Professor Basant Maheshwari

PROFESSOR,
Dean's Unit - School of Science and Health

Personal
Contact
Biography
Publications
Research
Supervision
Teaching

Personal

Qualifications

PhD University of Melbourne
MEng Asian Institute of Technology
BEng University of Udaipur (India)

UWS Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Dean's Unit - School of Science and Health

Professional Memberships

American society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (1992-02-01)

Contact

Email:	B.Maheshwari@uws.edu.au
Extension:	1235
Mobile:	0410550911
Location:	M15.G.20 Hawkesbury
Website:

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Biography

I have over 30 years professional experience in the higher education sector, with a particular focus on teaching, learning and researching related to water management, irrigation, environmental management and regional water resources planning. In addition to my professional experience of over 25 years in Australia, I have worked in India for several years and spent sabbatical in the USA, Japan and the Philippines.

During the last five years, my work has involved trans-disciplinary approach to water research and focussed on understanding how water, landscape and people at the interface of urban and rural fringe (peri-urban) interact and influence the environment and sustainability. My work involved modelling and analysing the water cycle for long-term water resource planning at regional level and examining the implications of social, economic, cultural, policy and institutional aspects of water cycle management. An important learning out of this was that engaging community, government agencies and other stakeholders is critical to address significant, local water and sustainability challenges. I have over 150 publications, including more than 50 journal articles in peer reviewed, international journals.

This information has been contributed by Professor Maheshwari.

Interests

Groundwater management
Irrigation
River health
Transdisciplinary research
peri-urban water

Awards

2010 Collaboration and Leadership Award from CRC for Irrigation Futures 2010-06-10
2010 Vice-Chancellor s Excellence Award Highly Commended Individual for University Engagement in water research 2010-12-10
2009 Vice-Chancellor s Award of Excellence - Highly Commended Team for University Engagement through Water and Irrigation Strategy Enhancement through Regional Partnership (WISER) Project 2009-12-11
2005 Outcome Focus Award from CRC for Irrigatin Futures 2005-09-20
Second Prize for SWAG (Sustainable Water Use in AGriculture) Multimedia CD-ROM package; Australian Farm Software Competition; Education Programs Category; Royal Agricultural Society of NSW 1998-03-06

Committees

National Smart Approved Water Mark Scheme, Water Services Association of Australia
European Union Research Directorate, Brussels, Belgium
UWS Integrity in Research Committee

Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

300870 Water in the Landscape, 2012

Publications

Books

Maheshwari, B., Purohit, R., Malano, H., Singh, V. and Amerasinghe, P. (2012), 'Urbanisation of Peri-urban Regions: Challenges and Opportunities for Security of Water, Food and Liveability of Future Cities', : University of Western Sydney 9781741082418.
Singh, R., Nawaratnna, B., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B. and Malano, H. (2009), 'Understanding the Water Cycle of the South Creek Catchment in Western Sydney', : Co-operative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures 9780980685572.
Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'The Efficiency and Audit of residential Irrigation Systems in the Sydney Metropolitan Area', : Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures 1741081327.
Atkins, D., Maheshwari, B., Simmons, B. and Mulley, P. (2006), 'Application of Irrigation Sustainability Assessment Framework in Urban Context', : Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures .
Shepheard, M., Christen, E., Jayawardane, N., Davidson, P., Mitchell, M. and Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'The Principles and Benefits of Triple Bottom Line Performance Reporting for the Australian Irrigation Sector', : Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures .
Shepheard, M., Christen, E., Jayawardane, N., Davidson, P., Mitchell, M. and Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'A Guide to using Triple Bottom Line reporting as a framework to promote the sustainability of rural and urban irrigation in Australia', : Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures .

Chapters in Books

Maheshwari, B. and Grewal, H. (2011), 'Magnetic treatment of irrigation water and effects on crops', Encyclopaedia of Agrophysics, Springer 9789048135844.
Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'Best practice irrigation', Securing Australia's Water Future, Focus Publishing 9781921156625.
Maheshwari, B., Sakadevan, K. and Bavor, J. (2004), 'Phosphorous and nitrogen availability in agricultural soil irrigated with recycled water.', Waste Management, Science Publications 1578083230.

Journal Articles

Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B., Maheshwari, B. and Ollerton, R. (2013), 'Analysis of Long-term Water Quality for Effective River Health Monitoring in Peri-urban Landscapes - A Case Study of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River System in NSW, Australia', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 19.
Maheshwari, B. and Ollerton, R. (2013), 'Analysis of long-term water quality for effective river health monitoring in peri-urban landscapes : a case study of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system in NSW, Australia', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 19.
Grewal, H. and Maheshwari, B. (2013), 'Treated effluent and saline water irrigation influences soil properties, yield, water productivity and sodium content of snow peas and celery', Journal of Plant Nutrition, 18.
Maheshwari, B., Simmons, B. and Singh, V. (2012), 'Role and Complexity of Integrated Water-Resources Management for Periurban Landscapes in Australia', Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 8.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2012), 'Impacts of Water Quality on the Harvest of School Prawn (Metapenaeus macleayi) in a Peri-Urban River System', Journal of Shellfish Research, 7.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B., Shrestha, S. and Morris, C. (2012), 'Understanding the meaning of river health for a community: perspectives from the peri-urban region of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, Australia', Water Policy, 18.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B., Shrestha, S. and Morris, C. (2012), 'Modelling eutrophication and microbial risks in peri-urban river systems using discriminant function analysis', Water Research, 13.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Ollerton, R. (2012), 'Analysis of long-term water quality for effective river health monitoring in peri-urban landscapes-a case study of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system in NSW, Australia', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 19.
Maheshwari, B. (2012), 'Water conservation around homes--the role of audit in improving irrigation system performance', Irrigation and Drainage, 9.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Morris, C. (2012), 'Understanding the meaning of river health for a community : perspectives from the peri-urban region of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, Australia', Water Policy, 18.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2012), 'Impacts of water quality on the harvest of school prawn (Metapenaeus macleayi) in a Peri-Urban river system', Journal of Shellfish Research, 7.
Maheshwari, B., Simmons, B. and Singh, V. (2012), 'Role and complexity of integrated water-resources management for periurban landscapes in Australia', Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 8.
Maheshwari, B. (2012), 'Water conservation around homes : the role of audit in improving irrigation system performance', Irrigation and Drainage, 9.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Morris, C. (2012), 'Understanding the meaning of river health for a community : perspectives from the peri-urban region of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, Australia', Water Policy, 18.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Morris, C. (2012), 'Modelling eutrophication and microbial risks in peri-urban river systems using discriminant function analysis', Water Research, 13.
Grewal, H. and Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'Magnetic treatment of irrigation water and snow pea and chickpea seeds enhances early growth and nutrient contents of seedlings', Bioelectromagnetics, 8.
Grewal, H., Maheshwari, B. and Parks, S. (2011), 'Water and nutrient use efficiency of a low-cost hydroponic greenhouse for a cucumber crop: An Australian case study', Agricultural Water Management, 6.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'River health assessment in peri-urban landscapes: An application of multivariate analysis to identify the key variables', Water Research, 10.
Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'Developing a multimedia package for university teaching and learning - lessons learnt', Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, .
Pejic, B., Maheshwari, B., Seremesic, S., Stricevic, R., Pacureanu-Joita, M., Rajic, M. and Cupina, B. (2011), 'Water-yield relations of maize (Zea mays L) in temperate climatic conditions', Maydica, 7.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'River Health Assessment in Peri-urban Landscapes: An Application of Multivariate Analysis to Identify the Key Variables', Water Research, 10.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'River Health Assessment in Peri-urban Landscapes: An Application of Multivariate Analysis to Identify the Key Variables', Water Research, 10.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2011), 'River Health Assessment in Peri-urban Landscapes: An Application of Multivariate Analysis to Identify the Key Variables', Water Research, 10.
Burgin, S., Williamson, D. and Maheshwari, B. (2010), 'Natural spaces - how do they influence stewardship attitudes and actions of university students?', International Journal of Environmental Studies, 16.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Grewal, H. (2010), 'Effects of greywater irrigation on plant growth, water use and soil properties', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 7.
Pinto, U. and Maheshwari, B. (2010), 'Reuse of greywater for irrigation around homes in Australia: Understanding community views, issues and practices', Urban Water Journal, 13.
Maheshwari, B. and Grewal, H. (2009), 'Magnetic treatment of irrigation water: Its effects on vegetable crop yield and water productivity', Agricultural Water Management, 8.
Webb, T., Burgin, S. and Maheshwari, B. (2009), 'Action research for sustainable water futures in Western Sydney - reaching beyond traditional stakeholder engagement to understand community stakeholder language and its implications for action', Systemic Practice and Action Research, 14.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B. and Ramsay, G. (2009), 'Community awareness of the use of altrnative water sources fir irrigation of golf courses: a case study of a selected site within the Sydney metropolitan area', International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 11.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B. and Ramsay, G. (2008), 'Integrating alternative water sources in urbanised environments', WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 9.
Mulley, P., Simmons, B. and Maheshwari, B. (2007), 'Sustaining Public Open Spaces Through Water Recycling for Irrigation: Developing Decision Support Tools and Framework', International Journal of Water, 10.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B. and Maheshwari, B. (2007), 'Sustainable Use of Stormwater for Irrigation Case Study: Manly Golf Course', The Environmentalist, 11.
Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'Urban irrigation - looking at water use in our backyard', Water, 2.
Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'Water Resources Engineering Handbook of Essential Methods and Design', Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 1.
Burgin, S., Carson, J. and Maheshwari, B. (2005), 'Local provenance in rehabilitation of degraded Landscapes: a case study from the Hawkesbury - Nepean catchment, Australia', AREA, 8.
Burgin, S., Brainwood, M. and Maheshwari, B. (2004), 'Temporal variations in water quality parameters of farm dams - impacts of landuse types and water sources', Agricultural water management, 25.
Moehansyah, H., Maheshwari, B. and Armstrong, J. (2004), 'Field evaluation of selected soil erosion models for catchment management in indonesia.', Journal of Biosystems Engineering, 16.
Maheshwari, B., Moehansyah, H. and Armstrong, J. (2003), 'Effects of landuses on runoff and erosion characteristics of the Riam Kanan Catchment, Indonesia', Agricultural Engineering Journal, 33.
Smith, A. and Maheshwari, B. (2002), 'Options for alternative irrigation water supplies in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: A case study of the Shepparton Irrigation Region', Agricultural Water Management, Amsterdam), (1):-, 15.
Moehansyah, H., Maheshwari, B. and Armstrong, J. (2002), 'Extent of soil erosion and sedimentation problems in the Riam Kanan Catchment, Indonesia. (, ), 2(1):9-18.', Journal of Soils and Sediments, 10.
Esfandiary, M. and Maheshwari, B. (2001), 'Field evaluation of furrow irrigation models', Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 21.

Conference Papers

Rahman, M., Hagare, D. and Maheshwari, B. (2012), 'Management of pollutant sources to minimise salinity risk in sporting ovals irrigated with recycled water', Biosolids, Gold Coast, Qld..
Singh, R., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B., Namarathna, B. and Malano, H. (2009), 'Reconcilliation of Future Water Demand and Supply in Western Sydney', Water, Environment and Society (WEES - 2009), New Delhi.
Pinto, U., Maheshwari, B. and Shrestha, S. (2009), 'Assessing River Health - A Confluence Of Human Attitudes, Ecology And Hydrology', AWA Specialty Conference 2009: Sustaining the Rivers and Reservoirs, Canberra.
Singh, R., Maheshwari, B. and Malano, H. (2009), 'Developing a conceptual model for water accounting in peri-urban catchments', The 18th World IMACS Congress and MODSIM09 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Cairns, Australia.
Gartley, M., Nawarathna, B., Davidson, B., Malano, H., Singh, R. and Maheshwari, B. (2009), 'System harmonisation framework for water resources planning in peri-urban catchments', The 18th World IMACS Congress and MODSIM09 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Cairns, Australia.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B. and Ramsay, G. (2008), 'Integrating alternative water sources in urbanised environments', Sustainable Irrigation: Management, Technologies and Policy 11, Alicante Spain.
Maheshwari, B., Atkins, D. and Simmons, B. (2007), 'An Irrigation Sustainability Assessment Framework for Reporting Across the Environmental-Economic-Social Spectrum', USCID Fourth International Conference on Irrigation and Drainage, Sacramento, California.
Mulley, P., Simmons, B. and Maheshwari, B. (2006), 'Sustaining Public Open Spaces Through Water Recycling for Irrigation: Developing Decision Support Tools and a Framework', The 10th Annual Environmental Postgraduate Conference ERE 2006, Macquarie University.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B., Maheshwari, B. and Ramsay, G. (2006), 'Community Awareness of the Use of Alternative Water Sources for Irrigation of Golf Courses in Urban Landscapes - a Case Study of Selected Sites in the Sydney Metropolitan Area', The 10th Annual Environmental Postgraduate Conference ERE 2006, Macquarie University Sydney.
Schwecke, M., Simmons, B. and Maheshwari, B. (2005), 'Sustainable Use of Stromwater for Irrigation', Environmental Change: Making it Happen, Hobart.
Devi, B., Maheshwari, B. and Simmons, B. (2005), 'Rainwater harvesting for residential irrigation : how sustainable is it in urban context', XII International Rainwater Catchment Systems Conference, New Delhi.
Maheshwari, B. and Simmons, B. (2003), 'Impacts of urbanisation on irrigation in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment, Australia', Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Irrigatgion and Drainage Water for a Sustainable World - Limited supplies and expanding demands"", Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Maheshwari, B., Plunkett, M. and Singh, P. (2003), 'Farmers' perception about irrigation scheduling in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment', Proceedings of APEN 2003 Forum Exteding extension: beyond traditional boundaries"", Hobart, Tasmania.
Maheshwari, B., Cornish, P. and Simmons, B. (2003), 'Water in Urban and Peri-urban Landscapes - Australian Perspectives', Proceedings of the International Conference on Water and Environment (WE2003), Bhopal, India.
Maheshwari, B. and Simmons, B. (2003), 'Issues, challenges and opportunities for water reuse and management in Sydney, Australia', Proceedings of the International Conference, WAPDEC, New Delhi, India.

Research

Total research funding: over $4 millions. Some examples of recent projects are:

Improved Village Scale Groundwater Recharge and Management for Agriculture and Livelihood Development in India; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; 2011-2015
Changing Land Uses in Environs of Indian Cities - Understanding the Implications for Future Water and Food Security; Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations; 2011-2012
Developing Best Practice Water Management Guidelines for Parks and Ovals in Sydney Metropolitan area; Sydney Water Corporation; 2009-2011
Monitoring and Assessment of Irrigation Practices and Efficiency on Playing Fields; NSW Environmental Trust and Penrith City Council; NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water; 2008-2011
System Harmonisation for Applied Research Planning (SHARP): South Creek Catchment, Sydney; CRC for Irrigation Futures; 2006-2010
Smart Irrigation Technologies for Saving Potable Water on Vegetable Farms; NSW Department of Utilities, Energy and Sustainability; 2006-2009
Challenging the Irrigation Industry (Urban & Rural) to Measure its Sustainability; CRC for Irrigation Futures; 2004-2006; $310,000
Urban Irrigation In Sydney Metropolitan Area; Sydney Water Corporation/HR Products Pty. Ltd./CRC for Irrigation Futures; 2004-2006