DoctorDaniel van der Walt

Dr Jacobus (preferred name Daniel) van der Walt is a civil engineer specialising in infrastructure risk and asset management, transportation asset management, pavement engineering, and horizontal infrastructure resilience. His research focuses on improving the performance, lifecycle optimisation, and risk management of road networks, with strong emphasis on evidence‑based decision‑making, digital technologies, and data‑driven infrastructure planning.

Daniel works with local and national government agencies in New Zealand, as well as civil contractors, to enhance construction processes, maintenance strategies, and renewal planning. Internationally, he advises organisations, including the World Bank, on transportation asset management frameworks, infrastructure performance assessment, and capacity building for developing countries. His work directly supports sector priorities around cost‑effective infrastructure investment, network resilience, and sustainable urban systems.

His research group develops methods that integrate network data, modern sensing technologies, procurement innovation, and risk‑based optimisation to improve the value and reliability of existing infrastructure. Daniel and his research team were awarded the 2025 Parkman Medal from the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) in London for their work. This recognises research of exceptional quality and significant impact in civil engineering. This award reflects his ongoing commitment to applied, industry-relevant research with broad international reach.

Daniel is a nationally recognised educator in infrastructure asset management, risk management, construction engineering, procurement, and engineering finance. He also leads the ENG ME! peer mentoring programme, supporting student transition and success in engineering. His teaching excellence and work with students, have been acknowledged with awards from Engineering New Zealand, the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE), and the University of Canterbury.

He is also open to consulting and expert witness opportunities.