Rebecca Dziedzic, PhD

Education

• PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Toronto
• BASc, Civil Engineering, Universidade Positivo

Research Interests

• Predicting water infrastructure failure
• Performance indicators of urban infrastructure
• Modelling and optimization of water systems
• Energy efficiency of water systems
• Resilience of interdependent urban systems
• Lifecycle asset management
• Decision support tools for sustainable infrastructure

CIVI 6711 - Asset Management for Sustainable Civil Infrastructure
BLDG 6571 - Project Management
ENGR 301 - Engineering Management Principles and Economics
BCEE 465 - Construction Planning and Control

Recruitment

I am currently recruiting PhD students for projects related to Smart Water Distribution System Management. Funding is available for two specific topics:

• Integrated pipe maintenance, renewal and design optimization
• Real-time water distribution system operation

Funding

All students are encouraged to apply for independent funding. Applicants interested in areas other than those being recruited for may contact me to discuss writing a proposal together.

Specific Requirements

• Experience in the water sector, preferably related to water distribution and/or asset management
• Working knowledge of python, machine learning and hydraulic modelling
• Knowledge of GIS is an asset

General Requirements

• Undergraduate or Master's degree in Civil, Building, Environmental Engineering, Computer Science or other relevant field;
• GPA of 3.7 or higher
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English;
• Dilligent and detail oriented;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a diverse team.

Be part of the team

I am always looking for highly motivated students that are passionate about research. Diversity and inclusion is key to team success. All qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, members of sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversification are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should fill in the application form: https://forms.gle/ZCtxW13tWkn59ukg8  

Journal Artcles

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Cost Gradient SearchOptimization Technique for Water Distribution Networks with Varying Loads.”Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 2015. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000573, 04015043.

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Performance Index forWater Distribution Networks Under Multiple Loading Conditions.” Journal ofWater Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 2015. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000564, 04015040.

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Energy Metrics forWater Distribution System Assessment: A Case Study of the Toronto Network.”Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 2015. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000555, 04015032.

Dziedzic, R. M., Margerm, K., Evenson, J., Karney,B.W. “Building an Integrated Water-Land Use Database for Defining Benchmarks,Conservation Targets, and User Clusters.” Journalof Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 2014. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000462, 04014065.

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Analyzing watercustomer service expectations: A case study of the City of Guelph”. UtilitiesPolicy, Elsevier, 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.06.002

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Water User Survey onExpectations of Service in Guelph, ON, Canada.” Water Practice and Technology,IWA, 2015. DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2015.094.

Book Chapters

Dziedzic,R. M. Ethics of Infrastructure Reinvestment. In: Ethical WaterStewardship. Vancouver, Canada, Springer. 2021.

Acevedo, L. E. D., Dziedzic,R. M., Rauen, W. B., Dziedzic, M. A systematic approach to riverrestoration. In: Sustainable Management of Watersheds. São Paulo, Brazil: Manole, 2019.

Dziedzic, R. M., Dziedzic, M. Model of material andenergy flow management. In: Business Management for Sustainability. São Paulo,Brazil: Manole, 790-826, 2016.

Dziedzic, R. M., Dziedzic, M. Minimization ofUniversity Campus Environmental Impacts. In: Business Management forSustainability. São Paulo, Brazil: Manole, 1050-1094, 2016.

Other Articles and Public Reports

Canadian Water Network. Balancing the Books: Financial Sustainability for Canadian Water Systems. 2018

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Water Infrastructure:Long Term Supply, Demand Management, and Planning.” Canadian Water Network, 2015.

Karney, B.W.,Dziedzic, R. M. “Re-envisioning Our Water Supply System.” Public Sector Digest Q1: 42-45, Spring 2013.

Conference Proceedings

Rocha, B. R., Suttile, I. P., Dziedzic, R. M., Dziedzic, M. “Feasibility of Using Tanks in WaterDitribution Networks”. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2018. DOI: 10.1061/9780784481424.048

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. “Water DistributionSystem Performance Metrics.” In Proceedingsof 16^th Conference on Water Distribution Systems Analysis, Bari,Italy. Procedia Engineering 89: 363-369, 2014.

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. Integrating Databasefor Water Demand Management. In Proceedingsof the 12th International Conferenceon Computing and Control for the Water Industry, Perugia, Italy. ProcediaEngineering 70: 583-591, 2014.

Dziedzic, R. M., Karney, B. W. Energy Metrics forWater Distribution Assessment. In Proceedingsof the 46th Annual Storm Water and Urban Water Systems Modeling Conference,Brampton, Canada, 2013.

Dziedzic, R. M., Dziedzic, M. Zero emission projectfor the Universidade Positivo campus in Curitiba, Brazil. In: Proceedings of the XII National Conferenceon Business and Environmental Management, São Paulo, Brazil, 2010.

Dziedzic, R. M., Dziedzic, M. . Reduction of buildingenvironmental impacts - Case Study of Universidade Positivo Graduate Building.In: Proceedings of the XI NationalConference and I International Conference on Business and EnvironmentalManagement, Fortaleza, Brazil, 2009.