Biography
Dr Wendy Timms has almost 30 years of professional experience, mainly in Australia and Canada, on water and waste issues in both agriculture and mining. She has experience across consulting engineering, government, research and education as a hydrogeologist and environmental engineer.
Wendy leads and contributes to research projects funded by the Australian Research Council and various partners, generating new knowledge and technologies and developing leading practices. Information on publications and current research is available on Google Scholar and ResearchGate.
From 2012 to 2018 Wendy was the Director of Postgraduate Coursework and Senior Lecturer at UNSW School of Mining Engineering and affiliated with Mining Education Australia, the Australian Centre for Sustainable Mining practices (ACSMP), the UNSW Connected Waters Initiative. Wendy was a founding CI in the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, focused on aquitard reserach from 2009-2015. Prior to this Wendy worked as a consulting Senior Project Engineer (2003-2011) and as a hydrogeologist based in Gunnedah (1996-1997). Wendy has worked in Saskatchewan Canada (2002-2003) on water and waste related to mining and agriculture.
Wendy has also worked on projects in NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory, Canada and New Zealand, and inspected project sites around the world including South Africa, Namibia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Korea, Singapore, Italy, Morroco, Poland, France, UK, USA and Chile.
Read more on Wendy's profileResearch interests
My broad research interests are currently:
- water and energy sustainability at local and global scales
- waste sequestration, geosequestration and biochar, low permeability barriers, aquitards and/or engineered systems
- mine water management - final voids, water quality
- groundwater - hydraulic and geochemical interactions
- porous earth engineering - soil water, consolidation and subsidence
My research combines site based and in situ methods, with laboratory experimentation and numerical modelling using various codes.
Knowledge areas
environmental engineering, water & waste engineering, soils & porous matrices geochemistry, geology, groundwater, hydrology
geotechnical engineering (e.g. subsidence & sequestration), mining engineering & dewatering (e.g. underground excavations), engineering systems design and project management,
Projects
Current funded research projects include:
- Cost-effective environmental monitoring of carbon sequestration ($0.9M, CO2CRC, 2020-2024)
- Demonstrating environmental water tracers for underground excavations (~$260K, ACARP Category 1, 2019-2021)
- Stress corrosion cracking of cable bolts in underground mines (a CI on a project led by UNSW), ARC Linkage, $360K completing in 2018. My focus is the groundwater and geochem aspects of this research.
- Geology and groundwater of Thirlmere Lakes area, part of a large research program (Lead CI, now co-lead, with UNSW), NSW Environmental Trust, $256K completing in 2019, part of a multi-million dollar research program.
- Horizontal ground movement related to groundwater extraction and other factors near coal-seam gas areas in the Surat Basin (Co-lead CI with UQ and UNSW), Industry reserach, $121K completing in 2019.
- Heave of rock floors in underground excavations, ACARP funded (Cat 1), $298K, completing in 2018.
Completed research grants include the following:
- Innovative characterization of aquitards, ARC-NWI Special Research Centre SR0800001 (National Centre for Groundwater Research and Trainin), Co-founder CI of Program 1B, $3.4M 2009-2015.
- Fracture continuity and seepage through a stratified rock mass as a function of rock strength and saturation, Mining Education Australia, $39K, Co-lead CI, 2015-2016.
Plus numerous other government and industry funded research projects.
Publications
S Adhikari, E Moon, W Timms
(2024), Vol. 446, pp. 1-10, Journal of Cleaner Production, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Barzegar, P Tadich, B Sainsbury, S Blanks, W Timms
(2023), Vol. 34, Measurement Science and Technology, C1
K Fang, J Zhang, L Cui, L Ding, X Xu, W Timms
(2023), Vol. 37, pp. 87-109, International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, London, Eng., C1
Evaluating fundamental biochar properties in relation to water holding capacity
S Adhikari, M Mahmud, M Nguyen, W Timms
(2023), Vol. 328, pp. 1-9, Chemosphere, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Development of IOT-based low-cost MEMS pressure sensor for groundwater level monitoring
M Barzegar, S Blanks, S Gharehdash, W Timms
(2023), Vol. 34, Measurement Science and Technology, C1
Comparative analysis of biochar carbon stability methods and implications for carbon credits
Sirjana Adhikari, Ellen Moon, Jorge Paz-Ferreiro, Wendy Timms
(2023), pp. 1-41, Science of the Total Environment, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
MEMS technology and applications in geotechnical monitoring: a review
Milad Barzegar, Stan Blanks, Bre-Anne Sainsbury, Wendy Timms
(2022), Vol. 33, pp. 1-24, Measurement Science and Technology, Bristol, Eng., C1
D Kurukulasuriya, W Howcroft, E Moon, K Meredith, W Timms
(2022), Vol. 41, pp. 357-369, Mine Water and the Environment, Berlin, Germany, C1
Optimising water holding capacity and hydrophobicity of biochar for soil amendment - A review
Sirjana Adhikari, Wendy Timms, M Mahmud
(2022), Vol. 851, pp. 158043-158043, Science of The Total Environment, Netherlands, C1
G Rau, T McMillan, M Andersen, W Timms
(2022), Vol. 26, pp. 4301-4321, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, C1
Mohammad Chowdhury, James Gong, Gabriel Rau, Wendy Timms
(2022), pp. 1-22, Hydrogeology Journal, Heidelberg, Germany, C1
Y Wang, A Almutairi, P Bedrikovetsky, W Timms, K Privat, S Bhattacharyya, F Le-Hussain
(2022), Vol. 614, pp. 128533-128533, Journal of Hydrology, C1
Y Guo, J Zhang, M Li, W Timms, L Shen, P Li
(2022), Vol. 12, Applied Sciences (Switzerland), C1
Toward a new technology for monitoring of pore pressure using MEMS pressure sensor
Milad Barzegar Touchahi, Wendy Timms, Bre-Anne Sainsbury, Peter TADICH, Stan BLANKS
(2022), pp. 1-7, Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Field Monitoring in Geomechanics 2022, London, Eng., E1
Analytical methods to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of jointed rocks
M Zoorabadi, S Saydam, W Timms, B Hebblewhite
(2021), Vol. 30, pp. 111-119, Hydrogeology Journal, Hannover, Germany, C1
Water tracer technologies to detect sources of seepage and protect environmental assets
Wendy Timms, Devmi Kurukulasuriya, Bill Howcroft, Ellen Moon, Karina Meredith
(2021), pp. 167-176, Proceedings of the Resource Operators 2021 Conference, Wollongong, Australia, E1
Katarina David, W Timms, Rudra Mitra
(2020), pp. 69-84, Groundwater vulnerability and pollution risk assessment, Leiden, The Netherlands, B1
Development of a UAV-mounted system for remotely collecting mine water samples
B Banerjee, S Raval, T Maslin, W Timms
(2020), Vol. 34, pp. 385-396, International journal of mining, reclamation and environment, Abingdon, Eng., C1
S Nair, W Timms
(2020), Vol. 267, Journal of Cleaner Production, C1
Y Peng, W Timms
(2020), Vol. 27, pp. 1599-1610, Journal of Central South University, C1
T McMillan, G Rau, W Timms, M Andersen
(2019), Vol. 57, pp. 281-315, Reviews of geophysics, Washington, D.C., C1
Jack Smith, Hamed Ramandi, Chengguo Zhang, Wendy Timms
(2019), Vol. 6, pp. 286-300, International journal of coal science and technology, Singapore, C1
W Timms, S Nair, R Nelson
(2019), Vol. 36, pp. 565-582, Environmental and planning law journal, Rozelle, N.S.W., C1
W Timms, R Acworth, R Crane, C Arns, J Arns, D McGeeney, G Rau, M Cuthbert
(2018), Vol. 54, pp. 3122-3138, Water resources research, Washington, D.C., C1-1
G Rau, R Acworth, L Halloran, W Timms, M Cuthbert
(2018), Vol. 123, pp. 1910-1930, Journal of geophysical research: earth surface, Washington, D.C., C1-1
Evaluation of impact of potential extreme rainfall events on mining in Peru
F Gonzalez, S Raval, R Taplin, W Timms, M Hitch
(2018), Natural Resources Research, New York, N.Y., C1-1
An experimental framework for simulating stress corrosion cracking in cable bolts
S Wu, H Chen, P Craig, H Ramandi, W Timms, P Hagan, A Crosky, B Hebblewhite, S Saydam
(2018), Vol. 76, pp. 121-132, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
K David, W Timms, C Hughes, J Crawford, D McGeeney
(2018), Vol. 22, pp. 6023-6041, Hydrology and earth system sciences, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, C1
Laboratory methods for investigation on stress corrosion cracking of rockbolts and cable bolts
S Saydam, S Wu, H Ramandi, A Crosky, W Timms, P Hagan, B Hebblewhite, D Vandermaat, P Craig, H Chen, E Elias
(2018), ARMS10 : Proceedings of the 2018 ISRM International Symposium: 10th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, Singapore, E1
R Acworth, G Rau, L Halloran, W Timms
(2017), Vol. 53, pp. 2983-2997, Water resources research, Washington, D.C., C1-1
Tracking changes in the specific storage of overburden rock during longwall coal mining
K David, W Timms, S Barbour, R Mitra
(2017), Vol. 553, pp. 304-320, Journal of hydrology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
H Masoumi, J Horne, W Timms
(2017), Vol. 50, pp. 2235-2242, Rock mechanics and rock engineering, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Improved barometric and loading efficiency estimates using packers in monitoring wells
S Cook, W Timms, B Kelly, S Barbour
(2017), Vol. 25, pp. 1451-1463, Hydrogeology journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Soil and aquifer salinization: toward an integrated approach for salinity management of groundwater
R Greene, W Timms, P Rengasamy, M Arshad, R Cresswell
(2016), pp. 377-412, Integrated groundwater management: concepts, approaches and challenges, Cham, Switzerland, B1-1
Z Jiang, G Mariethoz, C Schrank, M Cox, W Timms
(2016), Vol. 24, pp. 2143-2155, Hydrogeology journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
B Banerjee, S Raval, W Timms
(2016), Vol. 13, pp. 1781-1792, International journal of environmental science and technology, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
W Timms, C Holley
(2016), Vol. 41, pp. 351-370, Water International, London, Eng., C1-1
Stress-dependent hydraulic properties of clayey-silt aquitards in eastern Australia
S Bouzalakos, R Crane, D McGeeney, W Timms
(2016), Vol. 11, pp. 969-986, Acta Geotechnica, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Linear flow behaviour of matched joints - case study on standard JRC profiles
M Zoorabadi, S Saydam, W Timms, B Hebblewhite
(2016), Vol. 11, pp. 189-200, Geomechanics and geoengineering, London, Eng., C1-1
W Timms, R Crane, D Anderson, S Bouzalakos, M Whelan, D McGeeney, P Rahman, R Acworth
(2016), Vol. 20, pp. 39-54, Hydrology and earth system sciences, [Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany], C1-1
Z Jiang, G Mariethoz, M Raiber, W Timms, M Cox
(2016), Vol. 30, pp. 1624-1636, Hydrological processes, London, Eng., C1-1
R Acworth, W Timms, B Kelly, D Mcgeeney, T Ralph, Z Larkin, G Rau
(2015), Vol. 62, pp. 657-680, Australian journal of earth sciences, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
R Crane, M Cuthbert, W Timms
(2015), Vol. 19, pp. 3991-4000, Hydrology and earth system sciences, [Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany], C1-1
K David, W Timms, A Baker
(2015), Vol. 538, pp. 1010-1023, Science of the total environment, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Non-linear flow behaviour of rough fractures having standard JRC profiles
M Zoorabadi, S Saydam, W Timms, B Hebblewhite
(2015), Vol. 76, pp. 192-199, International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
S Leong, J Hazelton, R Taplin, W Timms, D Laurence
(2014), Vol. 84, pp. 94-106, Journal of cleaner production, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
B Kelly, W Timms, T Ralph, B Giambastiani, A Comunian, A McCallum, M Andersen, R Blakers, R Acworth, A Baker
(2014), Vol. 61, pp. 501-511, Australian journal of earth sciences, London, Eng., C1-1
A novel centrifuge permeameter to characterize flow through low permeability strata
W Timms, M Whelan, I Acworth, D McGeeney, S Bouzalakos, R Crane, J McCartney, A Hartland
(2014), Vol. 1, pp. 193-199, ICPMG 2014 : Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics 2014, Perth, W.A., E1-1
Aquifer heterogeneity and response time: the challenge for groundwater management
B Kelly, W Timms, M Andersen, A McCallum, R Blakers, R Smith, G Rau, A Badenhop, K Ludowici, R Acworth
(2013), Vol. 64, pp. 1141-1154, Crop and pasture science, Melbourne, Vic., C1-1
Using Moodle - an open source leaning management system in Australian mining engineering education
S Saydam, W Timms, S Raval, C Daly
(2013), pp. 386-389, MITE 2013 : Proceedings of the 2013 IEEE International Conference in MOOC, Innovation and Technology in Education, Jaipur, India, E1-1
A Guinea, W Timms, I Acworth
(2013), pp. 259-263, Near Surface Geoscience 2013 : Proceedings of the 19th EAGE European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Bochum, Germany, E1-1
M Zoorabadi, S Saydam, W Timms, B Hebblewhite
(2013), pp. 2848-2853, Proceedings of the 47th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, San Francisco, Calif., E1-1
W Timms, R Young, N Huth
(2012), Vol. 16, pp. 1203-1219, Hydrology and earth system sciences, [Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany], C1-1
A Hartland, A Baker, W Timms, Y Shutova, D Yu
(2012), Vol. 10, pp. 309-315, Environmental chemistry letters, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Long-term salinity changes in an inland Aquifer, NSW, Australia
A Badenhop, W Timms
(2012), pp. 43-51, Proceedings of the 34th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, HWRS 2012, Sydney, N.S.W., E1-1
Sensitivity analysis of effective parameters on the permeability of rock mass around a tunnel
M Zoorabadi, S Saydam, W Timms, B Hebblewhite
(2012), pp. 944-949, ISRM Regional Symposium - 7th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium, ARMS 2012, Seoul, South Korea, E1-1
Groundwater modelling in a highly seasonal, fractured rock environment using FEFLOW
C Wasko, W Timms, B Miller
(2011), pp. 1709-1716, Proceedings of the 34th World Congress of the International Association for Hydro- Environment Research and Engineering: 33rd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium and 10th Conference on Hydraulics in Water Engineering, Barton, A.C.T, E1-1
Optimising subsurface well design for coastal desalination water harvesting
D Anderson, W Timms, W Glamore
(2009), Vol. 56, pp. 53-60, Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, C1-1
Evidence for connected water processes through smectite-dominated clays at Breeza, New South Wales
R Acworth, W Timms
(2009), Vol. 56, pp. 81-96, Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, C1-1
Wendy Timms, M Hendry, Jason Muise, Robert Kerrich
(2009), Vol. 43, pp. 1153-1159, Environmental Science & Technology, Washington, D.C., C1-1
Long-term reactive solute transport in an aquitard using a centrifuge model
W Timms, M Hendry
(2008), Vol. 46, pp. 616-628, Groundwater, London, Eng., C1-1
Quantifying the impact of cation exchange on long-term solute transport in a clay-rich aquitard
W Timms, M Hendry
(2007), Vol. 332, pp. 110-122, Journal of hydrology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
W Timms, R Acworth
(2005), Vol. 13, pp. 858-870, Hydrogeology journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
Real-time analysis of small volume samples with micro ion-selective electrodes
W Timms, M Hendry
(2004), Vol. 24, pp. 67-72, Groundwater monitoring and remediation, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
R Acworth, W Timms
(2003), Vol. 11, pp. 659-672, Hydrogeology journal, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
W Timms, R Acworth
(2002), Vol. 49, pp. 525-537, Australian journal of earth sciences, Abingdon, Eng., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Optimisation of water management for coal mines - water tracer tools - Project Number: C28024
Prof Wendy Timms
Australian Coal Association Research Program
- 2022: $29,610
- 2021: $33,390
- 2020: $132,595
- 2019: $99,900
Other Public Sector Funding
Phase II: MEMS piezometer performance on field engineering site and data analysis using Machine Learning and Python code for pore pressure prediction and estimation of hydro-mechanical properties..
Prof Wendy Timms, Prof Bre-Anne Sainsbury, Mr Milad Barzegar Touchahi
International Education Resilience Fund
- 2022: $15,000
Industry and Other Funding
Otway environmental monitoring for carbon sequestration.
Prof Wendy Timms, Dr Svetlana Stevanovic, A/Prof Damien Callahan
CO2CRC Limited
- 2024: $67,889
- 2023: $165,431
- 2022: $169,260
- 2021: $173,214
- 2020: $176,891
Advanced monitoring and analysis systems for subsurface monitoring of rock strata and groundwater systems.
Prof Wendy Timms, Prof Bre-Anne Sainsbury
Fluid Potential Pty Ltd
- 2022: $20,000
- 2021: $20,000
- 2020: $20,000
Other Funding Sources
National groundwater recharge observing system
Andy Baker, Dr Margaret Shanafield, Prof Wendy Timms, Dr Maria de Lourdes Melo Zurita, A/Prof Martin Andersen
ARC LIEF - Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities Program
- 2022: $42,479
Supervisions
Minh Duc Nguyen
Thesis entitled: Developing Novel End-use Pathways for Water Treatment Sludge
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), School of Engineering