Urban Water Systems Engineering

Group Leader: Stewart Burn

The Group has scientists with disciplines of engineering, mathematics, computing, chemical engineering, chemistry and agricultural science.

We have strong capability in the application of these disciplinary strengths to systems modelling, environmental engineering, systems design, water and waste water treatment, materials deterioration, lifetime prediction modelling, infrastructure asset management, community engagement modelling and systems engineering.

Our work focuses on the science to improve our understanding of urban water systems, the integration of new water sources into city systems, asset monitoring and replacement strategies, asset management modelling, future system planning including sustainability and triple bottom line evaluation of our urban water systems.

Our capabilities

Specific capabilities, IP and know-how related to:

• Deterioration modelling of pipeline materials
• Detailed understanding of corrosion processes and mitigation procedures (Bluewater)
• Commercial Asset Management software (PARMS-PLANNING, PARMS PRIORITY)
• Mathematical modelling and experimental program for determination of water quantity and quality in water and sewer systems
• Information management throughout sewer and water networks, including sensor systems for determining quality of water and sewage (Sewer Sentinal)
• Alternative methodologies for provision of water, wastewater and stormwater services for Brownfield, Greenfield and decentralised solutions.
• Integrated Urban Catchment Modelling for Quality and Quantity (HydroPlanner, UVQ)
• Technologies for minimising systems losses from water networks including evaporation control and network leakage mitigation.

The Group runs high level materials laboratories with NATA accreditation for materials assessment and deterioration and an advanced greywater laboratory with PC2 certification. The Group also interacts with several universities and has access to large scale soilbox equipment for assessing the deformation of buried assets.

Projects

• Pipeline Asset and Risk Management System (PARMS)
• Australian-German Workshop on Sustainable Urban Water Management (1-4 April 2008)

Relationships

The Group has substantial achievements in developing urban water solutions for its urban partners, with some of its software solutions being used by over 60% of Australia’s major urban water authorities. We have strategic relationships with, AwwaRf, WERF, SEWL, YVW, NRW (Qld), and QWC, Smartwater (Vic), eWater and a significant number of Universities worldwide.

Related Links

• eWater CRC
• Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
• CRC Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CARE)
• CRC Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration (LEME)