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Samuel Nii Odai

Civil Engineering

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About

Samuel Nii Odai is a  professor of Hydraulics and Water Resources at the Department of Civil Engineering KNUST, and currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University. He is a Commonwealth Academic Fellow, and a recipient of the National Best Research Scientist Gold Award for water, environment and sanitation. He has served the University in various capacities including Pro-Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Head of the Quality Assurance and Planning Unit, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geo-Engineering, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Director of the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre Kumasi (RWESCK), Director of WASCAL Climate Change and Land Use Centre, KNUST, Kumasi, International Director, Scientists Networked for Outcomes in Water and Sanitation (SNOWS), Consortium and the Hostel Master/Hostel Senior Tutor of the Stephen Paris Hostel.He is a distinguished Professor with demonstrated experience in higher education senior management. Loyal and considerate person who actively listens to friends and colleagues, providing appropriate help and support and hence ensuring an excellent working environment for all. He is an energetic leader skilled in motivating future leaders, effective delegation, goal-setting, decision-making, conflict resolution, public speaking and board room skills.

Research Summary

(inferred from publications by AI)

The researcher focuses on integrating diverse disciplines across several themes to address challenges and opportunities in Ghana's socio-economic landscape. Their work spans flood risk management, hydrological studies, agricultural innovations, climate change impacts, and educational efforts. Key areas include the application of multi-criteria analysis in water resource management, hydrological drought modeling in the Black Volta Basin, adaptations for agriculture under climate change, sustainable irrigation development strategies, land use changes influenced by mining, and the role of education and remote sensing in rural settings. The researcher also explores computational fluid dynamics as a tool in environmental engineering to model flow processes in agricultural contexts. Their comprehensive approach underscores the multifaceted nature of Ghana's socio-economic needs and opportunities across physical, life sciences, and social sciences.

Research Themes

All Papers

Flood risk assessment and mapping in Abidjan district using multi-criteria analysis (AHP) model and geoinformation techniques, (cote d’ivoire)(2016)
Delineation of small reservoirs using radar imagery in a semi-arid environment: A case study in the upper east region of Ghana(2008)
Ecological vulnerability of the Densu river Basin due to land use change and climate variability(2020)
Reservoir storage for managing floods in urban areas: a case study of Dzorwulu basin in Accra(2012)
Statistical evaluation of Jason-2 satellite altimetry products in a trans-boundary river basin; the case study of the White Volta River basin in Ghana(2023)
A Stochastic Weather Generator Model for Hydroclimatic Prevision in Urban Floods Risk Assessment in Abidjan District (Cote d’Ivoire)(2016)
Land use/land cover dynamics using landsat data in a gold mining basin-the Ankobra, Ghana(2018)
Rainfall variabilities and droughts in the Savannah zone of Ghana from 1960-2015(2020)
Evolutional characteristics of hydro-meteorological drought studied using standardized indices and wavelet analysis(2019)
Spatio-temporal rainfall trend and homogeneity analysis in flood prone area: case study of Odaw river basin-Ghana(2020)
Change and Analysis of Extreme Rainfall Indices During 1960–2010 and 2011–2100 in Abidjan District (Côte d’Ivoire)(2017)
Heavy Metals Uptake by Vegetables Cultivated on Urban Waste Dumpsites: Case Study of Kumasi, Ghana(2008)
Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Concentrations Effects on Yields of Some Vegetables Due to Uptake from Irrigation Water in Ghana(2008)
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) contamination and ecological risk of sediment in the upper course of the Ankobra River, Ghana(2022)
A Preliminary Investigation of Surface and Groundwater Quality Along the Upper Part of the Ankobra River, Impacted by Illegal Mining Activities(2023)
Influence of Transpiration on Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Uptake by Cabbage, Carrots and Lettuce from Irrigation Water in Ghana(2008)
A Quantitative Groundwater Resource Management under Uncertainty Using a Retrospective Optimization Framework(2016)
Quantitative management of groundwater resources in regional aquifers under uncertainty: A retrospective optimization approach(2019)
Capacity Estimation of Small Reservoirs Using Remotely Sensed Data: Case Study of a Semi Arid Region of Ghana(2011)
Capacity Estimation of Small Reservoirs Using Remotely Sensed Data---A Case Study of Upper East Region of Ghana(2008)
Monitoring land-use and land-cover changes due to extensive urbanization in the Odaw River Basin of Accra, Ghana, 1991–2030(2020)
MULTI-AGENT SIMULATION APPROACH ON THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND-USE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGY (FARM CREDIT) ON FARM HOUSEHOLD LIVELIHOOD IN SEMI-ARID GHANA(2014)
Assessment of Hydro-climatic Trends and Variability over the Black Volta Basin in Ghana(2020)
Comparison of Missing Data Infilling Mechanisms for Recovering a Real-World Single Station Streamflow Observation(2021)
Implications of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Climate Change on Black Volta Basin Future Water Resources in Ghana(2022)
Simulation of runoff for the Black Volta Basin using satellite observation data(2012)
Assessment of the water balance of the Barekese reservoir in Kumasi, Ghana(2016)
Modelling the recent variations of water balance components and water availability within the Senegal River basin: using WEAP21 model(2022)
Evaluation of potential evapotranspiration assessment methods for hydrological modelling with SWAT in the Densu river basin in Ghana(2022)
Capability of satellite rainfall products in simulating streamflows in the Black Volta Basin(2023)
Potential for small hydropower development in the Lower Pra River Basin, Ghana(2020)
Quantifying and analysing water trade-offs in the water-energy-food nexus: The case of Ghana(2022)
Volta basin precipitation and temperature climatology: evaluation of CORDEX-Africa regional climate model simulations(2019)
Recent climate trends for the Volta Basin in West Africa(2018)
Simulation of climate characteristics and extremes of the Volta Basin using CCLM and RCA regional climate models(2018)
Assessing climate model accuracy and future climate change in Ghana's Savannah regions(2023)
Climatic trends over tropics of Africa, A case of the Pra River Basin in Ghana(2022)
Climatic Trends Over the Tropics of West Africa: A Case Study of Pra River Basin in Ghana(2023)
Evaluation and Comparison of Satellite Rainfall Products in the Black Volta Basin(2020)
Application of satellite-derived rainfall for hydrological modelling in the data-scarce Black Volta trans-boundary basin(2014)
Evaluation of RFE Satellite Precipitation and its Use in Streamflow Simulation in Poorly Gauged Basins(2021)
Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates in the Pra Basin of Ghana(2018)
Performance Evaluation of Near-Real-Time Satellite Rainfall Estimates over Three Distinct Climatic Zones in Tropical West-Africa(2022)
A comparison of TAMSAT satellite rain derived products with meteorologically measured rainfall in the Volta Basin (West Africa)(2012)
Evaluation of Satellite Rainfall Estimates in the Pra Basin of Ghana(2016)
The Potential Utilization of Satellite Derived Rainfall in a Data-Scarce Basin(2013)
Impact of post- reclamation of soil by large-scale, small-scale and illegal mining on water balance components and sediment yield: Pra River Basin case study(2021)
Modeling the impacts of climate change on the thermal and oxygen dynamics of Lake Volta(2018)
Impacts of climate change on crop and irrigation water requirement in the Savannah regions of Ghana(2022)
Water conservation potential in educational institutions in developing countries: case study of a university campus in Ghana(2009)
Preserving the hydrology of urban Ghana through implementing integrated water resources management(2008)
KNUST experiences in capacity building in the water and sanitation sector(2004)
Stochastic Modelling of Great Letaba River Flow Process(2019)
Remote Sensing Approaches and Tools for Water Management in the Volta Basin(2010)
Productivity of Stored Water in Some Selected Multiple Use Small Reservoirs in the Upper East Region of Ghana(2009)
Estimating the spatial distribution of evapotranspiration within the Pra River Basin of Ghana(2021)
Assessing sediment inputs to small reservoirs in Upper East Region, Ghana(2009)
An Approach for Simulating Soil Loss from an Agro-Ecosystem Using Multi-Agent Simulation: A Case Study for Semi-Arid Ghana(2015)
Evaluating Access to Potable Water and Basic Sanitation in Ghana's Largest Urban Slum Community: Old Fadama, Accra(2013)
Needs assessment to strengthen capacity in water and sanitation research in Africa: experiences of the African SNOWS consortium(2014)
TOWARDS POLLUTION REDUCTION IN PERI-URBAN WATER SUPPLY: A CASE STUDY OF ASHANTI REGION IN GHANA(2003)
Strategic partnerships for sustainable water education and research in developing countries(2004)
Water footprint of Ghana(2009)
Water supply coping strategies in Accra(2008)
Assessment of the quality of the Densu river using multicriterial analysis and water quality index(2021)
Productivity of irrigation technologies in the White Volta basin(2010)
Mapping Irrigation Potential in a Semi-Arid Region in West Africa(2011)
Examining Agricultural Land-use/Cover Change Options in Rural Northern Ghana: A Participatory Scenario Exploration Exercise Approach(2014)
Analysis of Upscaling of Irrigation Development in the White Volta sub-Basin(2014)
Examining Agricultural Land-use/Cover Change Options in Rural Northern Ghana(2014)
Innovative Sustainable Soil Nutrient Management Options for Improving the Resilience of West African Smallholder Farms Livelihoods Under Climate Change Context(2017)
Micro-level social vulnerability assessment towards climate change adaptation in semi-arid Ghana, West Africa(2017)
Adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers to climate change and variability: The case of the savannah zone of Ghana(2025)
Heterogeneous Farm Household Perceptions about Climate Change: A Case Study of a Semi-arid Region of Ghana(2015)
Local level impacts of climatic and non‐climatic factors on agriculture and agricultural land‐use dynamic in rural northern Ghana(2018)
Evaluating the impact of an agricultural land‐use change adaptation strategy on household crop production in semi‐arid Ghana(2020)
Adaptation Strategies by Smallholder Farmers to Climate Variability and Change: A Study of Ghana's Savannah Zone(2023)
Success factors for sustainable irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa(2014)
Land Use Landcover Change Monitoring and Projection in the Dano Catchment, Southwest Burkina Faso(2019)
Challenges and facilitators of public engagement with water, sanitation, hygiene and other environmental health issues in Ghana and Uganda: perspectives of scientists, journalists and the public(2019)
The Role of Science, Technology and Innovative Industries in National Development(2016)
Burgers' Equation Model for Unsteady Flow in Open Channels(1998)
Analytical Solution of the Burgers Equation for Simulating Translatory Waves in Conveyance Channels(2006)
Nonlinear Kinematic-Wave Model for Predicting Open-Channel Flow Rate(1999)
Application of the Burgers' equation for theoretical analysis of open-channel unsteady flow(1999)
Assessing human resource capacity needs to meet the MDG targets on water and sanitation in Ghana(2014)
Impacts of variable energy prices on the financial sustainability of water facilities: case from Ghana(2014)
Influence of Cadmium and Lead Concentrations of Irrigation Water on Dry Matter Yield of Vegetables(2008)
The Burgers equation model and the monoclinal wave phenomenon in conveyance channels(2007)
Available data and gaps at basin level and tentatively initial agro-ecological (biophysical) domain analysis(2011)
The Impacts of Climate Change on the Thermal and Oxygen Dynamics of a Tropical Lake in Ghana, West Africa(2018)
Proceedings of the 2023 Global Polytechnic Summit, Technology Talent: Advancing a Comprehensive and Global Strategy(2023)

Collaboration Network

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About This Profile

This profile is generated from publicly available publication metadata and is intended for research discovery purposes. Themes, summaries, and trajectories are inferred computationally and may not capture the full scope of the lecturer's work. For authoritative information, please refer to the official KNUST profile.