Dr Aaron Opdyke
School of Civil Engineering
Dr Aaron Opdyke is currently a Senior Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on the interface of infrastructure and social systems, examining this nexus in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. He holds a PhD (2017) and Master of Science (2015) in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor of Science Honors (2013) in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obsipo.
More than 114 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes in 2023 due to disasters and conflict. Dr Aaron Opdyke's research seeks to support governments, organisations, and communities respond to these escalating challenges.
“My research looks at how we can deliver more effective and inclusive solutions in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. Across these settings, I am interested in understanding how communities connect with their infrastructure.”
"One stream of my work narrows on sheltering, housing, and settlements – exploring the pathways which enable communities to build safer and why they make these choices. My work in this area is actively collaborating with humanitarian partners to understand how to support communities recover after shocks."
"A second thread of my research seeks to characterise disaster risk across social and engineering boundaries. This includes developing new methods and tools to assess disaster risk which integrate scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge. I’m leading the development of more localised multi-hazard risk assessments under climate futures and developing tools to mobilise this knowledge."
"A third stream of my work looks at the systems shaping displacement from disasters and climate change. This includes exploring the processes that lead to risk creation and how organisations can respond to increasing complexity."
"I'm passionate about engineering research with communities because it's easy to relate to the impact it has on people's lives. More than ever, we're seeing development and technologies affording new opportunities to people around the world, but these advances are not happening equally. Millions of people globally still lack access to clean water, safe shelter, reliable power and other basic services. Engineers have long played a role in raising the standard of living for communities; my research seeks to ensure that this development is equitable.”
- Risk Index for Climate Displacement, International Organization for Migration
- Promises and Perils of Climate Buffer Infrastructures as Adaptation: Case Studies from the Philippines,Sydney Environment Institute Collaborative Grant.
- Places of Refuge amidst Climate Change in Complex Displacement Contexts,Sydney Environment Institute Collaborative Grant.
- Engineers Australia
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- Australasian Association for Engineering Education
- Research for Development Impact Network
- RedR Australia
- Dean's Award for Outstanding Research and Teaching by an Early Career Academic (2022)
- Supervisor of the Year, Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) (2022)
- Citation for Early Career Contributions to Engineering Education, Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) (2021)
- New Face of Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (2021)
- Dean's Award for Teaching Innovation (2020)
- Best Paper, Information and Research for Post-Disaster Reconstruction (i-Rec) Conference (2019)
- Best Paper, Engineering Project Organization Conference (2016)
- USAID Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Fellow (2016)
- Engineers Without Borders-USA Founder’s Award (2013)
Indonesia | (Universitas Syiah Kuala) Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center |
Philippines | (University of the Philippines) Resilience Institute |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| Comparing grey, green, and mixed infrastructure approaches in coastal adaptation projects to reduce disaster risk in the Asia-Pacific region | Anni BURKHARDT |
| Deconstructing Disaster Risk Creation Processes in Housing Reconstruction Projects | Grace MUIR |
| Reducing Earthquake Vulnerability through Resilient Housing Systems in Indonesia | Angga SABARULIMAN |
| Understanding Humanitarian Response to Complex Displacement Crises in the Context of Climate Change Disasters and Conflict | Sheryn SEE |
Publications
Journals
- Opdyke, A., Fatima, K. (2024). Comparing the suitability of global gridded population datasets for local landslide risk assessments. Natural Hazards, 120(3), 2415-2432. [More Information]
- Reza, N., Opdyke, A., Ochiai, C. (2024). Disrupted Sense of Place and Infrastructure Reconstruction after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Progress in Disaster Science, 22, 100322. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Bodo, D., Smyth, J. (2024). Higher ground or into harm's way? Household storm surge sheltering and evacuation plans. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 106, 104452. [More Information]
Conferences
- Alfian, D., Meilianda, E., Ahmad, A., Syukri, M., Opdyke, A. (2024). Application of Spatial Model the Contribution of Land Subsidence Caused by Palm Oil Plantations Land Clearing to the Escalating Flood Risk in the Trumon Area, South Aceh Regency, Indonesia. E3S Web of Conferences, Indonesia: Universitas Syiah Kuala. [More Information]
- Alfian, D., Meilianda, E., Achmad, A., Syukri, M., Ashfa, H., Opdyke, A. (2023). Flood simulation to determine flood hazard susceptibility of downstream Singkil watershed in Aceh Province. E3S Web of Conferences, Indonesia: Universitas Syiah Kuala. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Warren, I. (2021). Service-Learning Remotely: Lessons from Delivery in Humanitarian Engineering During the COVID-19 Pandemic. 9th Research in Engineering Education Symposium and 32nd Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference: Engineering Education Research Capability Development, Perth: Research In Engineering Education Network. [More Information]
Report
- Naderpajouh, N., Zolghadr, A., Habibi Moshfegh, P., Pakizeh, A., Schlosberg, D., Opdyke, A., Howard, A., Morgan, S., Van Ogtrop, F., Matous, P., Bailie, J., Hadigheh, S., Zhang, H., Crock, M., Vervoort, R. (2024). Community Risk Assessment: Connecting technical knowledge with local and Indigenous knowledge. Sydney Environment Institute.
- Babister, L., Opdyke, A., Hadlos, A., Parrack, C., Flinn, B. (2023). Constructive Ambiguity: Supporting Recovery from Humanitarian Crises.
- Keogh, R., Birzer, C., Brown, N., Cheng, E., Machado, M., Newman, C., Opdyke, A., Smith, J., Stoakley, A., Turner, J. (2020). Humanitarian Engineering in Australia & New Zealand: Past, Present, and a Way Forward. University of Technology, Sydney, Australia: Engineering for Change.
Research Reports
- Nabong, E., Opdyke, A., Alinsunurin, M., Merrill, S., McDonald, G., Jensen, P. (2021). Chapter 11 Exploring the Role of Shelter and Livelihoods Recovery, (pp. 97 - 104). Washington, D.C., United States of America: InterAction.
- Crete, E., Hosta, J., Hendriks, E., Opdyke, A., Yadav, S., Rakotonirina, M., Moles, O., Maskey, P., Guragain, R., Joshi, L., et al (2021). Chapter 15 Incorporating Local Building Practices in Response, (pp. 1 - 8). Washington, D.C., United States of America: InterAction.
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2017). Typhoon Haiyan: Shelter Case Studies, January 2017, (pp. iv - 108). Boulder, Colorado, United States of America: Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities.
2024
- Alfian, D., Meilianda, E., Ahmad, A., Syukri, M., Opdyke, A. (2024). Application of Spatial Model the Contribution of Land Subsidence Caused by Palm Oil Plantations Land Clearing to the Escalating Flood Risk in the Trumon Area, South Aceh Regency, Indonesia. E3S Web of Conferences, Indonesia: Universitas Syiah Kuala. [More Information]
- Naderpajouh, N., Zolghadr, A., Habibi Moshfegh, P., Pakizeh, A., Schlosberg, D., Opdyke, A., Howard, A., Morgan, S., Van Ogtrop, F., Matous, P., Bailie, J., Hadigheh, S., Zhang, H., Crock, M., Vervoort, R. (2024). Community Risk Assessment: Connecting technical knowledge with local and Indigenous knowledge. Sydney Environment Institute.
- Opdyke, A., Fatima, K. (2024). Comparing the suitability of global gridded population datasets for local landslide risk assessments. Natural Hazards, 120(3), 2415-2432. [More Information]
2023
- Babister, L., Opdyke, A., Hadlos, A., Parrack, C., Flinn, B. (2023). Constructive Ambiguity: Supporting Recovery from Humanitarian Crises.
- Nabong, E., Hocking, L., Opdyke, A., Walters, J. (2023). Decision-making factor interactions influencing climate migration: A systems-based systematic review. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 14(4), e828. [More Information]
- Hadlos, A., Opdyke, A., Hadigheh, S. (2023). Deriving expert-driven seismic and wind fragility functions for non-engineered residential typologies in Batanes, Philippines. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 22008. [More Information]
2022
- Healey, S., Lloyd, S., Gray, J., Opdyke, A. (2022). A census-based housing vulnerability index for typhoon hazards in the Philippines. Progress in Disaster Science, 13, 100211. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Chiang, D., Tsang, A., Smyth, J. (2022). Benchmarking Household Storm Surge Risk Perceptions to Scientific Models in the Philippines. Natural Hazards, 114(1285), 1305. [More Information]
- Nabong, E., Opdyke, A., Walters, J. (2022). Identifying leverage points in climate change migration systems through expert mental models. Climatic Change, 175(3-4). [More Information]
2021
- Hendriks, E., Opdyke, A. (2021). Adoption of seismic-resistant techniques in reconstructed housing in the aftermath of Nepal's 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 37(4), 2662-2686. [More Information]
- Nabong, E., Opdyke, A., Alinsunurin, M., Merrill, S., McDonald, G., Jensen, P. (2021). Chapter 11 Exploring the Role of Shelter and Livelihoods Recovery, (pp. 97 - 104). Washington, D.C., United States of America: InterAction.
- Crete, E., Hosta, J., Hendriks, E., Opdyke, A., Yadav, S., Rakotonirina, M., Moles, O., Maskey, P., Guragain, R., Joshi, L., et al (2021). Chapter 15 Incorporating Local Building Practices in Response, (pp. 1 - 8). Washington, D.C., United States of America: InterAction.
2020
- See, L., Calo, L., Bannon, B., Opdyke, A. (2020). An open data approach to mapping urban drainage infrastructure in developing communities. Water, 12(7), 1880. [More Information]
- Keogh, R., Birzer, C., Brown, N., Cheng, E., Machado, M., Newman, C., Opdyke, A., Smith, J., Stoakley, A., Turner, J. (2020). Humanitarian Engineering in Australia & New Zealand: Past, Present, and a Way Forward. University of Technology, Sydney, Australia: Engineering for Change.
- Hendriks, E., Opdyke, A. (2020). Knowledge Adoption in Post-Disaster Housing Self-Recovery. Disaster Prevention and Management, 29(6), 849-864. [More Information]
2019
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2019). Assessing the Impact of Household Participation on satisfaction and Safe Design in Humanitarian Shelter Projects. Disasters, 43(4), 926-953. [More Information]
- Hadigheh, S., Vulic, J., Burridge, J., Goldfinch, T., Thomas, J., Opdyke, A. (2019). Preliminary evaluation of immersive and collaborative virtual labs in a structural engineering unit of study. 30th Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE 2019), Brisbane: Engineers Australia.
2018
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2018). A comparative analysis of coordination, participation, and training in post-disaster shelter projects. Sustainability, 10(11), 1-25. [More Information]
- Venable, C., Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Liel, A. (2018). Community Participation in Post-Disaster Shelter Programs: Examining the Evolution of Participation in Planning, Design, and Construction. Construction Research Congress (CRC 2018), New Orleans: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2018). Household construction knowledge acquisition in post-disaster shelter training. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 28, 131-139. [More Information]
2017
- Koschmann, M., Kopczynski, J., Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A. (2017). Constructing Authority in Disaster Relief Coordination. Electronic Journal of Communication, 29, 1-2. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2017). Infrastructure hazard resilience trends: an analysis of 25 years of research. Natural Hazards, 87(2), 773-789. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Lepropre, F., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M. (2017). Inter-organizational resource coordination in post-disaster infrastructure recovery. Construction Management and Economics, 35(8-9), 514-530. [More Information]
2016
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M., Moench, H. (2016). A Constitutive Communication Lens of Stakeholder Participation in Post-Disaster Construction. Engineering Project Organization Conference, USA: Engineering Project Organization. [More Information]
- Zerio, A., Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A. (2016). Characterizing post-disaster reconstruction training methods and learning styles. Engineering Project Organization Journal, (2-4), 142-154. [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M., Moench, H. (2016). Characterizing Post-Disaster Shelter Design and Material Selections: Lessons from Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Construction Research Congress 2016: Old and New Construction Technologies Converge in Historic San Juan (CRC 2016), USA: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). [More Information]
2015
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A., Koschmann, M., Moench, H. (2015). Emergent Coordination Practice in Post-Disaster Planning of Infrastructure Systems. 2015 Engineering Project Organization Conference, United Kingdom: Engineering Project Organization. [More Information]
2014
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A. (2014). Building coordination capacity: Post-disaster organizational Twitter networks. 4th IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC 2014), USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). [More Information]
- Opdyke, A., Javernick-Will, A. (2014). Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems: The Role of Coordination, Stakeholder Participation, and Training in Post-Disaster Construction. 2014 Engineering Project Organization Conference, USA: Engineering Project Organization. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2024
- Promises and Perils of Climate Buffer Infrastructures as Adaption: Case Studies from the Philippines, Peja P, See J, Opdyke A, Webber S, Seno-Alday S,
2022
- Places of Refuge amidst Climate Change in Complex Displacement, Opdyke A, Banki S, Sydney Environment Institute/SEIs Collaborative Fellowship
Other Grants
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Disaster Risk in the Phillipines, Opdyke A,Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/New Colombo Plan Mobility Program(2025)
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Building Resilience in Developing Countries through Access to Engineering Research Education,Thomas, J and Opdyke, A, GHD Foundation (2024)
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Disaster Risk in the Phillipines, Opdyke A,Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/New Colombo Plan Mobility Program(2024)
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Project T3 A3: Community Risk Assessment, Naderpajouh N, Opdyke A, Hadigheh A, Hoaward A, Scholsberg, D, Van Ogtrop F, Zhang H, Bailie J, Crock M, Matous P, Vervoort W, Natural Hazards Research Australia (2022)
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Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the Phillipines, Opdyke A,Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/New Colombo Plan Mobility Program(2019)
In the media
- Syria: what’s needed for earthquake recovery?[16-Feb-23]aljazeera.com
- Progress or folly? Jokowi’s vision for Indonesia’s new capital [20-Jan-22] aljazeera.com
- New Face honoree takes holistic approach to civil engineering [22-Feb-21] source.asce.org
- Disaster resilience and humanitarian response in the Philippines podcast [25-Jun-20] podcasts.apple.com
- Disaster early career researchers podcast[17-Jun-19] podbean.com
