Alissa Flatley BSc (Hons) MCRM RICS MSc PhD

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Senior Lecturer in Coastal Conservation and Environmental Management

Wales Institute of Science and Art (WISA)


Email: a.flatley@uwtsd.ac.uk

Role in the University

Senior Lecturer in Coastal Conservation and Environmental Management. Responsible for teaching Undergraduate and Masters level courses within Architecture, Construction and Environment.

Background

I am a physical geographer with a broad background in coastal science and fluvial geomorphology. I am interested in the intricate interactions between water, land and the ever-changing environment. I completed my PhD at the University of Melbourne where I researched the geomorphology of small arid zone streams in the Pilbara (Western Australia) and implications for design of mine river diversions.

My research interests integrate environmental management and the interaction between human-physical systems. I integrate novel geomorphic techniques with remote sensing and GIS mapping to address issues relating both for past environments and anthropogenically driven environmental change.

I worked as a consultant geomorphologist at Jacobs as part of a Australia and New Zealand waterways and catchment team, providing technical and geomorphic guidance for environmental impact assessments, design briefs and cultural heritage assessments.

Member Of

  • IAG – International Association of Geomorphologists
  • Member of INQUA Commission Terrestrial Processes, Deposits & History (TERPRO)
  • Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering

Academic Interests

My research and teaching spans a wide variety of areas within aquatic and terrestrial environments. I teach Physical Landscapes and the Geosphere (Level 4), Coastal Marine and Wildlife Conservation (Level 5). At master’s level I lead GIS and Habitat Management and Environmental Planning and Policy (Level 6).

I am enthusiastic about integrating practical elements into my teaching to equip graduates with the technical and soft skills they will need across environmental sector and their future careers. I am available to supervise undergraduate and master’s dissertation projects.

Research Interests

I work across a wide variety of environments to further understand the natural world and apply this knowledge to environmental management issues. I integrate GIS, hydrodynamic modelling, cosmogenic nuclides and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to further our understanding of landscape processes at a range of timescales. I am currently working on the following projects:

  • Climatic controls on opening frequency of Intermittently open/closed estuaries (Uni Canterbury, NZ)
  • Using multiple cosmogenic nuclide 10Be/26Al to understand exposure history and sediment dynamics in the Pilbara, Western Australia (UniMelb; ANSTO, NSW; CENIEH, Spain)
  • Geomorphological processes and post-depositional movement on stony rises in Wurundjeri Country, Victoria (Jacobs; Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation; LaTrobe University, Australia)
  • Connections on Country: Working together to understand and protect Adnyamathanha rock art in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges (UniMelb; Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association, Australia)
  • Non-Perennial Rivers: Management and Opportunities

I am available to supervise students interested in environmental management, marine and coastal environments, fluvial geomorphology and physical landscapes. I am currently developing practical research projects in S. Wales and beyond.

Expertise

  • Geomorphology
  • Landscape Assessment
  • Sediment Dynamics
  • River Diversions

Publications

Flatley, A., and Rutherfurd, I. 2023. Establishing geomorphic reference criteria for design of river diversions around mine pits in the Pilbara, Western Australia. Mine, Water and the Environment.

Goldfarb, A., Spry, C., Jones, R., Wandin, A., Mullins, B., Flatley, A., Lushey, J., and Tuncer, E. 2023. Beyond a ‘stones and bones’ approach: Investigating the archaeological, cultural and ecological values of stony rises on Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Country, southeastern Australia. Excavations, Surveys and Heritage Management in Victoria. Volume 11.

Flatley, A., and Rutherfurd, I., 2022. Comparison of regionalisation techniques for peak streamflow estimation in small catchments in the Pilbara, Australia. Hydrology. 9, 165. 

Burberry, C., Flatley, A., Gray, A., Gullinger, J., Hamshaw, S.,Hill, K., Mu, Y and Rowland, J., 2022. Earth and Planetary Surface Processes Perspectives on Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science. AGU Special Collection. Earth and Space Science.

Flatley, A. 2022. Geomorphology of small arid zone streams in the Pilbara (Western Australia) and implications for design of mine river diversions. University of Melbourne, PhD Thesis.

Flatley, A., Rutherfurd, I and Sims, A., 2022. Using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry to improve roughness estimates for headwater dryland streams in the Pilbara. Remote Sensing, 14 (3) 454.

Flatley, A., and Rutherfurd, I., 2021. Rules of reengagement: integrating geomorphology into river diversion designs. Proceedings of the 10th Australian Stream Management Conference. 2021. Kingscliff, NSW.

Flatley, A., and Markham, A., 2021. Establishing effective mine closure criteria for river diversion channels. Journal of Environmental Management. 287, 112287.

Akhmad,F., Bissell, D. Christoff, P., Crovara, E., Drysdale, R., Dun, O., Degregori, N., Dyson, J., Flatley, A., Mayen-Huerta, C., Htway, S., Ide, T., Khanam, D., McMichael, C., Palmer, L, Phillips. C., Piggot-McKellar, A., Rutherfurd, I., Talib, N., Semmens, A., Tjandra, E.C., Utomo, A., and Wang, B., 2020. The Geographies of COVID-19. Pursuit. University of Melbourne.

Flatley, A., and Rutherfurd, I., 2019. Rivers, relocation, and ruin: the history and legacy of mining river diversions in Victoria. Journal of Australasian Mining History. v.17, 37-58.

Flatley, A., Rutherfurd, I., and Hardie, R., 2018. River Relocation: Problems and Prospects. Water. 10(10).

Vietz, G., Flatley, A., and Rutherfurd, I. (eds) 2016 Proceedings of the 8th Australian Stream Management Conference, July 2016.

Additional Information

Co-Supervisor (PhD) - Taming the nine dragons at the local level: How China’s River Chief System changes the Tiao- Kuai authority relations in the local government water/river management? (Mr Yudong Chen, University of Melbourne