Research interests

• The hydrology of farm irrigation supply 
• Quantification of water losses in channel supply and distribution systems
• Irrigated farming systems

Background

Saud Akbar is Irrigation Engineer based at Richmond. He was first employed by the Department of Land and Water Conversation for the period December 1993 - 1996 as Engineer involved in the development and implementation of practical measures to deal with the environmental impact of irrigated cotton. In March 1996 he joined NSW Agriculture (*NSW Department of Primary Industries) as an Irrigation Engineer based at Yanco Agricultural Institute, Yanco. His work with NSW Agriculture (NSW DPI) has included developing guidelines and research on environmental impacts. In his current position with NSW DPI, Mr Akbar conducts research into the hydrology of irrigation supply and drainage in whole farm irrigation systems, investigates improved irrigation systems and provides quality assurance for technical services provided by NSW DPI irrigation staff in southern NSW.

His experience includes using both investigation and analytical techniques to improve irrigation practices, surface and groundwater interaction, with national and international consulting engineering firms.

Since joining NSW DPI Saud has recently completed “the assessment of irrigation water delivery systems for water losses” assessments in the Murrumbidgee, Murray and Coleambally Irrigation Areas and has been a significant contributor to the Pratt Water Research Report for the Murrumbidgee Valley Water Efficiency Project.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• B.Sc Pre engineering Science - University of Punjab, Pakistan (1980) 
• Graduate Diploma Electronic Physic - University of Agriculture, Pakistan (1981)
• B. Engineering (B.E) Irrigation and Drainage - University of Agri. Engineering, Pakistan (1984)
• M. Engineering (M.E) Water resources Management - Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (1988)

Current projects

• Saud leads one CRC Irrigation Future project (Hydrologic-Economic Analysis Aspects) of System Harmonisation research, which includes carrying out messo and micro scale water balance and economic Analysis in the Colleamby Irrigation Area.

Recent Selected Publications

Khan S, Rana T, Dassanayake D, Abas A, Blackwell J, Akbar S and Gabriel HF (2007) Spatially Distributed Assessment of channel seepage using Geophysics and artificial intelligence. IRD-07-0074.R2, J Irrig & Drain.

Akbar S, Khan S and Diffey S (2006) Rapid assessment for understanding seepage water losses from supply, on-farm channels & drains using EM techniques. (III International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management, 30 May to 2 June 2006, Ciudad Real, Spain)

Akbar S and Khan S (2005) Saving losses from irrigation channels: channel seepage from measurement to action. (NZHS-IAH-NZSSS Joint International Water Conference, 28 Nov to 2 Dec 2005, Auckland, NZ)

Akbar S, Khan S, Allan D, and Brian D (2004) Understanding seepage water losses from on-farm channels and drains using geophysical techniques. (Australian Irrigation Conference, Adelaide 11-13th May 2004)

Akbar S, Khan S, Abbas A, Rana T and Khan A (2003) Evaluation of investment options to reduce losses from irrigation supply systems. ANCID 20-22nd Oct. 2003, Shepparton, VIC.

Akbar S and Khan S (2002) Methodologies for quantifying on-farm channel and drain interactions with regional groundwater dynamics. ANCID Griffith 2002 Conference, (1- 4th September 2002).

Akbar S, Beecher HG, Cullis B and Dunn B (2001) Channel Seepage Estimation and identification using two Techniques. In EM Techniques for Agricultural Resource Management Conference, (3-5 July 2001), Yanco.

Akbar S, Beecher HG, Cullis B and Dunn B (2000) Using of EM Surveys to Identify Seepage sites in on-farm channel and drains, (Australian Irrigation 2000 Conference, Melbourne 23 to 25 May 2000).

Professional associations and activities

• Member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia (MIEAust)
• Member of the Irrigation Association of Australia (IAA)
• Member of the Australian National Committee on Irrigation & Drainage (ANCID)

Research Awards

• Mr Akbar received a Eureka Award for research into water efficient irrigation (2007) 
• The CSIRO Medal for Research Achievement for his contribution to the “Water for a Healthy Country” Flagship Irrigation Team (2007)

Fields of Research

• 050206 Natural Resource Management 
• 070107 Farming Systems Research 
• 079901 Agricultural hydrology (drainage, flooding, irrigation, quality)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Surface-groundwater interaction studies
• Hydrodynamic River and channel real time flow measurement and management. 
• Hydrological analysis for the design of surface and subsurface drainage systems. 
• Hydrological modelling and database development. 
• Irrigated farming systems 
• Irrigation management 
• Electromagnetic (EM31) survey of whole irrigation channel/drain networks

Contact details