LaboratoryFluid Mechanics Laboratory
PEOPLE
- User
- Senior Lecturer Above the Bar
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Senior Lecturer Above the BarCivil and Environmental Engineering
With a background in Natural Resources Engineering, I currently research and teach in ecological, environmental and stormwater engineering. I am very interested in water sensitive urban design, ecological solutions for treatment, creating ecological resilience in engineered systems and adaptive engineering for a changing climate. I also have an industry background in drinking water and wastewater treatment design.
I work across disciplines with other engineers, environmental chemists, ecologists, and social scientists. Much of my research generates industry-ready outputs for improving evidence-based strategic planning and decision-making around stormwater infrastructure and waterways management. I also bring industry perspectives to my students in my teaching through guest lectures and site visits.With a background in Natural Resources Engineering, I currently research and teach in ecological, environmental and stormwater engineering. I am very interested in water sensitive urban design, ecological solutions for treatment, creating ecological resilience in engineered systems and adaptive engineering for a changing climate. I also have an industry background in drinking water and wastewater treatment design.
I work across disciplines with other engineers, environmental chemists, ecologists, and social scientists. Much of my research generates industry-ready outputs for improving evidence-based strategic planning and decision-making around stormwater infrastructure and waterways management. I also bring industry perspectives to my students in my teaching through guest lectures and site visits.- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 14 Life Below Water
- Collaborative research projects
- Consulting & advisory services
- Industry partnerships & innovation
- Outreach & community engagement
- Technical expertise & support
Fields of Research- Water treatment processes
- Pollution and contamination
- Environmental engineering
- Environmentally sustainable engineering
- Environmental assessment and monitoring
- Urban design
- User
- Professor
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- ProfessorCivil and Environmental Engineering
Catchment hydrology, sediment transport and open channel flow, GIS modelling of land and water resources, irrigation, soil erosion, land use change, agricultural systems, water resources management, and nature-based solutions
Catchment hydrology, sediment transport and open channel flow, GIS modelling of land and water resources, irrigation, soil erosion, land use change, agricultural systems, water resources management, and nature-based solutions
- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
- 15 Life on Land
- 2 Zero Hunger
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- User
- Senior Lecturer
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Senior LecturerCivil and Environmental Engineering
Irrigation engineering, climate change, water resources engineering, agricultureIrrigation engineering, climate change, water resources engineering, agriculture- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- User
- Associate Dean (Academic)
- Faculty of Engineering
- Associate Dean (Academic)Faculty of Engineering
- Professor
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- ProfessorCivil and Environmental Engineering
My research focus is on the development of new technologies that can revolutionise the design and operation of fluid filled pipeline networks. I am an internationally recognised expert in unsteady pipeline hydraulics and pipeline condition assessment technologies. My research has led to changes in the hydraulic design process of pipeline systems in seismically active areas and has been adopted in the aftermath of the recent 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
I have obtained over $NZD 7.5 million in research funding as principal investigator and I am a co-leader a large international collaborative project on Smart Urban Water Supply Systems, a project that involve over 22 academics from world leading universities. The aim is to developed new cutting edge technologies that allow fluid filled pipeline networks to serve as a network capable of transferring information (like electrical and communication grid) as well as fluid. My work has resulted in technologies that are patented and taken up by the largest water companies in the world. One technology has an international commercial contract with a Fortune 500 company for world wide application in water networks.
We have a state-of-the-art pipeline hydraulics laboratory that is fully equipped with the latest acoustic technologies and with automated control and measurement grid. This network is capable of replicating real world, water supply system conditions.My research focus is on the development of new technologies that can revolutionise the design and operation of fluid filled pipeline networks. I am an internationally recognised expert in unsteady pipeline hydraulics and pipeline condition assessment technologies. My research has led to changes in the hydraulic design process of pipeline systems in seismically active areas and has been adopted in the aftermath of the recent 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
I have obtained over $NZD 7.5 million in research funding as principal investigator and I am a co-leader a large international collaborative project on Smart Urban Water Supply Systems, a project that involve over 22 academics from world leading universities. The aim is to developed new cutting edge technologies that allow fluid filled pipeline networks to serve as a network capable of transferring information (like electrical and communication grid) as well as fluid. My work has resulted in technologies that are patented and taken up by the largest water companies in the world. One technology has an international commercial contract with a Fortune 500 company for world wide application in water networks.
We have a state-of-the-art pipeline hydraulics laboratory that is fully equipped with the latest acoustic technologies and with automated control and measurement grid. This network is capable of replicating real world, water supply system conditions.- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- User
- Senior Lecturer Above the Bar
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Senior Lecturer Above the BarCivil and Environmental Engineering
My research mainly focus on applying computer science and signal processing technologies in civil engineering area to make our city green and smart.
In particular, my current works cover pipeline hydraulics, non-destructive testing of pipeline networks, infrastructure sensor network optimisation, smart water grid and water supply.
I'm also interested in acoustic wave modeling, inverse scattering techniques and nonlinear inversion methods. My previous work also includes ocean environment inversion, underwater acoustics, underwater localization and robot navigation.My research mainly focus on applying computer science and signal processing technologies in civil engineering area to make our city green and smart.
In particular, my current works cover pipeline hydraulics, non-destructive testing of pipeline networks, infrastructure sensor network optimisation, smart water grid and water supply.
I'm also interested in acoustic wave modeling, inverse scattering techniques and nonlinear inversion methods. My previous work also includes ocean environment inversion, underwater acoustics, underwater localization and robot navigation.- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Fields of Research- Infrastructure engineering and asset management
- Hydrodynamics and hydraulic engineering
- Acoustics and acoustical devices; waves
- Signal processing
- User
- Senior Lecturer Above the Bar
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Senior Lecturer Above the BarCivil and Environmental Engineering
I'm interested in environmental fluid mechanics - in particular, buoyancy driven flows and heat transfer.
My work has mainly focused on improving our understanding of the melting of ice shelves and icebergs around Antarctica and Greenland. Understanding the small scale processes that govern the melt rate can help us predict how these ice sheets will respond to a warming climate over coming decades.
Some other problems that I have worked on or am interested in are:
Mixing into sediment laden plumes, such as volcanic eruptions or smokestack discharges, to understand how quickly they will dilute and where the flow will go.
The small scale processes that control turbulent mixing in a variety of fluid flows, particularly in a density stratified environment where fluid can mix both into and out of a flow.
Low energy (or no energy) ventilation of buildings to reduce energy consumption.
To understand these problems I use idealized laboratory experiments and simple models. Laboratory experiments are able to include all of the important physical processes while still being controllable and repeatable. They are a wonderful tool for understanding fluid dynamics that can also produce beautiful imagery.I'm interested in environmental fluid mechanics - in particular, buoyancy driven flows and heat transfer.
My work has mainly focused on improving our understanding of the melting of ice shelves and icebergs around Antarctica and Greenland. Understanding the small scale processes that govern the melt rate can help us predict how these ice sheets will respond to a warming climate over coming decades.
Some other problems that I have worked on or am interested in are:
Mixing into sediment laden plumes, such as volcanic eruptions or smokestack discharges, to understand how quickly they will dilute and where the flow will go.
The small scale processes that control turbulent mixing in a variety of fluid flows, particularly in a density stratified environment where fluid can mix both into and out of a flow.
Low energy (or no energy) ventilation of buildings to reduce energy consumption.
To understand these problems I use idealized laboratory experiments and simple models. Laboratory experiments are able to include all of the important physical processes while still being controllable and repeatable. They are a wonderful tool for understanding fluid dynamics that can also produce beautiful imagery.- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- 13 Climate Action
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Collaborative research projects
- Consulting & advisory services
- Industry partnerships & innovation
- Media enquiries
- Outreach & community engagement
- Policy advice & government consultation
- Technical expertise & support
Fields of Research- Earth sciences
- Oceanography
- Physical oceanography
- Engineering
- Civil engineering
- Water resources engineering
- Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
- Experimental methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer
- Fundamental and theoretical fluid dynamics
- Geophysical and environmental fluid flows
- Hydrodynamics and hydraulic engineering
- Multiphysics flows (incl. multiphase and reacting flows)
- Turbulent flows
- User
- Associate Professor
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Associate ProfessorCivil and Environmental Engineering
My work aims at developing and maintaining resilient and sustainable water resources systems.
My research goals can be divided into two areas.
1--Sustainable, efficient and equitable use of water resources for future food, energy and water security.
2--Development and application of hydrological, hydraulic and water resources models plus data analysis tools to quantify and reduce uncertainty in decision making in water engineering and water systems management.
The methods I use are data analysis, modelling and laboratory & field experiments.My work aims at developing and maintaining resilient and sustainable water resources systems.
My research goals can be divided into two areas.
1--Sustainable, efficient and equitable use of water resources for future food, energy and water security.
2--Development and application of hydrological, hydraulic and water resources models plus data analysis tools to quantify and reduce uncertainty in decision making in water engineering and water systems management.
The methods I use are data analysis, modelling and laboratory & field experiments.- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
- 13 Climate Action
Fields of Research- Hydrology
- Water resources engineering
- Sustainability accounting and reporting
- User
- Senior Lecturer
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Senior LecturerCivil and Environmental Engineering
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.
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.
- Faculty of Engineering
- Registered to supervise Master's/Doctoral students
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Collaborative research projects
- Consulting & advisory services
- Industry partnerships & innovation
- Media enquiries
- Outreach & community engagement
- Policy advice & government consultation
- Technical expertise & support
Fields of Research- Transport engineering
- Civil engineering
- Building construction management and project planning
- Infrastructure engineering and asset management
- Cyberphysical systems and internet of things
- Artificial intelligence