Event. 4 Comments Tags: , , .

The November presentation of the Sydney Division Water Engineering Panel has been confirmed for the 22nd November 2011, 5:30 for a 6pm start with light refreshments and alcoholic and non-alcohoic beverages available. The presentation is titled Downscaling Climate Projections for Impact and Adaptation Applications in NSW and will be given by Dr Jason Evans of the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre.

The abstract for the presentation is:

Ongoing climate change means that the historical record is no longer sufficient information for future infrastructure planning across multiple sectors. Climate projection information is derived primarily from Global Climate Models that operate at large spatial scales (100s km) that are inappropriate for most impact and adaptation work. Downscaling this information to an appropriate scale can be done using either “statistical” or “dynamical” approaches. In collaboration with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the UNSW Climate Change Research Centre is producing dynamically downscaled climate projections as part of the NSW/ACT Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) project. This presentation will discuss downscaled climate projections, in particular the NARCliM project and its relevance for future water engineering across multiple scales.

NARCliM is producing climate projections over south-eastern Australia at ~10km spatial resolution, and one to three hourly temporal resolution. In addition to the usual climate variables, NARCliM will be tracking sub-daily precipitation and wind gust extremes down to the maximum 5 minute events. NARCliM outputs cover a wide range of climate variables relevant across many sectors and will provide a basis of climate projection information at scales appropriate for activities ranging from urban flood hydrology up to large water resource reservoirs.

A PDF printable flyer for the event is also available.

2D Modelling In Urban Areas – September Presentation

Published on September 14, 2011 in Panel Event. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The September Water Panel presentation is titled 2D Modelling In Urban Areas and will be presented by Grantly Smith, senior Engineer at the UNSW Water Research Laboratory. The presentation will be held at the Chatswood Engineers Australia Auditorium on 27th September 2011, 5:30pm for 6pm start. Drinks and nibbles will be available prior to the event. The abstract of the talk is:

Flood events in Newcastle in June 2007 and most recently in South East Queensland’s Lockyer Valley in January 2011 have highlighted the importance of robust planning guidelines and building stability criteria for floodplains. These floods have also highlighted a requirement for accurate representation of flood hazard behaviour to support land use and flood evacuation planning documentation.
Currently, two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic (numerical) models have become the de-facto standard for baseline flood planning and management, especially in urban areas. Investigations addressing flood behaviour definition have typically followed a scope devised and refined over many years by government agencies to meet statutory requirements. However, the development, application and calibration of numerical models is open to considerable interpretation.

Individual agencies and the specialist consultants servicing these agencies have developed various techniques and methods to address overland flooding using 2D numerical models. However, in many instances, these methods are quite different and produce significantly different outcomes in terms of the generated flood behaviour characteristics.

The presentation will provide an overview of recent research undertaken as part of Project 15 of the Australian Rainfall and Runoff Revision and funded by the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and WRL. The research project investigated the application of 2D models in urban areas, with a particular focus on the representation of buildings and other floodplain obstacles flow obstacles in numerical models.

A PDF Flyer with all the details is also available.

Understanding Floods Q&A

Published on August 1, 2011 in General Information. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Queensland’s Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett, release a short while back a report Understanding Floods: Questions and Answers which attempts to explain the key scientific and engineering concepts of floods to the community. It appears to have had extensive input from scientific and engineering professionals and could be well worth a look. It is available as a PDF download from the Chief Scientists website at: http://www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/publications/understanding-floods.aspx.

From the media release:

Understanding Floods: Questions and Answers (UFQA) explains fundamental scientific and engineering concepts regarding floods, in clear and simple language. It provides balanced and authoritative information within the current state of knowledge, and focuses on three key themes: floods and their consequences; flood forecasts and warnings; and managing floods. It was written by the Queensland Floods Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Panel, convened by the Queensland Chief Scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett, AO. The SET panel includes 25 Australian and international specialists with expertise across the range of flood-related disciplines. UFQA was developed in support of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, to build capacity and understanding of floods in general. UFQA will also educate our leaders, the media and the Queensland community at large on the complex, inter-relational factors impacting on floods. UFQA will facilitate informed decisions to help shape the way in which we can plan for and mitigate our level of flood related risk now, and in the future.

IAH Groundwater Symposium: Uncertainty in Hydrogeology

Published on August 1, 2011 in Conferences and IAH. 0 Comments Tags: , .

This is cross-posting is an announcement for the IAH Groundwater Symposium – Uncertainty in Hydrogeology – to be held at Dockside, (Sydney CBD) on 5-6 September 2011.

There is a reciprocal arrangement with a discount for EA members.

The announcement flyer is available and the conference website contains more information.