Rod's current research centres on the application of fluid mechanics/hydraulics to the modelling and analysis of: irrigation application systems (particularly surface irrigation).  Previous work has included of environmental management such as; overland flow and soil erosion; and the emission and dispersion of odours from extensive sources such as cattle feedlots and piggeries.

Current Research and Postgraduate Projects

Development of Measurement and Diagnostic "toolkits" to Evaluate and Improve the Performance of Centre Pivot and Lateral Move Irrigation Systems

(with Joseph Foley)

The aim of the project is to develop a system for the diagnosis and correction of performance deficiencies in mobile irrigation machines, resulting from design, equipment, operational and management factors.  Consistent with this aim the project has the following specific objectives:

1. To develop a methodology for the measurement of the performance characteristics of LMIMs.

2. To identify the current performance and the factors limiting the performance of these machines.

3. To develop or otherwise obtain and validate appropriate computer models of the system hydraulic and irrigation performance.

Status - On-going
Support - CRC for Irrigation Futures

Automation and Real-time Control of Furrow Irrigation
(with Dr Malcolm Gillies & PhD candidate Richard Koech)

Recent research at USQ has established the basis for real time control of furrow irrigation.  Implementation of the system in the field involves a number of steps, namely: characterisation of the field, control and measurement of the furrow inflow, measurement of the advance down the furrows, real time estimation of the soil infiltration characteristic, simulation of the advance, and optimisation for selection of the optimum time to cut-off.  The system proposed will been kept simple by varying only cut-off time to encourage implementation of the system.  All of the sensing and software tools are available individually but need to be assembled and a prototype system established for field validation.

 
Status - Commenced 2008
Support - CRC for Cotton Catchment Communities

Evaporation losses in Sprinkler irrigation
(with Assoc Prof Nigel Hancock, Joseph Foley & PhD candidate Jasim Uddin)

One of the reasons often given by irrigators in Australia against converting their properties to sprinkler irrigation is the perceived “high” evaporation losses that occur while the sprinkler droplets are in flight.  These losses have been quantified in other parts of the irrigation world and have generally been found not to be excessive.  Recent work in Europe has challenged the rationale and accuracy of the traditional approaches to quantification of these losses.  No studies on the evaporation losses from sprinkler droplets have been undertaken in Australia.  This is particularly interesting given that evaporative demand in the northern half of this country can be up to 100% higher than in the irrigation areas of the US and Europe.

 
Status - Commenced 2008
Support - Faculty PhD Scholarship

Precision Irrigation
(with Justine Baillie and Prof Steven Raine)

Despite the widespread promotion and adoption of precision agriculture in dry land cropping systems, the concept of irrigation as a component of precision agricultural systems has not been widely canvassed.   Irrigation application is commonly viewed as a less than precise activity and the potential for precision irrigation is yet to be adequately evaluated.  This project will review irrigation research, existing technologies and the use of precision irrigation.  It will include an assessment of the role of current irrigation application technologies in precision irrigation, variable rate applications, adaptive control and the sensing and decision support requirements.  Opportunities for adoption, future research and extension needs will also be identified.

Status - Commenced 2008
Support - National Program for Sustainable Irrigation 2008/09

Numerical Model(s) for Design and Management of Surface irrigation
(with Prof Steven Raine, Dr Malcolm Gillies, Dr David McClymont & PhD candidate Michael Grabham)

Surface irrigation design and management has traditionally been undertaken through a process of trial and error based on experience gained over many years. Computer models introduced over the last twenty years have offered the potential to optimise surface irrigation practices but have not been widely adopted by designers, extension officers or irrigators. One reason for this is that these models only perform the basic function of simulating an irrigation event for a given set of input data. The operator is required to estimate the values of the input parameters, particularly the infiltration characteristics of the soil, and determine the best design or management through many individual simulations. Work is focussing on four areas, viz:

• Improved methods for estimating the infiltration parameters from measurements of furrow advance and runoff data;

• Development of FIDO (furrow irrigation design optimiser) - a numerical model that integrates the three functions of parameter evaluation, simulation and optimisation into a single program;

• Optimisation of performance at the field scale - the Irriprob model; and

• Application of new generation solution schemes to the modelling of conventional surface irrigation systems and drain-back basin systems.

Status - On-going
Support - CRC for Irrigation Futures