Associate Professor David Callaghan
Associate Professor

David Callaghan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53517

Background

Before joining the University of Queensland, Dave P. Callaghan held positions within industry including Parsons Brinckerhoff and Lawson and Treloar and research sector including Nederlands Instituut voor Ecologie and the University of Queensland. He is an observer of the Queensland Water Panel and active in the newly created Australian Hydraulic Modelling Association. He is the author of a book section and more than 50 other technical documents with applied and research applications. He is a consultant to private and government organisations. He has worked recently with private and government organisations to improve understanding of extreme coastal weather responses. He is recognised for leading edge research in coastal engineering including statistics of extremes, beach erosion from extreme events, physical and biological interactions of salt marshes and coral reefs, lagoon dynamics and wave propagation.

Availability

Associate Professor David Callaghan is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Civil engineering Computational methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer (incl. computational fluid dynamics) Earth Sciences Ecology Education Education systems Engineering Environmental engineering Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering not elsewhere classified Geophysical and environmental fluid flows Geophysics Higher education Information and Computing Sciences Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Maritime engineering Ocean engineering Oceanography Physical oceanography Risk engineering Turbulent flows Water resources engineering

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Coastal Engineering

    All aspects of Coastal engineering including wave growth, propagation and dissipation, sediment transport and coastal morphology, surge dynamics, extreme probabilities for coastal variables including beach erosion and oceanic inundation, surf and swash zone hydrodynamics, river entrance hydraulics and morphodynamics and coastal groundwater dynamics.

Research impacts

My research is under continued translation through Civil Engineering consulting work (coastal erosion when managing beaches under changing climate, extreme values for setting flood levels and assessing beach erosion, climate change assessments for flood hazards), Environmental Engineering consulting work (cyclone and non-cyclonic wave climates under a changing climate for the entire Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef and Jervis Bay and coral habitat mapping of the Great Barrier Reef), and through ARC linkages (Redland City Council and DHI Group), Cooperative Research Centres (Blue economy, Bushfires and natural hazards and Tourism) and National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility projects, were research was operationalised by working hand in hand with industry. My discoveries around coastal erosion and extreme values assessments are becoming the normal standard for engineering projects, particularly in NSW, which has a high wave energy coastline.

Search Professor David Callaghan’s works on UQ eSpace

162 works between 2002 and 2025
All (162) Journal Article (88) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (58) Book (1) Other Outputs (12)

21 - 40 of 162 works

2023

Conference Publication

Novel solution for mitigating sloshing in floating closed-containment aquaculture tanks

Wiegerink, Johannes, Baldock, Tom, Callaghan, David and Wang, Chien Ming (2023). Novel solution for mitigating sloshing in floating closed-containment aquaculture tanks. ASME 2023 42nd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11–16 June 2023. New York, NY United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. doi: 10.1115/omae2023-102097

Novel solution for mitigating sloshing in floating closed-containment aquaculture tanks

2023

Journal Article

Experimental study on hydrodynamic response of a floating rigid fish tank model with slosh suppression blocks

Wiegerink, J. J., Baldock, T. E., Callaghan, D. P. and Wang, C. M. (2023). Experimental study on hydrodynamic response of a floating rigid fish tank model with slosh suppression blocks. Ocean Engineering, 273 113772, 1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.113772

Experimental study on hydrodynamic response of a floating rigid fish tank model with slosh suppression blocks

2023

Other Outputs

Great Barrier Reef non-cyclonic and on-reef wave model predictions

Callaghan, David (2023). Great Barrier Reef non-cyclonic and on-reef wave model predictions. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8246441

Great Barrier Reef non-cyclonic and on-reef wave model predictions

2022

Journal Article

Contextualising shoreline protection by seagrass using lessons from submerged breakwaters

Twomey, Alice J., Callaghan, David P., O'Brien, Katherine R. and Saunders, Megan I. (2022). Contextualising shoreline protection by seagrass using lessons from submerged breakwaters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 276 108011, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108011

Contextualising shoreline protection by seagrass using lessons from submerged breakwaters

2022

Journal Article

Assessing flood hazard changes using climate model forcing

Callaghan, David P. and Hughes, Michael G. (2022). Assessing flood hazard changes using climate model forcing. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 22 (8), 2459-2472. doi: 10.5194/nhess-22-2459-2022

Assessing flood hazard changes using climate model forcing

2022

Journal Article

Slosh Suppression Blocks - A concept for mitigating fluid motions in floating closed containment fish pen in high energy environments

Wiegerink, J. J., Baldock, T. E., Callaghan, D. P. and Wang, C. M. (2022). Slosh Suppression Blocks - A concept for mitigating fluid motions in floating closed containment fish pen in high energy environments. Applied Ocean Research, 120 103068, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2022.103068

Slosh Suppression Blocks - A concept for mitigating fluid motions in floating closed containment fish pen in high energy environments

2022

Other Outputs

Great Barrier Reef cyclonic wave climate using Geoscience Australia Synthetic Cyclone Tracks

Callaghan, David (2022). Great Barrier Reef cyclonic wave climate using Geoscience Australia Synthetic Cyclone Tracks. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/f12a4fa

Great Barrier Reef cyclonic wave climate using Geoscience Australia Synthetic Cyclone Tracks

2022

Other Outputs

Gwydir River hydraulic model results using regional climate projections

Callaghan, David (2022). Gwydir River hydraulic model results using regional climate projections. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/d7b1654

Gwydir River hydraulic model results using regional climate projections

2022

Journal Article

Coral composition and bottom-wave metrics improve understanding of the patchiness of cyclone damage on reefs

Castro-Sanguino, C., Bozec, Y. M., Callaghan, D., Vercelloni, J., Rodriguez-Ramirez, A., Lopez-Marcano, S., Gonzalez-Marrero, Y., Puotinen, M., Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Gonzalez-Rivero, M. (2022). Coral composition and bottom-wave metrics improve understanding of the patchiness of cyclone damage on reefs. Science of the Total Environment, 804 150178, 150178. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150178

Coral composition and bottom-wave metrics improve understanding of the patchiness of cyclone damage on reefs

2021

Journal Article

Probabilistic projections of the stability of small tidal inlets at century time scale using a reduced complexity approach

Duong, Trang Minh, Ranasinghe, Roshanka and Callaghan, David P. (2021). Probabilistic projections of the stability of small tidal inlets at century time scale using a reduced complexity approach. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 22921, 22921. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01945-5

Probabilistic projections of the stability of small tidal inlets at century time scale using a reduced complexity approach

2021

Journal Article

How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?

Roelfsema, Chris M., Lyons, Mitchell B., Castro-Sanguino, Carolina, Kovacs, Eva M., Callaghan, David, Wettle, Magnus, Markey, Kathryn, Borrego-Acevedo, Rodney, Tudman, Paul, Roe, Meredith, Kennedy, Emma V., Gonzalez-Rivero, Manuel, Murray, Nicholas and Phinn, Stuart R. (2021). How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?. Remote Sensing, 13 (21) 4343, 4343. doi: 10.3390/rs13214343

How Much Shallow Coral Habitat Is There on the Great Barrier Reef?

2021

Journal Article

Methodology for estimating return intervals for storm demand and dune recession by clustered and non-clustered morphological events

Baldock, T. E., Gravois, U., Callaghan, D. P., Davies, G. and Nichol, S. (2021). Methodology for estimating return intervals for storm demand and dune recession by clustered and non-clustered morphological events. Coastal Engineering, 168 103924, 103924. doi: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2021.103924

Methodology for estimating return intervals for storm demand and dune recession by clustered and non-clustered morphological events

2021

Journal Article

Introducing ‘Concept Question’ writing assignments into upper-level engineering courses

Davis, Kirsten A., Mogg, William A., Callaghan, David P., Birkett, Greg R., Knight, David B. and O'Brien, Katherine R. (2021). Introducing ‘Concept Question’ writing assignments into upper-level engineering courses. European Journal of Engineering Education, 46 (6), 1-20. doi: 10.1080/03043797.2021.1943649

Introducing ‘Concept Question’ writing assignments into upper-level engineering courses

2021

Journal Article

Determining the shoreline retreat rate of Australia using Discrete and Hybrid Bayesian networks

Mao, Yongjing, Harris, Daniel L., Callaghan, David P. and Phinn, Stuart (2021). Determining the shoreline retreat rate of Australia using Discrete and Hybrid Bayesian networks. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 126 (6) e2021JF006112. doi: 10.1029/2021jf006112

Determining the shoreline retreat rate of Australia using Discrete and Hybrid Bayesian networks

2021

Journal Article

Lateral sediment erosion with and without the non-dense root-mat forming seagrass Enhalus acoroides

Twomey, Alice J., Saunders, Megan I., Callaghan, David P., Bouma, Tjeerd J., Han, Qiuying and O'Brien, Katherine R. (2021). Lateral sediment erosion with and without the non-dense root-mat forming seagrass Enhalus acoroides. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 253 107316, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107316

Lateral sediment erosion with and without the non-dense root-mat forming seagrass Enhalus acoroides

2020

Journal Article

Synthesising wave attenuation for seagrass: drag coefficient as a unifying indicator

Twomey, Alice J., O'Brien, Katherine R., Callaghan, David P. and Saunders, Megan I. (2020). Synthesising wave attenuation for seagrass: drag coefficient as a unifying indicator. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 160 111661, 111661. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111661

Synthesising wave attenuation for seagrass: drag coefficient as a unifying indicator

2020

Journal Article

Consideration of uncertainty in sea level rise in Australia's most exposed estuary: a discussion on allowances under different epistemic uncertainties

Callaghan, David P., Wainwright, David J. and Hanslow, David J. (2020). Consideration of uncertainty in sea level rise in Australia's most exposed estuary: a discussion on allowances under different epistemic uncertainties. Coastal Engineering, 159 103718, 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2020.103718

Consideration of uncertainty in sea level rise in Australia's most exposed estuary: a discussion on allowances under different epistemic uncertainties

2020

Journal Article

Seagrass losses since mid-20th century fuelled CO2 emissions from soil carbon stocks

Salinas, Cristian, Duarte, Carlos M., Lavery, Paul S., Masque, Pere, Arias-Ortiz, Ariane, Leon, Javier X., Callaghan, David, Kendrick, Gary A. and Serrano, Oscar (2020). Seagrass losses since mid-20th century fuelled CO2 emissions from soil carbon stocks. Global Change Biology, 26 (9) gcb.15204, 1-13. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15204

Seagrass losses since mid-20th century fuelled CO2 emissions from soil carbon stocks

2020

Journal Article

Identifying hydro-geomorphological conditions for state shifts from bare tidal flats to vegetated tidal marshes

Wang, Chen, Smolders, Sven, Callaghan, David P., van Belzen, Jim, Bouma, Tjeerd J., Hu, Zhan, Wen, Qingke and Temmerman, Stijn (2020). Identifying hydro-geomorphological conditions for state shifts from bare tidal flats to vegetated tidal marshes. Remote Sensing, 12 (14) 2316, 2316. doi: 10.3390/rs12142316

Identifying hydro-geomorphological conditions for state shifts from bare tidal flats to vegetated tidal marshes

2020

Journal Article

Habitat maps to enhance monitoring and management of the Great Barrier Reef

Roelfsema, Chris M., Kovacs, Eva M., Ortiz, Juan Carlos, Callaghan, David P., Hock, Karlo, Mongin, Mathieu, Johansen, Kasper, Mumby, Peter J., Wettle, Magnus, Ronan, Mike, Lundgren, Petra, Kennedy, Emma V. and Phinn, Stuart R. (2020). Habitat maps to enhance monitoring and management of the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 39 (4), 1039-1054. doi: 10.1007/s00338-020-01929-3

Habitat maps to enhance monitoring and management of the Great Barrier Reef

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    NSW regional-scale flood hazard projections under climate change
    New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    RRAP-RS-02-V1 Approaches to stabilisation
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    RRAP-RS-03-V1 Synthesis and Tools Rubble Stabilisation
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Managing the existing and emerging threats from coastal flow slides
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    RRAP-RS-01-V1 Rubble location, prediction and sub-program management (GBRF funding administered by AIMS)
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Next generation offshore blue water aquaculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Understanding reservoir sedimentation
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Coastal Engineering Research Field Station (CERFS) (ARC LIEF project administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Resilience to clustered disaster events on the coast - storm surge
    Commonwealth Government Geoscience Australia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Healthy Waterways model custodian
    Healthy Waterways Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    North West Channel Trial Dredging Project
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Assessing and enhancing the resilience of Australian beaches to sea level rise.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Development and validation of an innovative wind stress model to obtain robust storm surge forecasts
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Seagrass as an ecological indicator: resolving challenges of scale and complexity
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Optimising SWRO Concentrate Discharge During 'Hot Standby' Operation
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    A model framework for assessing risk and adaptation to climate change on Australian coasts
    University of Wollongong
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Development of an adaptive statistical model for oceanic flooding hazards along the East Australian coast
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Near-bed wave kinetics
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor David Callaghan is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Amity Point Flow Slides: Intermediate scale investigations

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Nielsen

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Coastal erosion when managing beaches under changing climate

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Alexander Scheuermann

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessing and modelling of breaching and coastal erosion risks on Bribie Island and the Sunshine Coast under current and future wave climates.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Remo Cossu, Professor Tom Baldock

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Impacts of climate change-induced large-scale disturbances on coral reef connectivity and recovery

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Mumby

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Offshore seaweed and renewable energy farms: solutions for integration and co-location

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Chien Ming Wang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Examination of the performance of XBeach numerical model for beaches on open coasts and behind coral reefs using laboratory, field and aerial imaging data

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tom Baldock

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor David Callaghan directly for media enquiries about:

  • beach ersion
  • coastal engineering
  • fluid mechanics
  • storm surge
  • wave modelling

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