Sachin Dhar’s Post

Exciting News! Our International Experience Exchange Webinar Series is Back! I'm excited to announce the first webinar in the newly reinstated Water New Zealand Stormwater Committee's International Experience Exchange Webinar Series: "Cities & Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Fate & Mitigation with Bioretention" 🗓️ Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2024 🕒 Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (NZST) 🔗 Registration (free): https://lnkd.in/gAsv-NvP About the Webinar: Join us for an insightful session on the fate and mitigation of emerging contaminants in urban environments through bioretention systems. Tim Rodgers, a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of British Columbia, Canada, will share his extensive research and practical insights on this crucial topic. Learn about the latest advancements in bioretention technology and how cities can effectively address the challenges posed by these emerging contaminants. About the Speaker: Meet Tim Rogers, a distinguished researcher with a deep expertise in civil engineering and water quality. Tim's work at UBC focuses on innovative solutions for sustainable urban water management. His dedication to advancing the field makes him an ideal speaker to kick off our webinar series. Join us and be part of the conversation! Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and network with professionals in the field of urban water management. Register now and let's drive the future of sustainable cities together! #WaterNewZealand #Stormwater #WaterQuality #Bioretention #UrbanWaterManagement #Webinar #EnvironmentalEngineering #Networking #StayInformed

UACEG's Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering 75th Anniversary: A Call to Action for Water Security and Resilience | 7-8 of November 2024, Sofia The University of Civil Engineering, Geodesy (UACEG) Faculty of Hydraulic Engineering proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary with a scientific and technical forum. In light of recent global water crises, including the devastating floods in Valencia, this event takes on added significance. Join us today and tomorrow 7-8 of November 2024, in Sofia to: * Discuss the latest advancements in water management and environmental protection. * Share insights and experiences with experts from around the world. * Explore innovative solutions to address water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. * Collaborate on projects that will shape the future of water resources. Together, we can build a more resilient and sustainable water future. Register today: https://lnkd.in/e6P4byEC #USCG #WaterSummit #HydraulicEngineering #WaterManagement #ClimateChange #FlashFlood #Tsunami #UrbanPlanning #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalScience #NaturalDisasters #DisasterRelief #Infrastructure #ResilientCities #Reconstruction

Funded by a $300,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, LSU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Assistant Professor Yen-Fang Su is working to advance infrastructure monitoring using strategically placed self-sensing cementitious composites (SSCCs). This innovation promises more accurate monitoring, resilience against natural hazards and the creation of smart structures that can sense potential failures and alert us before they happen. #WBTTW Read the full story at: https://lnkd.in/gSgQHjRq

Amazing sustainability solutions in a context with budget constraints...

The full text of the article published by Northern Territory News today on the alarmingly high road safety deaths of NT. For those who have subscription, a fully formatted version can be accessed through this link: https://lnkd.in/giNrHgFK #NorthernTerritory #RoadSafety #PublicSafety #VisionZero UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering | UNSW Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation

“𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐬. 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢” real cost data from built works and lifecycle cost analysis for small drainage projects. new article published in the practitioner-orientated special issue of "Civil Engineer" (a journal of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)) on "Nature Positive" Civil Engineering convened by Sakthy Selvakumaran and colleagues 🌱🏢 congrats to authors Linnea Nilsson Franklin Kirimi Sabrina Ohler Nancy Cristina Cárdenas. thanks to SwedBio for supporting NbS experiments, actions, and learning with Kounkuey Design Initiative and the Centre for Community Initiatives in Kenya, Tanzania, and further afield. drop me a line for access options if of interest!

So excited that the work Nancy Cristina Cárdenas and I took forward from our Masters Thesis is finally published as a peer-reviewed journal article: A cost analysis comparing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to traditional “grey” solutions for flood and water management in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. While the multiple social and environmental benefits of NbS are increasingly well documented, decision-makers need robust data on the costs of NbS as compared to grey solutions. This gap is especially pronounced in African cities and notably in informal settlements. In the paper, we show that NbS can be cost-effective in informal contexts, as well as being suitable for bottom-up development approaches grounded in community engagement. By assessing projects implemented by the Kounkuey Design Initiative and community partners, we can see that design and implementation costs of subsequent projects were lower than the previous, linked to the increased and context specific experience of the team on materials and design. We argue that this shows that NbS has high potential for cost optimization as the approach becomes more established and practitioners and communities get more experience with the methods. You can find the full text on ICE Publishing Collections: https://lnkd.in/dgHTp8fi. Open access version coming soon! In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. Big thanks to co-authors Franklin Kirimi Sabrina Ohler Joe Mulligan

Researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering devised the concept of “outdoor days”: the number of days per year in a given location when the temperature is not too hot or cold to enjoy normal outdoor activities. They looked at correlations between economic activity, such as tourism trends, and changing climate conditions, and examined how numbers of outdoor days could result in significant social and economic impacts. https://lnkd.in/e5Z7c-wX

Combine Art and Technology for #EarlyWarningsForAll New briefing note with UCL Warning Research Centre on hybrid digital and analogue #EarlyWarningSystems, based on our work in #Tamale, #Ghana, coproducing flood warning systems with communities. Providing early warning in multiple formats makes them more accessible, actionable, and useful for more people. It increases legitimacy and trust and allows the integration of multiple forms of knowledge. Thanks to Victoria Pratt and Ilan Kelman for making this happen. Cynthia Awuni, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Annie Ockelford, Wouter Buytaert, Imperial Civil and Environmental Engineering. https://lnkd.in/eDjV9xfa

#PrincetonEngineers: “Growing up just outside Amsterdam, where water management is a crucial part of life, profoundly shaped my interest in environmental engineering. Both of my parents work in sustainability, so discussions around environmental issues were part of my daily routine, from dinner table conversations to seeing their work in action. It wasn't just a career for them; it was a lifestyle and philosophy I deeply valued. Living in a city below sea level, I was constantly reminded of the importance of engineering and environmental awareness in our everyday lives. Before coming to Princeton, I was more interested in sustainable energy and broader climate issues. Once I began my coursework at Princeton, my interests began to shift and deepen. My first hydrology class with Professor Reed Maxwell was a defining moment. His approach to teaching, where we learned the physics behind environmental issues and then applied that knowledge in forecasting competitions, sparked a new level of engagement for me. I realized that engineering was more than just solving equations—it was about understanding and predicting real-world systems in dynamic ways. Another pivotal experience was Professor Elie Bou-Zeid’s course on fluid dynamics. One of my projects was optimizing ventilation strategies for Princeton’s boathouse erg (ergometer, a rowing machine) room, a space used by nearly 200 athletes. I created a CAD (computer-aided design) model and simulated various fan placements, ultimately recommending a configuration that would improve air circulation and comfort in the room. Princeton has taught me that education isn’t just about memorizing facts, it’s about learning how to approach complex problems with creativity and resilience. The interdisciplinary nature of Princeton’s curriculum also allowed me to study topics beyond engineering, like politics, health, and culture, which have broadened my perspective and understanding of the multifaceted challenges in environmental engineering. This blend of technical skills and a holistic outlook will be invaluable as I move into my career focused on water management and sustainability.” – David van Velden ’25, civil and environmental engineering.