Overview
Background
Dr. Vilim Filipović’s area of interest are in environmental soil science and ecohydrology with expertise in soil physical processes, vadose zone hydrology, contaminant/nutrient transport, and numerical modelling. His research explores the complex interactions between soil, water, and contaminants/nutrients, with applications in environmental sustainability, agricultural resilience, and mine rehabilitation. By integrating long-term field monitoring, experimental research, and computational modelling, his work assesses environmental pressures and evaluates management strategies for soil and water resources.
Dr. Filipović obtained his PhD in Environmental Soil Science and Hydrology from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He has held academic and research positions in Europe and Australia, and still currently holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position at the University of Zagreb. In 2022, he joined The University of Queensland, where he contributes to research and teaching in environmental soil science, vadose zone ecohydrology, and numerical modelling.
With an extensive international network, Dr. Filipović has led numerous national and international research projects on soil-plant-atmosphere interactions, preferential flow, and contaminant fate in soil systems. His research collaborations span institutions in Australia, Europe, and North America, and he has been a visiting scholar at CSIRO (Australia), SLU (Sweden), Penn State University, University of California, University of Florida (USA), BOKU (Austria), and ZALF (Germany), among others.
At UQ, Dr. Filipović plays an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate education, employing a research-led teaching approach in environmental soil science. He coordinates and lectures in key courses, including LAND2003, AGRC7053, LAND3005, and GEOS1100, emphasizing hands-on field and laboratory experiences, active learning methodologies, and the integration of cutting-edge research into student learning.
Dr. Filipović is a recognized leader in his field, serving as an Associate Editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vadose Zone Journal and Applied Soil Ecology. His contributions have been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including the Soil Science Society of America Early Career Award (2019) Visiting Fellowship at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (2021) in Germany and CRC TiME Award winner for Outstanding Research Communication award (2024), among other recognitions.
Dr. Filipović has held significant leadership roles, including Head of Department at the University of Zagreb, leadership of a Critical Zone Observatory, panel membership for national science foundations, curriculum development, and various committee positions. His work continues to contribute to advancing soil science research, education, and environmental management on national and international scale.
Research Interests
- Environmental sciences and agroecology
- Preferential flow and non-equilibrium transport processes in heterogeneous soils
- Fate of contaminants in soil (i.e., nutrients, pesticides, trace metals, pharmaceuticals)
- Vadose (critical) zone processes
- Soil physics and hydrology
- Soil hydraulic properties estimation
Availability
- Dr Vilim Filipović is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Research interests
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Soil Hydraulic Properties and Their Role in Ecosystem Functions
Soil water dynamics influence biogeochemical cycling, plant water uptake, contaminant mobility, and ecosystem resilience. Understanding soil hydraulic properties is essential for predicting water movement in natural and managed landscapes and agroecosystems. Dr. Filipović’s research advances methodologies for estimating soil hydraulic properties using in-field, laboratory, and inverse numerical approaches, with applications in environmental monitoring, land rehabilitation, and ecosystem restoration.
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Transport Processes in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum
The vadose zone acts as a critical interface regulating water and solute fluxes across soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere. Dr. Filipović investigates how preferential flow and non-equilibrium transport processes affect water availability, contaminant movement, and ecosystem sustainability. His research employs cutting-edge techniques such as displacement soil cores, lysimeter experiments, CT imaging, and in-situ monitoring to enhance the understanding of water and solute fluxes in structured soils.
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Numerical Modelling of Water Flow and Solute Transport in Heterogeneous Soils
Numerical modelling is an essential tool for predicting the effects of environmental change and land management strategies on soil-water interactions and transport of various contaminants or nutrients. Dr. Filipović applies advanced numerical models (e.g., HYDRUS suite) to simulate water flow and solute transport (i.e., nutrients, pesticides, trace metals, pharmaceuticals) in one-, two-, and three-dimensional porous media. His work emphasizes preferential flow and non-uniform solute transport in structured soils, contributing to improved environmental risk assessments and more sustainable land-use practices.
Research impacts
Soil, particularly the vadose (critical) zone, is a key component of terrestrial ecosystems, regulating water flow, solute transport, and biogeochemical cycling. As global environmental pressures intensify, there is an urgent need to enhance our understanding of soil-water-atmosphere interactions to mitigate pollution, support water security, soil health, and promote ecosystem resilience.
Dr. Filipović’s research is dedicated to understanding the transport processes within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, with an emphasis on reducing environmental pressures on soil and water resources. His work integrates advanced soil monitoring techniques and numerical modeling approaches to address key challenges in soil water dynamics, preferential flow, contaminant fate, mine rehabilitation ecohydrology, and ecosystem restoration. His research spans large-scale field experiments, lysimeter studies, glasshouse trials, and laboratory investigations, with a particular focus on numerical modeling of soil-water processes.
Through national and international research initiatives, Dr. Filipović contributes to sustainable environmental management and land-use strategies that minimize contamination risks and support ecosystem services.
Works
Search Professor Vilim Filipović’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Organic matter and salinity modify cadmium soil (phyto)availability
Filipović, Lana, Romić, Marija, Romić, Davor, Filipović, Vilim and Ondrašek, Gabrijel (2018). Organic matter and salinity modify cadmium soil (phyto)availability. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 147, 824-831. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.09.041
2017
Journal Article
Quality of surface water in the agricultural district Lonja field (Croatia)
Simunic, Ivan, Orlovic-Leko, Palma, Senta Maric, Ankica, Cigleneki, Irena, Minkina, Tatiana and Filipovic, Vilim (2017). Quality of surface water in the agricultural district Lonja field (Croatia). The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry", 63 (3), 5-14. doi: 10.17707/agricultforest.63.3.01
2017
Journal Article
Quantifying subsurface lateral flow along sloping horizon boundaries in soil profiles of a hummocky ground moraine
Filipović, Vilim, Gerke, Horst H., Filipović, Lana and Sommer, Michael (2017). Quantifying subsurface lateral flow along sloping horizon boundaries in soil profiles of a hummocky ground moraine. Vadose Zone Journal, 17 (1) 170106, 1-12. doi: 10.2136/vzj2017.05.0106
2016
Journal Article
Modeling copper and cadmium mobility in an albeluvisol amended with urban waste composts
Filipović, Vilim, Cambier, Philippe, Filipović, Lana, Coquet, Yves, Pot, Valérie, Bodineau, Guillaume, Jaulin, Anne, Mercier, Vincent, Houot, Sabine and Benoit, Pierre (2016). Modeling copper and cadmium mobility in an albeluvisol amended with urban waste composts. Vadose Zone Journal, 15 (12), 1-15. doi: 10.2136/vzj2016.07.0056
2016
Journal Article
Water flow and solute transport model of potentially toxic elements through unsaturated zone at regional wellfield Kosnica
Ružičić, Stanko, Mileusnić, Marta, Posavec, Kristijan, Nakić, Zoran, Durn, Goran and Filipović, Vilim (2016). Water flow and solute transport model of potentially toxic elements through unsaturated zone at regional wellfield Kosnica. Hydrological Processes, 30 (22), 4113-4124. doi: 10.1002/hyp.10914
2016
Book Chapter
Modelling water dynamics, transport processes and biogeochemical reactions in soil vadose zone
Filipović, Vilim, Ondrašek, Gabrijel and Filipović, Lana (2016). Modelling water dynamics, transport processes and biogeochemical reactions in soil vadose zone. Groundwater - contaminant and resource management. (pp. *-*) edited by Muhammad Salik Javaid. London, United Kingdom: InTech. doi: 10.5772/63496
2016
Journal Article
Modeling water and isoproturon dynamics in a heterogeneous soil profile under different urban waste compost applications
Filipović, Vilim, Coquet, Yves, Pot, Valérie, Houot, Sabine and Benoit, Pierre (2016). Modeling water and isoproturon dynamics in a heterogeneous soil profile under different urban waste compost applications. Geoderma, 268, 29-40. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.01.009
2016
Journal Article
Numerical simulations of isoproturon transport in conventional soil cultivation with compost obtained by urban biological waste recycling Numeričke simuiacije pronosa izoproturona pri konvencionalnoj obradi tla uz primjenu komposta dobivenog recikliranjem urbanog bio-otpada
Filipović, Vilim, Coquet, Yves, Pot, Valérie, Matijević, Lana, Cambier, Philippe, Houot, Sabine and Benoit, Pierre (2016). Numerical simulations of isoproturon transport in conventional soil cultivation with compost obtained by urban biological waste recycling Numeričke simuiacije pronosa izoproturona pri konvencionalnoj obradi tla uz primjenu komposta dobivenog recikliranjem urbanog bio-otpada. Hrvatske Vode, 24 (95), 19-28.
2015
Journal Article
Efficiency of maize irrigation scheduling in climate variability and extreme weather events in eastern Croatia
Marković, Monika, Tadić, Vjekoslav, Josipović, Marko, Zebec, Vladimir and Filipović, Vilim (2015). Efficiency of maize irrigation scheduling in climate variability and extreme weather events in eastern Croatia. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 6 (3), 586-595. doi: 10.2166/wcc.2015.042
2015
Journal Article
Modeling water flow and nitrate–nitrogen transport on golf course under turfgrass
Filipović, Vilim, Toor, Gurpal S., Ondrašek, Gabrijel and Kodešová, Radka (2015). Modeling water flow and nitrate–nitrogen transport on golf course under turfgrass. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 15 (8), 1847-1859. doi: 10.1007/s11368-014-0980-7
2015
Journal Article
Evaluation of different soil water potential by field capacity threshold in combination with a triggered irrigation module
Marković, Monika, Filipović, Vilim, Legović, Tarzan, Josipović, Marko and Tadić, Vjekoslav (2015). Evaluation of different soil water potential by field capacity threshold in combination with a triggered irrigation module. Soil and Water Research, 10 (3), 164-171. doi: 10.17221/189/2014-SWR
2014
Journal Article
Soil tillage to reduce surface metal contamination - model development and simulations of zinc and copper concentration profiles in a pig slurry-amended soil
Mallmann, Fábio Joel Kochem, Rheinheimer, Danilo dos Santos, Ceretta, Carlos Alberto, Cella, Cesar, Minella, Jean Paolo Gomes, Guma, Rosana Lamana, Filipović, Vilim, van Oort, Folkert and Šimůnek, Jirka (2014). Soil tillage to reduce surface metal contamination - model development and simulations of zinc and copper concentration profiles in a pig slurry-amended soil. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 196, 59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2014.06.024
2014
Book Chapter
Land and Water Management Strategies for the Improvement of Crop Production
Ondrasek, Gabrijel, Rengel, Zed, Petosic, Dragutin and Filipovic, Vilim (2014). Land and Water Management Strategies for the Improvement of Crop Production. Emerging Technologies and Management of Crop Stress Tolerance. (pp. 291-313) Elsevier Inc.. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-800875-1.00013-2
2014
Journal Article
Numerical simulation of water flow in tile and mole drainage systems
Filipović, Vilim, Mallmann, Fábio Joel Kochem, Coquet, Yves and Šimůnek, Jirka (2014). Numerical simulation of water flow in tile and mole drainage systems. Agricultural Water Management, 146, 105-114. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2014.07.020
2013
Journal Article
Presence of nitrates in groundwater: Sources and processes Prisutnost nitrata u podzemnim vodama: Izvori i procesi
Filipović, Vilim, Petošić, Dragutin and Nakić, Zoran (2013). Presence of nitrates in groundwater: Sources and processes Prisutnost nitrata u podzemnim vodama: Izvori i procesi. Hrvatske Vode, 21 (84), 119-128.
2013
Journal Article
Modelling water flow in free drainage lysimeters and soils with different anisotropy Modeliranje toka vode na procjednim lizimetrima i tlima s različitom anizotropijom
Filipović, Vilim, Posavec, Kristijan and Petošić, Dragutin (2013). Modelling water flow in free drainage lysimeters and soils with different anisotropy Modeliranje toka vode na procjednim lizimetrima i tlima s različitom anizotropijom. Tehnicki Vjesnik, 20 (2), 263-268.
2013
Journal Article
Numerical modeling of water flow and contaminant (Nitrates) transport in agriculture: Review
Filipović, Vilim (2013). Numerical modeling of water flow and contaminant (Nitrates) transport in agriculture: Review. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 78 (2), 79-84.
2013
Journal Article
Experimental and mathematical modeling of water regime and nitrate dynamics on zero tension plate lysimeters in soil influenced by high groundwater table
Filipović, Vilim, Kodešová, Radka and Petošić, Dragutin (2013). Experimental and mathematical modeling of water regime and nitrate dynamics on zero tension plate lysimeters in soil influenced by high groundwater table. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 95 (1), 23-42. doi: 10.1007/s10705-012-9546-5
2012
Journal Article
The impact of pipe spacing on drain outflow, nitrate flush and rapeseed yield Utjecaj razmaka cuevi na drenažno istjecanje, ispiranje nitrata i prinos uljane repice
Šimunić, Ivan, Cvetković, Damir, Marić, Ankica Senta, Tomić, Akademik Franjo, Jurišić, Aleksandra, Bubalo, Marina, Filipović, Vilim and Zovko, Monika (2012). The impact of pipe spacing on drain outflow, nitrate flush and rapeseed yield Utjecaj razmaka cuevi na drenažno istjecanje, ispiranje nitrata i prinos uljane repice. Hrvatske Vode, 20 (82), 189-200.
2012
Journal Article
Impact of agriculture on the quality of percolating water: Case study in eastern Croatia
Filipović, Vilim, Petošić, Dragutin, Rubinić, Vedran and Marković, Monika (2012). Impact of agriculture on the quality of percolating water: Case study in eastern Croatia. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 10 (3-4), 1335-1336.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Vilim Filipović is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Wheat responses to different sources of nitrogen as affected by phosphorus in the northern grain region of eastern Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
Wheat responses to different sources of nitrogen as affected by phosphorus in the northern grain region of eastern Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Tim McLaren
Media
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