Overview
I am a Civil and Environmental Engineer with a strong interest in hydraulics and hydrology, especially with applications to riverine processes to investigate the effects to river geomorphology, infrastructures (e.g. bridges), and water resources. I developed a strong interest in water during my BSc(hons) and my MSc in Rome, where I studied how to satisfy water demand for drought-prone areas and how to model flood risk to heavily urbanised areas.
In 2014 I started an integrated PhD at the University of Southampton within the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems, where I investigated the accumulation of large woody debris (LWD) at bridge piers and developed a methodology to estimate the size and shape that can be expected for given flow and LWD characteristics.
In January 2019, I joined the University of Exeter as a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on a variety of topics, that included: estimation of the scour risk at bridge piers with accumulated LWD, landslide-channel connectivity and multi-phase modelling, flood impact on strategic networks with climate projections, adapting water abstraction from rivers under increasing dry conditions.
Since October 2022 I joined the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW) at the University of Exeter as a Lecturer in Hydrological and Water Quality Modelling.
Qualifications
Integrated PhD in Sustainable Infrastructure Systems, University of Southampton, UK
MSc and BSc(hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Università degli studi di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Chartered Engineer with the Italian Engineering Council (section of Udine)
Links
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Research
Research interests
My research interest spans from understanding and modelling riverine processes to management of water resources. Key-topics of my research are:
- Large wood impact on stability of hydraulic structures and flood risk
- River restoration solutions using large wood
- Geomorphological impact of large sediment releases
- Adaptation of water abstractions for resilient river ecosystems
- Micro- (and macro-) plastic fate in rivers
- Employing nature-based solutions to enhance water quality and abundance, and land restoration
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Publications
Journal articles
Panici D (In Press). A theoretical analysis of the fluid-solid interactions governing the removal of woody debris jams from cylindrical bridge piers. Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Panici D, Kripakaran P (In Press). Assessing and mitigating risks to bridges from large wood using satellite imagery.
Proceedings of the ICE - Bridge Engineering Abstract.
Panici D (In Press). Characterising the importance of porosity of large woody debris accumulations at single bridge piers on localised scour. Water Resources Research
Panici D, Kripakaran P (In Press). Closure of “Trapping Large Wood Debris in Rivers: Experimental Study of Novel Debris Retention System”. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Panici D, Kripakaran P (In Press). TRAPPING LARGE WOOD DEBRIS IN RIVERS: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON a NOVEL DEBRIS RETENTION SYSTEM. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Pregnolato M, Giordano PF, Panici D, Prendergast LJ, Pina Limongelli M (2024). A comparison of the UK and Italian national risk-based guidelines for assessing hydraulic actions on bridges.
STRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING,
20(1), 117-130.
Author URL.
Panici D, Bennett GL, Boothroyd RJ, Abanco C, Williams RD, Tan F, Matera M (2024). Observations and computational multi-phase modelling in tropical river settings show complex channel changes downstream from rainfall-triggered landslides.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS Author URL.
Panici D (2021). An Experimental and Numerical Approach to Modeling Large Wood Displacement in Rivers.
Water Resources Research,
57(7).
Abstract.
Ebrahimi M, Djordjević S, Panici D, Tabor G, Kripakaran P (2020). A method for evaluating local scour depth at bridge piers due to debris accumulation.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Bridge Engineering,
173(2), 86-99.
Abstract.
Panici D, Kripakaran P, Djordjevic S, Dentith K (2020). A practical method to assess risks from large wood debris accumulations at bridge piers. Science of the Total Environment
Panici D, de Almeida GAM (2020). Influence of Pier Geometry and Debris Characteristics on Wood Debris Accumulations at Bridge Piers. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 146(6).
Panici D, de Almeida GAM (2018). Formation, Growth, and Failure of Debris Jams at Bridge Piers.
Water Resources Research,
54(9), 6226-6241.
Abstract.
Chapters
Panici D (2020). Assessing bridges liable to debris accumulations from satellite imagery. In (Ed) River Flow 2020, CRC Press, 2314-2319.
Panici D, Kripakaran P (2020). Testing the efficiency of a woody debris retention structure for medium or small-sized rivers. In (Ed) River Flow 2020, CRC Press, 1639-1644.
Conferences
Alessandro S, Irene M, Ruby A, Roskilly K, Bennett G, Luo C (2023). Smart sensors to detect movements of cobbles and large woody debris dams. Insights from lab experiments. 25th EGU General Assembly. 23rd - 28th Apr 2023.
Sgarabotto A, Majtan E, Manzella I, Raby A, Fourtakas G, Rogers BD, Roskilly K, Panici D, Bennett GL, Luo C, et al (2023). Using Smart Sensors to Track Woody Debris in Flume Experiments. Proceedings of the 40th IAHR World Congress. Rivers � Connecting Mountains and Coasts.
Panici D, Bennett GL (2022). Multi-phase Modelling of Landslide-flood Cascading Hazards: a Case-study from the 2013 Great Colorado Flood.
Abstract.
Panici D, de Almeida G (2022). The Influence of Pier Shape on the Accumulations of Large Wood Debris.
Abstract.
PANICI D, KRIPAKARAN P, DENTITH K (2019). ASSESSING DEBRIS-INDUCED SCOUR AT PIERS IN REAL-WORLD PRACTICE: a CASE STUDY. 38th IAHR World Congress.
PANICI D, DE ALMEIDA GAM (2019). THE IMPORTANCE OF DEBRIS SHAPE IN EXPERIMENTS ON WOODY DEBRIS ACCUMULATIONS AT BRIDGE PIERS. 38th IAHR World Congress.
Reports
Panici D, Kripakaran P, Dentith K (2019). Embedding techniques for assessing debris-induced scour within practice. Exeter, UK, University of Exeter.
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External Engagement and Impact
Awards
Italy Made Me Award 2022 for Physical and Engineering Sciences
Best MSc thesis in Engineering 2011 awarded by UniTre
Evidence of impact on policy and professional practice
Member of steering committee and research included in CIRIA SP171 New supplementary guide to scour at bridges
Reviewer and research included in CS 469 Inspection and assessment of scour and other hydraulic actions at structures
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Office Hours:
I have an open door policy. However, the CREWW building has an open plan working space and there may be times when I have a busy schedule and not be available. To help you secure a time slot with me and a private space in CREWW, please use one of the following links:
Office hours - in person
Office hours - Teams
If there is no date/time that works with you (or if the request is urgent), please feel free to drop me an email.
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