معرفی
Dr. Walter McDonald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at Marquette University. He specializes in water resources engineering, with a strong focus on stormwater management, hydrology, and environmental monitoring. His work integrates remote sensing, machine learning, and green infrastructure to address urban water challenges.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech (2016)
- M.S. in Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University (2012)
- B.S. in Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University (2010)
Research Interests:
Dr. McDonald’s research is centered on urban water systems, particularly the impact of stormwater on environmental and public health. His work spans the use of green infrastructure to mitigate pollution, the detection and modeling of emerging contaminants such as antibiotic resistance genes, microplastics, and PFAS, and the application of drone-based remote sensing and machine learning for real-time monitoring of water systems.
Scientific Awards:
- Way Klingler Early Career Award from Marquette University (April 2022)
Grants and Funding:
- NSF Water Equipment & Policy I/UCRC – Principal Investigator on "Remote sensing and machine learning to assess urban watershed best management practices (Phase II)" ($89,962, 2024)
- U.S. Department of Defense Engineering Research and Development Center – Co-PI on "Novel Technologies to Mitigate Water Contamination for Resilient Infrastructure – Phase II" ($3.8M, 2022–2024)
- NSF STTR – PI on "Machine learning and video-based sensor for measuring sewer flows" ($256,000 total; $138,926 to MU, 2022–2024)
- NSF Water Equipment & Policy I/UCRC – PI on "Determining flow rates and flow sources in pipes using temperature data" ($50,000, 2023)
Research Labs and Facilities:
Dr. McDonald works closely with the Transportation Research Center (MUTRC) and utilizes departmental labs such as the Engineering Materials & Structural Testing Lab (EMSTL), Hydraulics Lab, and the Water Quality Center to support his research activities.
