Emeritus Professor David Williams
Emeritus Professor

David Williams

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Background

Professor David John Williams was the Initiator and Director of the Geotechnical Engineering Centre within the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland, an industry-funded centre that has attracted AUD10 million in funding over the period from 2007 to 2022. He also manages the industry-sponsored Large Open Pit Project, involving 10 global mining company sponsors, with current funding of USD1 million per year. He has over 40 years of teaching, research and consulting experience, and is internationally recognised for his expertise and experience in mine waste management and mine closure, pertaining to tailings dams in particular. He was a member of Expert Panel investigating technical causes of Brumadinho tailings dam failure and is on a number of Tailings Independent Technical Review Boards, including for Escondida Copper Mine in Chile. He authored in 2009 and 2016 Tailings Management Handbook, as part of the Commonwealth Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry. He is on Working Party for the Australian National Committee for Large Dams Guidelines on Tailings Dams – Planning, Design, Construction, Operation and Closure, published in 2012, with an Addendum in 2019 and currently being updated. He initiated in 2020 and largely delivers the AusIMM Tailings Management Professional Certificate Course that has been taken by almost 1,500 Tailings Practitioners worldwide.

David received his BE (Hons I) in Civil Engineering from Monash University in 1975 and his PhD in Soil Mechanics from the University of Cambridge in 1979. His research and consulting interests include:

  • Physical characterisation of mine tailings deposition, including beaching, hydraulic sorting, sedimentation, consolidation, desiccation and loading
  • Store and release cover systems for potentially acid forming mine wastes
  • Co-disposal of mine tailings and coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Dewatering and densification of mine tailings
  • Dewatering of mineral products
  • Moisture movement within mine wastes
  • Settlement of coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Strength of coarse-grained mine wastes
  • Engineered rehabilitation of mine sites
  • Risk assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis of mine site rehabilitation and closure
  • Long-term seepage and runoff from mine tailings storages
  • Characterisation of potentially acid forming waste rock dumps
  • Application of high-resolution digital stereo-photography to monitoring erosion from mine waste slopes
  • Mined landform evolution and design

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Civil engineering Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, Monash University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge

Research impacts

Professor Williams' research on mine tailings continues to be applied to improve the dewatering and densification of tailings deposited as a slurry. He developed the store and release cover system for potentially acid forming mine wastes for application in semi-arid and seasonally dry climates, which has been applied worldwide. He characterised the deposit formed on the pumped co-disposal of coal mine washery wastes; a method that has been widely adopted in the coalfields of eastern Australia and Indonesia. The co-disposal of coarse-grained mine wastes and tailings is also being applied. His research on the wetting-up of mine waste rock dumps has contributed to understanding of rainfall infiltration into and seepage from waste rock dumps.

The shear strength and settlement of coarse-grained mine wastes have become important as the scale of waste rock dumps and spoil piles increases. Professor Williams has been a pioneer in the application of risk assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis to mine site rehabilitation and closure. In addition, he applied high-resolution digital stereo-photography to monitoring erosion from mine waste slopes. He has pioneered mined landform evolution and design.

Shortlisted Media and Video Outputs

Search Professor David Williams’s works on UQ eSpace

416 works between 1981 and 2025
All (416) Journal Article (185) Book Chapter (9) Conference Publication (216) Book (4) Other Outputs (2)

301 - 320 of 416 works

2003

Conference Publication

Concepts of co-mixing of tailings and waste rock

Wilson, G.W., Plewes, H.D., Williams, D.J. and Robertson, J. (2003). Concepts of co-mixing of tailings and waste rock. 6th Internatinal Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

Concepts of co-mixing of tailings and waste rock

2003

Conference Publication

A case study of water management on closure of an open pit mining operation in North Queensland, Australia

Williams, D.J., Currey, N. A., Ritchie, P.J. and Briese, E.H. (2003). A case study of water management on closure of an open pit mining operation in North Queensland, Australia. Water in Mining 2003, Brisbane, Australia, 13-15 October 2003. Carlton, Vic., Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

A case study of water management on closure of an open pit mining operation in North Queensland, Australia

2003

Conference Publication

Waste rock and tailings mixtures as a possible seal for potentially acide forming waste rock

Williams, D.J., Wilson, G.W. and Panidis, C. (2003). Waste rock and tailings mixtures as a possible seal for potentially acide forming waste rock. 6th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

Waste rock and tailings mixtures as a possible seal for potentially acide forming waste rock

2003

Journal Article

Addressing the expectations for mine site rehabilitation of stakeholders of the minerals industry? An Australia perspective

Williams D.J. (2003). Addressing the expectations for mine site rehabilitation of stakeholders of the minerals industry? An Australia perspective. Geotechnical News, 21 (1), 38-43.

Addressing the expectations for mine site rehabilitation of stakeholders of the minerals industry? An Australia perspective

2003

Conference Publication

Successful tailings dam design, construction, operation and closure - a case study

Williams, D.J., Currey, N.A. and Ritchie, P. J. (2003). Successful tailings dam design, construction, operation and closure - a case study. International Symposium on Major Challenges in Tailings dams, Montreal, Canada, 15 June 2003. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Dam Association (CDA).

Successful tailings dam design, construction, operation and closure - a case study

2003

Conference Publication

Kidston waste rock dump design and "store and release" cover performance seven years on

Williams, D.J., Currey, N.A., Ritchie, P. J. and Wilson, G.W. (2003). Kidston waste rock dump design and "store and release" cover performance seven years on. 6th Internatinal Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

Kidston waste rock dump design and "store and release" cover performance seven years on

2003

Conference Publication

Sustainable cost-effective mined land reclamation

Cambpell, H. F., Golding, B. and Williams, D. (2003). Sustainable cost-effective mined land reclamation. National Environment Conference 2003, Brisbane, Australia, 18-20 June 2003.

Sustainable cost-effective mined land reclamation

2003

Conference Publication

A review of the acid rock drainage potential and hyrological implications of selectively-placed waste rock at a gold mine in NSW, Australia

Williams, D.J., Jeffery, J., Gilbert, L., Wilson, G.W., Panidis, C. and Perry, B. (2003). A review of the acid rock drainage potential and hyrological implications of selectively-placed waste rock at a gold mine in NSW, Australia. 6th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

A review of the acid rock drainage potential and hyrological implications of selectively-placed waste rock at a gold mine in NSW, Australia

2003

Conference Publication

The integrity of cover systems - an update

Wilson, G.W., Williams, D.J. and Rykaart, E.M. (2003). The integrity of cover systems - an update. 6th Internatinal Conference on Acid Rock Drainage, Cairns, Australia, 14-17 July 2003. Melbourne, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

The integrity of cover systems - an update

2002

Conference Publication

Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coal mine spoil areas

Williams, David J. (2002). Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coal mine spoil areas. 4th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11-15 August 2002.

Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coal mine spoil areas

2002

Journal Article

Engineering closure of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate

Williams, D. J. and Currey, A. N. (2002). Engineering closure of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate. International journal of surface mining, reclamation and environment, 16 (4), 270-288. doi: 10.1076/ijsm.16.4.270.8632

Engineering closure of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate

2002

Conference Publication

Monitoring erosion off unvegetated mine tailings facilities and natural slopes using high-resolution, digital stereo-photography

Williams, D. J., Stolberg, D. J. and Poole, G. (2002). Monitoring erosion off unvegetated mine tailings facilities and natural slopes using high-resolution, digital stereo-photography. Fourth International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11-14 August 2002. The Netherlands: A A Balkema Publishers.

Monitoring erosion off unvegetated mine tailings facilities and natural slopes using high-resolution, digital stereo-photography

2002

Conference Publication

Cover trials on saline tailings storage facilities compared with a natural salt pan analogue

Williams, D. J., Stolberg, D. J. and Bentel, G.M. (2002). Cover trials on saline tailings storage facilities compared with a natural salt pan analogue. Fourth International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11-15 August 2002. The Netherlands: A A Balkema Publishers.

Cover trials on saline tailings storage facilities compared with a natural salt pan analogue

2002

Conference Publication

Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coast mine spoil areas

Williams, D. J. (2002). Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coast mine spoil areas. Fourth International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11-15 August 2002. The Netherlands: A A Balkema Publishers.

Sensitivity analyses of a risk assessment model applied to the rehabilitation of open cut coast mine spoil areas

2001

Conference Publication

Engineering aspects of the rehabilitation of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate

Williams, D.J., Wilson, G.W., Curry, N.A. and Ritchie, P.J. (2001). Engineering aspects of the rehabilitation of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate. Back to the Future, Adelaide, Australia, 14-17 October 2001. Canberra, Australia: Australian Minerals Council.

Engineering aspects of the rehabilitation of an open pit gold operation in a semi-arid climate

2001

Conference Publication

Potential use of waste rock and tailings mixtures as a cover for potenially acid forming waste rock

Williams, D. J. and Wilson, G.W. (2001). Potential use of waste rock and tailings mixtures as a cover for potenially acid forming waste rock. Securing the Future, Skelleftea, Sweden, 14-18 October 2001. Stockholm, Sweden: The Swedish Mining Association.

Potential use of waste rock and tailings mixtures as a cover for potenially acid forming waste rock

2001

Book Chapter

Assessment of embankment parameters

Williams, D. J. (2001). Assessment of embankment parameters. Slop Stability in Surface Mining. (pp. 275-284) edited by Hustrulid, W. A., McCarter, M. C. and van Zyl, D. J. A.. Littleton, Colorado, USA: Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Assessment of embankment parameters

2001

Conference Publication

Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities in an arid climate

Williams, David J. and Bentel, G. M. (2001). Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities in an arid climate. International Conference on Mining and the Environment - Securing the Future, Skelleftea, Sweden, 25 June-1 July 2001.

Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities in an arid climate

2001

Conference Publication

Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities

Williams, D. J. and Bentel, G.M. (2001). Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities. Securing the Future, Skelleftea, Sweden, 14-18 October 2001. Stockholm, Sweden: The Swedish Mining Association.

Alternative approaches to closure of tailings storage facilities

2001

Conference Publication

Mined landform design

Williams, D.J. (2001). Mined landform design. GeoEnvironment 2001, Newcastle, Australia, 28-30 November 2001. Sydney, Australia: Australian Geomechanics Society (Newcastle Chapter).

Mined landform design

Availability

Emeritus Professor David Williams is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Analytical model for the setup of driven piles

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Measuring the deformation of mine waste facilities

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Engineering Behaviour of Clay-sized Tailings Relevant to Their Disposal and Utilisation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The tailings dam design process: Design parameters and assessment methodologies

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Utilisation of Mining Wastes as Backfill Material for Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Partha Narayan Mishra

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Behaviour of railway expansive soil subgrade under wetting and drying cycles

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Settling, consolidation and desiccation of mine tailings slurry

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Catastrophic rock and concrete brittle failures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Value of Geotechnical Information as a Public or Private Asset

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Farming method and assessment of its application in bauxite residue using scaled laboratory model

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Master Philosophy

    Preventing fatalities tailings facilities failures: Pathways to action

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jill Harris, Professor Deanna Kemp

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessment of hydrological and geotechnical behaviour of bauxite residue after filter pressing and repulping

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Thierry Bore, Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Continuous analysis of the timeseries data to predict early TARP for a closed Tailings storage facility using data driven methods.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chenming Zhang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Tunnelling related topic - Water mitigation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jurij Karlovsek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Damage Behaviour of Rock Salt Under Coupled Thermomechanical Polyaxial Stresses

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor David Williams directly for media enquiries about:

  • Dumps - mine waste
  • Earthquakes - engineering
  • Engineering - earthquake
  • Engineering - geotechnical
  • Foundations - engineering
  • Geomechanics - mines
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Landform design - mining
  • Mine rehabilitation
  • Mine waste disposal
  • Rehabilitation - mine sites
  • Slope stability - mining

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