Student research supporting EM sector

Another five CRC students have successfully had their theses accepted to complete their PhD’s and are now offering vital research to support the emergency management sector.

Dr Rahul Wadhwani’s PhD explored a physics-based simulation of short-range spotting in wildfires. His study focuses on refining two sub-models, pyrolysis and firebrand transport, in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Dynamics Simulator. Dr Wadhwani validated the models against experimental data to understand how firebrand distribution varies with a set of variable characteristics in a wildfire to pave the way for future study and improve numerical modelling of short range embers. Dr Wadhwani completed his PhD with Victoria University and his thesis is available here.

There is a need for approaches to consider realistic degrees of complexity within the disaster risk system and account for the uncertainty in emergent risk as current risk assessments do not capture future changes that provide insight into the threats and opportunities of emergent disaster risks. Dr Graeme Riddell’s PhD research has developed these approaches and provides three key contributions through the use of foresight, primarily scenarios within disaster risk assessment processes, to support effective policy and investment decision making to reduce future impacts. Dr Riddell completed his PhD with the University of Adelaide and his thesis is available here.  Dr Riddell is continuing his research with the CRC project Improved decision support for natural hazard risk reduction with the University of Adelaide, as well consulting for the World Bank.

Dr Christopher Thomas’ PhD research revolved around the numerical models which allow for two-way interaction between a bushfire and the surrounding atmosphere, which is an essential tool in understanding the dynamic behaviour of fire. His thesis is concerned with the modelling of dynamic re behaviour and ember transport in turbulent plumes, and has important implications for the stochastic modelling of spot-re development. Dr Thomas completed his PhD with the University of New South Wales and his thesis is available here.

A PhD project by Dr Thomas Kloetzke investigated near surface wind field during tropical cyclones that make landfall through the analysis of near-surface wind observations and numerical simulation of idealised tropical cyclones. His research has helped develop improved methods for estimating the risk these cyclones pose to buildings and communities, as very limited data exists on the structure of turbulent winds within the built environment during cyclones. Dr Kloetzke completed his PhD with the University of Queensland and his thesis is available here.

Associate student Dr James Ricketts completed his PhD on the nature of abrupt decadal shifts in a changing climate. His research identifies and relates episodes of apparent abrupt shifts in regional climates in Australia and extend this methodology to global datasets and to modelled futures to better inform risk assessments. Dr Ricketts automates testing for step changes, delineating a suite of statistical tests for exploring individual step changes, and applies these to global temperature, zonal land and ocean records, as well as to climate model equivalents. Dr Ricketts completed his PhD with Victoria University and his thesis is available here.

Congratulations to Rahul, Graeme, Christopher, Thomas and James!