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
Teaching
- LAND2003 The Soil Environment (coordinator)
- LAND3005 Soil Plant Relationships
- AGRC7053 Sustainable Soil Management (coordinator)
- GEOS1100 Environment & Society
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
2014
Conference Publication
Modeling water and isoproturon dynamics in a heterogeneous soil profile receiving different urban waste compost
Filipović, Vilim, Coquet, Yves, Pot, Valerie, Houot, Sabine and Benoit, Pierre (2014). Modeling water and isoproturon dynamics in a heterogeneous soil profile receiving different urban waste compost. Sustainable Soil Management for Food and Environment Safety, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 22-26 September 2014.
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
Conference Publication
Application of field lysimeters in groundwater pollution assessment
Kovačić, Marina Bubalo, Romić, Marija, Kuspilić, Nikola and Filipović, Vilim (2013). Application of field lysimeters in groundwater pollution assessment. 3rd International Conference Waters in Sensitive & Protected Areas, Zagreb, Croatia, 13–15 June 2013.
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
Conference Publication
Numerical modeling of water flow and nitrate dynamics on zero tension plate lysimeters using HYDRUS-2D
Filipović, Vilim, Kodešová, Radka and Petošić, Dragutin (2013). Numerical modeling of water flow and nitrate dynamics on zero tension plate lysimeters using HYDRUS-2D. HYDRUS Software Applications to Subsurface Flow and Contaminant Transport Problems, Prague, Czech Republic, April 2013.
2013
Conference Publication
Modeling water flow and nitrate dynamics on future golf course under turfgrass
Filipović, Vilim, Ondrašek, Gabrijel and Kodešová, Radka (2013). Modeling water flow and nitrate dynamics on future golf course under turfgrass. SUITMA 07 — Soils of Urban Industrial Traffic Mining and Military Areas, Toruń, Poland, June 2013.
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
Conference Publication
The need and importance of surplus water regulation on hydromorphic soils in the Adriatic region
Petošić, Dragutin, Husnjak, Stjepan, Mustać, Ivan, Filipović, Vilim, Klarić, Marko and Barać, Tea (2013). The need and importance of surplus water regulation on hydromorphic soils in the Adriatic region. Scientific meeting Forestry and Agriculture of the Croatian Mediterranean on the Verge of the European Union, Split, Croatia, May 2013.
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
2013
Conference Publication
Assessment of groundwater quality using multivariate statistical techniques in intensive agricultural area
Filipović, Vilim, Nakić, Zoran, Petošić, Dragutin, Mesić, Mladen, Husnjak, Stjepan and Posavec, Kristijan (2013). Assessment of groundwater quality using multivariate statistical techniques in intensive agricultural area. 3rd International Conference Waters in Sensitive & Protected Areas, Zagreb, Croatia, May 2013.
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
Identifying spatial and temporal variation of nitrate concentration in shallow groundwater aquifer
Filipović, Vilim, Petošić, Dragutin, Nakić, Zoran, Mustać, Ivan, Ružičić, Stanko, Zovko, Monika and Bubalo, Marina (2012). Identifying spatial and temporal variation of nitrate concentration in shallow groundwater aquifer. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 10 (3-4), 1001-1004.
2012
Journal Article
The impact of pipe spacing on drain outflow, nitrate flush and rapeseed yield
Simunic, Ivan, Cvetkovic, Damir, Maric, Ankica Senta, Tomic, Akademik Franjo, Jurisic, Aleksandra, Bubalo, Marina, Filipovic, Vilim and Zovko, Monika (2012). The impact of pipe spacing on drain outflow, nitrate flush and rapeseed yield. Hrvatske Vode, 20 (82), 189-200.
2012
Conference Publication
Comparison of observed and calculated excess water (drainage discharge) in drained soil
Šimunić, Ivica, Tomić, Franjo, Minkina, Tatiana, Kalinitchenko, V., Vukelić-Shutoska, Marija, Filipović, Vilim and Bubalo, Marina (2012). Comparison of observed and calculated excess water (drainage discharge) in drained soil. Eurosoil 2012, Bari, Italy, 2–6 July 2012.
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.
2011
Journal Article
Impact of agriculture on leachate quality in the area of the amelioration canal for irrigation of the Bicross d sign -Bosut polje Utjecaj poljoprivrede na kakvoću procjednih voda na području melioracijskog kanala za navodnjavanje bicross d sign bosutskog polja
Petošić, Dragutin, Kovačević, Vlado, Mustać, Ivan, Filipović, Vilim and Dujlović, Darko (2011). Impact of agriculture on leachate quality in the area of the amelioration canal for irrigation of the Bicross d sign -Bosut polje Utjecaj poljoprivrede na kakvoću procjednih voda na području melioracijskog kanala za navodnjavanje bicross d sign bosutskog polja. Hrvatske Vode, 19 (78), 241-250.
2011
Journal Article
Evaluating the impacts of agriculture to groundwater pollution in a shallow aquifer in eastern Croatia
Filipovic, Vilim, Petosic, Dragutin, Šimunic, Ivan, Mustac, Ivan, Svecnjak, Zlatko, Zovko, Monika, Bubalo, Marina and Matijevic, Lana (2011). Evaluating the impacts of agriculture to groundwater pollution in a shallow aquifer in eastern Croatia. University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Bulletin. Agriculture, 68 (2), 37-44. doi: 10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:6522
2011
Conference Publication
Assessment of groundwater pollution from agriculture in a shallow aquifer in the lower part of the multipurpose Danube-Sava canal
Filipović, Vilim, Petošić, Dragutin, Mustać, Ivan, Zovko, Marko and Bubalo, Marina (2011). Assessment of groundwater pollution from agriculture in a shallow aquifer in the lower part of the multipurpose Danube-Sava canal. XXV Conference of the Danubian Countries on the Hydrological Forecasting and Hydrological Bases of Water Management, Budapest, Hungary, 16-17 June 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Heavy metals in hydroameliorated soil and drainage water
Šimunić, Ivan, Marić, Ankica Senta, Orlović-Leko, Palma, Likso, Tanja, Tomić, Franjo, Minkina, Tatiana, Filipović, Vilim and Šimunić, Miran (2011). Heavy metals in hydroameliorated soil and drainage water. 5th Croatian Water Conference with International Participation, Opatija, Croatia, 18-21 May 2011.
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
Estimation of soil hydraulic properties and related predictive modelling challenges
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Bell, Dr Tim McLaren
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Doctor Philosophy
Impact of Soil Organic Carbon on Nitrogen and Water Dynamics under Rainfed and Irrigated Sweetpotato Production in Papua New Guinea Highlands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gunnar Kirchhof
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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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