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Prof Jeff Walker - Curriculum Vitae

Name: Jeffrey Phillip Walker
Address: Building 60, Room 115
Department of Civil Engineering
Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 9681
Fax: +61 3 9905 4944
Email: jeff.walker@monash.edu

Education

1996 - 1999 : Doctor of Philosophy

Work was commenced on my PhD in March 1996 at the Department of Civil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Australia. The topic of my PhD was Estimating Soil Moisture Profile Dynamics From Near-Surface Soil Moisture Measurements and Standard Meteorological Data. This research was supervised by Associate Professor Garry Willgoose and Professor Jetse Kalma. My thesis was submitted for examination in June 1999 and accepted without change in February 2000.

Soil moisture varies in both time and space as a function of atmospheric forcing, soil properties and topography. Model estimates of this variation in soil moisture are often poor due to inherent model errors and an inaccurate knowledge of model inputs. Soil moisture measurements may be made at discrete points, but they are not always representative of the spatial variation in soil moisture. Remote sensing observations provide information on soil moisture in a thin surface layer at discrete times, but do not provide any information on soil moisture with depth. To overcome these shortcomings, an effective soil moisture monitoring scheme must utilise: (i) point measurements for model calibration and evaluation; and (ii) remote sensing observations for updating of the model to overcome the effects of model error and model input inadequacies.

This research investigated the effectiveness of the soil moisture monitoring scheme outlined above. In order to achieve this, it was required to develop an appropriate distributed soil moisture model for soil moisture forecasting, and to collect appropriate data for model calibration, evaluation and updating. Research efforts were focused on the following issues: (i) measurement of surface soil moisture from remote sensing; (ii) estimation of the satellite observation depth; (iii) techniques for assimilation of surface observations into the hydrologic model; (iv) importance of increasing the satellite observation depth on profile retrieval; (v) required frequency of surface observations to keep the model on-track; and (vi) the necessity for accurate model forcing and soil parameter values in such a soil moisture monitoring scheme.

1991 - 1995: Bachelor of Surveying and Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

During this period individual degrees were completed for both Bachelor of Surveying and Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at the Department of Civil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Australia.

Honours Class 1 and University Medal were obtained for both degrees.

The title of my Honours project was Accuracy of DEMs (Digital Elevation Models). This research investigated the magnitude of elevation errors in published DEMs and the effect these errors may have on potential applications of this data. Of particular interest was the effect of these errors on hydrologic modelling. This investigation involved a Monte-Carlo analysis of geomorphic parameters used in hydrology by making comparisons with an accurate DEM. Hydromorphic parameters investigated include: (i) inferred catchment shape, size and stream network; (ii) width function; (iii) cumulative area diagram; and (iv) slope area diagram.

Honours and Awards:

  • SSSI Educational Development Award Conferred on practicing teachers, facilitators or academics who have substantially contributed, through teaching, research, publication or professional activities. It acknowledges leadership not only in empowering students in the use of technologies, but also in supporting other teachers to acquire knowledge and/or promote excellence for practising academics in the fields of surveying and spatial science.
  • Monash Postgraduate Association Supervisor of the Year. Presented annually to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in research supervision practice. Supervisors are nominated by their postgraduate students and entries are judged by an independent subcommittee of research postgraduates drawn from the MPA Executive Committee.
  • Inaugural Anton Hales Medal. Recognises distinguished research in the Earth sciences, honouring the contributions to Earth sciences by the late Professor Anton L Hales FAA, the founding director of the Research School of Earth Sciences in the Australian National University.
  • Best Paper. Awarded by Institution of Engineers Australia to the presenter of the best paper submitted to the Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium.
  • University Medal in Civil Engineering. Awarded to a graduand who, in addition to achieving Honours, displays ability in the discipline concerned. In assessing eligibility the Medals Committee takes into account the graduand’s record throughout the Bachelor’s degree course, but particular regard is paid to achievement in the final year of study.
  • University Medal in Surveying. As above.
  • Deans Medal. Awarded annually to final year students graduating with a weighted average mark in excess of 85.
  • The Board of Surveyors’ Medal. Awarded annually for outstanding performance, if of sufficient merit, in the final year of the Bachelor of Surveying degree course.
  • The ACSE Prize in Structural Engineering. Awarded annually to the student enrolled as a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering who achieves the best performance, if of sufficient merit, in the structural design component of the fourth year Civil Engineering Design subject.
  • The Consulting Surveyors New South Wales Prize in Land Studies. Awarded annually to the student achieving the best performance, if of sufficient merit, in the field of Land Studies in the Bachelor of Surveying degree course.
  • The Hunter Water Corporation Achievement Award. Awarded annually to the student undertaking the course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering specialising in the area of Civil Engineering who, in completing the subjects in the field of Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering, achieves the best in completing the subjects in the field of Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering and achieves the best overall performance, if of sufficient merit.
  • The Institution of Engineers Australia Civil and Structural Branch Prize in Civil Engineering. Awarded annually to the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) graduate who achieved the best overall performance, if of sufficient merit, in the final year of the course.
  • The Institution of Surveyors Australia Hunter-Manning Group Prize in Surveying. Awarded annually for the best performance, if of sufficient merit, in the final year of the Bachelor of Surveying course.
  • The James Hardie Pipelines Water Resources Engineering Prize. Awarded annually to the student undertaking the degree of Bachelor of Engineering, specialising in the area of Civil Engineering who, in completing the subjects in the field of Water Resources Engineering achieves the best overall performance, if of sufficient merit.
  • The Peter Kleeman Medallion. Awarded annually to the graduate in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) who has achieved the best overall academic performance over the duration of the course in the field of Structural Mechanics.
  • The Spruson & Ferguson Prize in Civil Engineering. Awarded annually to a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) who submits the most innovative Final Year Project Report, if of sufficient merit.
  • Mine Subsidence Technological Society Prize in Geotechnical Design. Awarded annually to the student undertaking a bachelor degree course program with the best overall performance, if of sufficient merit in the Geotechnical Design component of the subject CIVL 454 - Civil Engineering Design 2.
  • The Tony Herzog Award. Awarded to an undergraduate student in the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying who has submitted a final year project report of outstanding merit.
  • The Metal Building Manufacturers' Association Prize. Awarded annually to the student with the best overall performance, if of sufficient merit, in completing the subjects in the field of Structural Design and Engineering, in the third year of the Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree.
  • The SRIA University Award for Concrete Design. Awarded annually to the student with the best performance, if of sufficient merit, in the subject, Reinforced Concrete Design.
  • The Astley Pulver Prize for Second Year Surveyors. Awarded for the best Performance, if of sufficient merit, in the subjects dealing with surveying topics in the second year of the Bachelor of Surveying degree.
  • The BHP Rod & Bar Products Division Prize in Civil Engineering. Awarded annually for the greatest proficiency, if of sufficient merit in the second year of the Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree.

Research Interests

My primary research ambition is to lead programs in socially relevant research that will have a positive impact on the way we take care of the environment so as to result in an improved quality of life both now and in the generations to come. I believe that the key to this is through improved earth system state and flux monitoring, prediction and reporting, in a way that is relevant to policy and decision making processes, flood and drought prediction and assessment, land and water management, national weather and climate forecasting, etc. My vision is that this goal will be realised through a combination of i) environmental sensing, ii) earth system modelling, and iii) optimal convergence of model predictions with observations through data assimilation. This is a new area of research that has gained wide spread interest over the past years.

Professional Experience

Research Grants

See projects link for summaries.
  • 2016-2018, PI: Improved Rainfall Measurement Using Mobile Phone Tower Link Attenuation, AU$540k.
  • 2015-2018, Co-I: Preserving Vegetation Health and Biodiversity of Natural, Urban Reserves, AU$188k + AU$60k.
  • 2015, CI: A Multi-frequency Microwave Radiometer System for Environmental Research, AU$540k +$350k.
  • 2014-2016, Co-I: On-the-go Soil Moisture Monitoring from GPS Signals During Routine Farming Operations AU$150k.
  • 2014-2017, Co-I: Linking Flow, Nutrients, Seagrass and Fish: An Integrated Approach to Estuary Management, AU$737k+AU600k.
  • 2014-2017, Co-I: Catchment Water Balance and CO2 Fluxes: A Comparison Between Productive Land Uses, AU$186k+AU$60k.
  • 2014-2017, CI: Validation of Global Water and Energy Balance Monitoring in the Australian Murray-Darling Basin Using GCOM-W1 Data, AU$263k.
  • 2014, Co-I: On-line Murrumbidgee Catchment Soil Moisture Content Data to Aid Local Farmers, AU$5k.
  • 2014-2016, CI: MoistureMonitor: A Multi-mission Soil Moisture Monitoring System for a Water Limited Future, AU$548k.
  • 2014-2017, Co-I: Improving Flood Forecasting Skill Using Remote Sensing Data, AU$960k.
  • 2013-2017, CI: Calibration and Validation of SMAP in Australia, AU$32k.
  • 2013-2017, Co-I: Interfacing the SMAP Cal/Val and Applications Plans, US$84k.
  • 2013, CI: Mobile Weather Radar System for Advanced Environmental Monitoring and Modelling, AU$340k +$400k.
  • 2013, Co-I: Combined use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems and L-band Microwave Radiometry Data for Earth observation, AU$15k.
  • 2013, Co-I: The Driving Force Behind Bushfires: Observing Live Fuel Moisture Content of Evergreen Forests, AU$15k.
  • 2012, Co-I: Monitoring of Above-ground Vegetation Biomass Using Multi-spectral Observations, AU$14k.
  • 2012-2013, Co-I: SMOS + Hydrology Study, $240k.
  • 2012, CI: The Murrumbidgee Core Validation Site for SMAP, NASA Dear Colleague Letter -- Data Only.
  • 2011-2014, CI: Streamflow Forecasting, AU$105k.
  • 2011-2014: Towards global water and energy balance monitoring using GCOM-W1 in the Australian Murray-Darling basin, AU$229k.
  • 2011-2014: A New Generation Flood Forecasting System Using Observations From Space, AU$174k+AU$120.
  • 2010-2013: Towards Operational Monitoring of Key Climate Parameters From Synthetic Aperture Radar, AU$557k+AU$120k.
  • 2009-2011, CI: Active Passive Microwave Soil Moisture Remote Sensing: Towards Sustainable Land and Water Management from Space,AU$540k.
  • 2009-2011, CI: A New Paradigm for Improved Water Resource Management Using Innovative Water Modelling Techniques,AU$420k+AU$117k.
  • 2009, Co-I: Airborne Hyperspectral Scanning for Advanced Monitoring and Assessment of Vegetation and Water Properties,AU$400k+AU$385k.
  • 2009, Co-I: Towards Improved Soil Moisture Retrieval by LiDAR Measurement of Microwave Properties of Vegetation and Development of a Data Assimilation Framework,AU$10k.
  • 2008-2011, CI: MoistureMap: A Soil Moisture Monitoring, Prediction and Reporting System for Sustainable Land and Water Management, AU$910k.
  • 2008, CI: High Resolution Airborne Radar for Environmental Research: Soil Moisture, Vegetation, Salinity and Terrain Mapping, AU$400k + AU$440k.
  • 2008, Co-I: Potential Applications for Airborne Remote Sensed Data, AU$30k.
  • 2007, CI: The Murrumbidgee Monitoring Network, AU$15k.
  • 2007, Co-I: Improving the Airborne Mapping of Soil Moisture, AU$8k.
  • 2007-2009, Co-I: Quantifying Near-surface Diffuse Discharge from the Southwest Great Artesian Basin,AU$297k+AU$160k.
  • 2006-2007, Co-I: Advanced Algorithms to Retrieve Remotely Sensed Soil Moisture and Enhance Hydrological Prediction,AU$20.5k.
  • 2006-2008, Co-I: Integrate NASA?s Global Soil Moisture Remote Sensing and Modeling Data into USDA?s Global Crop Production Decision Support System,US$493k.
  • 2005-2007, CI: High resolution mapping of surface and root zone soil moisture, AU$667k.
  • 2005, Co-I: Airborne laser scanning for advanced environmental monitoring, AU$168k+AU170k.
  • 2005-2010, Co-I: The Australian climate system network, AU$1,950k.
  • 2005-2006, CI: Assimilation of latent and sensible heat flux data into the CSIRO Biosphere Model, AU$53k.
  • 2004-2005, CI: >On the use of remote sensing data in bio-geo-chemical marine models, AU$56k.
  • 2004, Co-I: The Australian climate system network, AU$20k.
  • 2004, CI: A new airborne facility for environmental, hydrological, atmospheric and oceanic research: high resolution measurement of soil moisture, temperature and salinity, AU$395k+AU$262k.
  • 2003, CI: Optimal land initialisation for seasonal climate prediction: brightness temperature assimilation, AU$24k.
  • 2003, CI: Validation of the AMSR-E satellite soil moisture product, AU$10k.
  • 2003-2005, CI: Gravity changes, soil moisture and data assimilation, AU$277k.
  • 2003-2005, Co-I: Optimal land initialisation for seasonal climate prediction, US$240k.
  • 2002, CI: Optimal land initialisation for seasonal climate prediction: brightness temperature assimilation, AU$8k.
  • 2002, CI: Optimal land initialisation for seasonal climate prediction: soil moisture assimilation, AU$10k.
  • 2002-2004, CI: Scaling and assimilation of soil moisture and streamflow, AU$235k.
  • 2002-2004, CI: Use of remote sensing actual evapotranspiration estimates and water delivery data for assessing water use efficiency in an irrigated landscape, AU$148k.
  • 2002-2004, Co-I: Assimilation of satellite observations of the land surface in support of NASA's Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction Project, US$540k.
  • 2002-2004, Co-I: A catchment-based global river routing scheme for climate models and assimilation of streamflow and altimetry data, US$165k.
  • 2002-2004, Co-I: Global validation of EOS-AQUA land surface dynamics using data assimilation, US$300k.
  • 2001-2003, Co-I: A global land data assimilation system (GLDAS), US$860k.
  • 2001-2003, PI: Assimilation of remotely sensed snow observations into the NSIPP land surface model, US$600k.

Research Consultancies

  • 2012, CI: Soil Moisture Monitoring in the HeiHe River Basin, AU$30k
  • 2012, CI: Requirements of a SAR Satellite Mission for Monitoring Soil Moisture Over Australia, AU$50k
  • 2012-2013, CI: Airborne Mapping of Seagrass, AU$70k

Research Projects

Research Collaborations

  • Professor Dara Entekhabi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
  • Dr Jared Entin, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Professor James Famiglietti, University of Texas, USA.
  • Dr James Foster, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Dr Paul Houser, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Associate Professor Rodger Grayson, University of Melbourne, Australia.
  • Professor Jetse Kalma, University of Newcastle, Australia.
  • Dr Randal Koster, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Dr Manfred Owe, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Dr Rolf Reichle, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Dr Marc Stieglitz, University of Columbia, USA.
  • Dr Chaojiao Sun, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.
  • Dr Peter Troch, University of Gent, Belgium.
  • Dr Andrew Western, University of Melbourne, Australia.
  • Associate Professor Garry Willgoose, University of Newcastle, Australia.

Teaching and Related Experience

  • Coordination and teaching of various subjects within the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Melbourne.
  • Supervision of graduate students within the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering degree at the University of Melbourne.
  • Supervision of graduate students at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • Supervision of honours projects within the Bachelor of Surveying and Bachelor of Civil Engineering degrees at the University of Newcastle.
  • Tutoring for Elementary Structures and Fluid Mechanics 1 undergraduate courses within the Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree at the University of Newcastle.
  • Demonstrating and marking for Surveying 1 and Surveying 2 undergraduate courses within the Bachelor of Surveying degree at the University of Newcastle.
  • Supervision of Survey Camp 1 and Survey Camp 4 within the Bachelor of Surveying degree at the University of Newcastle.
  • AUSAID help desk for international students requiring extra assistance at the University of Newcastle.
  • Personal tutor for Open Channel Hydraulics, Stress Analysis, Fluid Mechanics 1 and Fluid Mechanics 2 undergraduate courses within the Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree at the University of Newcastle.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Institution Engineers Australia, Fellow
  • American Geophysical Union, Member
  • International Soil Moisture Working Group, Member
  • Prediction in Ungauged Basins Working Group on Remote Sensing and Data Assimilation, Member

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2012 - Present: Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering - Monash University

I am currently employed as a professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia..

2010 - 2011: Professor - Monash University

Employed as a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Australia. I am managing a number of research projects in addition to teaching.

2007 - 2010: Associate Professor and Reader - The University of Melbourne

Employed as an associate professor and reader in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia. During that period I managed a number of research projects in addition to teaching.

2003 - 2006: Senior Lecturer - The University of Melbourne

Employed as a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia. During that period I managed a number of research projects in addition to teaching.

2001 - 2003: Lecturer - The University of Melbourne

Employed as a lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia. During that period I managed a number of research projects in addition to teaching.

1999 - 2001: Research Scientist - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

During this period I was employed in a research scientist position at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, firstly with USRA (Universities Space Research Association) as part of the Goddard Visiting Scientist Program (GVSP) and then with the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) as part of the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) Center. The main project I worked on was entitled Optimal Land Initialisation for Seasonal Climate Prediction and sought to provide optimal initialisation of the NSIPP (NASA Seasonal to Interanual Prediction Project) land surface model, through assimilation of near-surface soil moisture observations into the land surface model. In addition, I was the PI on a project entitled Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Snow Observations into the NSIPP Land Surface Model and Co-I on a project entitled A Global Land Data Assimilation Scheme. I also collaborated with the Land Data Assimilation Schemes project.

1996 - 1999: PhD Scholar - The University of Newcastle

During this period I conducted research towards my PhD at the Department of Civil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Australia. Details of my doctoral research have been provided above.

1992 - 1996: Marshall Scott - Surveying and Land Development Consultants

During university vacations I was employed by Marshall Scott, Surveying and Land Development Consultants, Cessnock, as an undergraduate Surveyor. Responsibilities included cadastral, topographic, and engineering surveys and design work. Engineering designs included plans of road widening and subdivision layouts. I was also responsible for the preparation of an entire drainage design for a 40 lot subdivision.

1991 - 1992: Monteath and Powys - Consulting Surveyors and Planners

During university vacations I was employed by Monteath and Powys, Consulting Surveyors and Planners, Newcastle, as a Surveyors Assistant. Responsibilities included assisting with cadastral, topographic, hydrographic and engineering surveys. Field work duties included instrument use and general assistance. Office duties included general plan preparation and calculations.

1989 - 1991: Collins, Walshe and Fitzsimmons - Consulting Surveyors and Engineers

During university vacations I was employed by Collins Walshe and Fitzsimmons, Consulting Surveyors and Engineers, Taree, as a Surveyors Assistant. Responsibilities included assisting with cadastral, topographic, and engineering surveys. Field work duties included instrument use and general assistance. Office duties included general plan preparation and calculations.

GENERAL SKILLS

Language

  • English: excellent written and oral skills.
  • Flemish/Dutch: basic oral and written skills.

Computing Skills

  • Proficient with UNIX/LINUX workstations, Macintosh and Windows/DOS.
  • Proficient with GRADS, IDL and MPI.
  • Excellent FORTRAN and HTML programming skills.
  • Excellent numerical modeling skills.
  • Proficient with programming and maintenance of data logging systems (Campbell, DataTaker, Starlogger).
  • Excellent data management skills.
  • Excellent word processing and spreadsheet skills.

REFEREES

Details of referees provided upon request

PUBLICATIONS

Publication List

PERSONAL INTERESTS

  • Rock Climbing
  • Snow Skiing
  • Water Skiing
  • Wind Surfing
  • Motorcycle Riding
  • Leather Craft
  • Woodwork
  • House Renovations