School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Annual Report 2010
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Annual Report 2010 Never Stand Still Faculty of Engineering ©2011 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA A very warm thank you to our co-funders of Academic Positions: Address School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (H20) Mr Gary Johnston for the The University of New South Wales UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 Gary Johnston Chair of Water AUSTRALIA Management Enquiries T +61 (0)2 9385 5033 F +61 (0)2 9385 6139 E [email protected] W http://www.civeng.unsw.edu.au/ Project Coordinator & Editor Mary O’Connell With grateful thanks to providers of text, statistics, stories and images including: Ian Acworth, Martin Andersen, Mario Attard, Cecilia Azcurra, Anna Blacka, Kate Brown, Helena Brusic, Ron Cox, Irene Calaizis, Kurt Douglas, Mike Gal, Ian Gilbert, Paul Gwynne, Karenne Irvine, Nasser Khalili, Ian McIntyre, Donald Macleod, Matt McCabe, Brett Miller, Melissa Mole, Stephen Moore, Elliot Nuberg, Bill Peirson, Tamara Rouse, Adrian Russell, Chongmin Song, Robert Steel, Richard Stuetz, Wendy Timms, Trisha Tesoriero, Ian Turner, Zora Vrcelj, David Waite and Betty Grateful thanks to our School Industry Partners: Wong. Graphic Design (Print and Online Versions) Heléna Brusic� P3 Design Studio F23 Mathews Building, UNSW http://www.p3.unsw.edu.au Ref No.47630 Printing Carillion Graphics Photography Cover image supplied by Dr Kurt Douglas. Also photos on p53, 56, 65, 94 Grateful thanks to Anna Blacka of WRL for photos on p26, 88, 92: Kate Brown for p8: Helena Brusic p4: CEVSOC for pp65-67; CIES for photos on p84, 86; CWI for photos on p81, 83: Em Prof Robin Fell p12, Emeritus Professor Mike Gal for his beautiful work – photos on p6,10, 21, 27, 34, 48,50, 51 (left pic), 76, 82,87,89, 91: and dear Jon Lee for History Booklaunch pics, p20, 94. Other images generously provided by: Biomimetics Group p16; Evans & Peck p69; Bridge to Bay Alliance (Inner West Busway Project) p54, UNSW Archives p93. Special thanks to our School Industry Supporters: Text Paper Stock: Spicers Tudor RP 100% Recycled 115gsm, Certifi ed Carbon Neutral, with percentage of all profi t going towards Landcare Australia and the restoration and replanting of landfi ll sites throughout Australia. Finish: CYMK + PMS 877. Gloss varnish throughout. Cover Paper Stock: Spicers Monza Satin Recyled 300gsm Finish: OC CYMK + PMS 877, Matt celloglaze, IC CYMK Gloss varnish Annual Report Contents THE SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2010 THE BIG PICTURE OUR PEOPLE OUR RESEARCH THE BIG PICTURE ........................................ 4 TEACHING AND LEARNING .......................... 53 TEACHING AND LEARNING Foreword from the Head of School .................. 6 Teaching & Learning Overview ....................... 54 INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY Profi le ......................................................... 7 Postgraduate Coursework Studies ................... 57 OUR RESEARCH CENTRES OUR HISTORY The School Management Group ...................... 8 Undergraduate Studies .................................. 58 PAGE 3 Overview of School 2010 ............................... 9 Undergraduate Student Awards and Prizes ....... 60 Highlights 2010 ............................................ 11 Year 4 Honours Theses Topics ........................ 62 OUR PEOPLE .............................................. 21 Student Prize Winners ................................... 64 Welcome New Staff ...................................... 22 Year 4 in Photos 2010 ................................... 65 Staff 2010 ................................................... 23 The Civil and Environmental Engineering Professional and Technical Staff ...................... 26 Society CEVSOC ........................................... 66 Research, Adjunct & Visiting Academic Staff ..... 27 School Teaching And Learning Facilities .......... 68 Centres and Research Staff ............................ 28 INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY ........................ 69 Ex Head of School Retires ............................. 30 Industry Advisory Committee ......................... 70 Farewell and thank you also to... .................... 30 Primary Maths Prize and Year 10 Bus Tour ....... 73 In Memory .................................................. 31 External Relations ......................................... 76 Level 3 Workplace Safety Committee ............... 32 Alumni ........................................................ 77 OUR RESEARCH .......................................... 33 Staff Industry & Community Engagement ........ 78 Research Management .................................. 34 Industry Reports .......................................... 80 Grants ........................................................ 35 OUR RESEARCH CENTRES ............................. 81 2010 Publications ......................................... 40 Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Settlements and Research Students 2010 ................................ 47 Infrastructure .............................................. 82 Civil and Environmental Engineering Connected Waters Initiative ........................... 83 Research Student Association ......................... 50 Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and School Research Facilities .............................. 51 Safety ......................................................... 84 UNSW Water Research Centre ....................... 88 OUR HISTORY ............................................. 93 the big picture Our mission is to develop well-educated graduates with the essential skills, attributes and knowledge that will enable them to practice as professional civil or environmental engineers; and to conduct research and development of international distinction to meet the needs of the discipline, industry and society both locally and internationally. 2010 Annual Report PAGE 4 THE SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT 2010 About Us The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering was THE BIG PICTURE one of the eight foundation Schools of the University when OUR PEOPLE OUR RESEARCH UNSW was fi rst established in 1949. Today, it is the largest TEACHING AND and most successful School of its kind in Australasia and is LEARNING a dynamic and integral part of the Faculty of Engineering, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY itself consistently ranked as the best in Australia. OUR RESEARCH CENTRES OUR HISTORY With nearly eighteen hundred students, we play a leading role in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate PAGE 5 degree programs in civil and environmental engineering. Research activity - which includes both fundamental and applied research - is carried out by our internationally renowned academic and research staff and by postgraduate research students. School Statistics 2010 Academic Staff 28 Professional & Technical Staff 18 Research Centre Staff 95 Postgraduate Research Students 90 Postgraduate Coursework Students 398 Undergraduates 1307 Equivalent Full-time Students (EFTSU) 1172 Doctoral graduates 19 Postgraduate Coursework Graduates 192 BE Graduates 142 Grant Funding 16.75 mil Research Publications Refereed 267 Foreword from the Head of School It is with some pride that I provide a front piece for the 2010 It was pleasing to see the School score a “5 out of 5” for research Annual Report and summarise key outcomes for this last year. High activity in the recent Australian Research Council’s Excellence on my list of important events was the launch of the School History. in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment. This assessment, While the event itself was memorable, particularly because of the using research indicators such as number of high quality journal coming together of so many associates and friends of the School, publications and citations of these publications, was based on even more so is the train of events represented in the book itself. analysis of 2002-2008 outputs. Pleasingly, the School’s journal The energy, creativity and dedication of the many individuals that publication output in 2010 increased by almost a third over the have made the School the powerhouse that it is today is clear from preceding year which augers well for the next ERA assessment the History with the characters of the people involved since the which will be based on outputs up to and including 2010. Key to School began in 1949 so ably captured by the School historian, Mary increasing output is increased funding and, in this regard, 2010 O’Connell. It is colleagues such as Ian Gilbert and Francis Tin Loi, was exceptional with around $17 million awarded to School staff. who retired during 2010 but remain active participants in the School Much of this was awarded to research being conducted through the through award of Emeritus Professorial status, who have truly set UNSW Water Research Centre, the UNSW Centre for Infrastructure the foundation for ongoing strength of the School. It is staff such as Engineering and Safety and the Connected Waters Initiative, all Mark Bradford and Ashish Sharma, awardees of an ARC Laureate of which are based within the School of Civil and Environmental Professorship and an ARC Future Fellowship respectively in 2010, Engineering. who will be key contributors in coming years. Recognition that civil and environmental engineering are important As we look forward, it is exciting to see companies such as Evans areas of endeavour and recognition that UNSW provides the & Peck contributing to the School through support of the Evans